Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number FAC – VA – 24044

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Josh DeWeese

406-994-5735

josh.deweese@montana.edu

Classification Title

Working Title Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

Brief Position Overview

The School of Art at Montana State University is accepting applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant Professor in Graphic Design. The BFA degree in Graphic Design option is a four-year undergraduate professional degree that is nationally accredited by NASAD with an emphasis on the development of critical thinking and the skills necessary for successful employment within the creative industries.

Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank Assistant Professor

Position Number 4A2523

Department Art

Division College of Arts & Architecture

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

The School of Art at Montana State University seeks to appoint an innovative and versatile educator in the Graphic Design program. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to client-based professional practice or scholarly research for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor.

The preferred candidate will demonstrate skills within areas, from foundational through advanced levels: design foundations, typography and layout, ideation, and design thinking. Including specific skills in one or more of the following: user experience, user interface, social design, digital marketing, identity systems, social media, and visual storytelling. Additional desirable areas of expertise could include motion graphics, digital imaging, digital illustration, and animation.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to work within multiple platforms, current and emerging digital platforms, and or related disciplines that combine digital with analog learning experiences. In addition, having either industry experience working as a designer or university teaching experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach within the Graphic Design schedule of classes at all undergraduate levels; perform committee duties at department, college, and university levels; continue their professional and/or research work in their area of specialization; and broaden connections to local, regional and national communities within their area of expertise.

In addition, the candidate will collaborate on curriculum development and assessment. Provide classroom instruction, classroom management like attendance, grading, student communication, integration of learning management software, preparation of course material including class syllabi, project/assignments, and exams, guiding classroom critique, consulting with students, replying to students’ inquiries, facilitating course evaluations, and mentoring students beyond the classroom.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• MFA or MDes or MGD in graphic design or appropriately related field.

• Demonstrate design skills within areas from foundational through advanced levels.

• Experience in design foundations, typography and layout, ideation, and design thinking.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and Mac OS.

• Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Previous teaching experience at the college or university level.

• Client-based practice and/or a record of scholarly creative work.

• Experience in ONE or more of the following areas:

• User Experience

• User Interface

• Social Design

• Digital Marketing

• Identity Systems

• Social Media

• Visual Storytelling

• Motion Graphics

• Digital Imaging

• Digital Illustration

• Animation

The Successful Candidate Will

• Teach courses from foundational through advanced levels.

• Have interest and rotate through teaching History of Graphic Design.

• Pursue an active research-based and/or professional design practice.

• Collaborate on curriculum development and assessment.

• Contribute service to the university, the community, and the profession.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

Students come from all over the country to study at the School of Art, particularly in our graphic design program. Our art students and our curriculum are inclined toward creative problem solving and entrepreneurial thinking. The School of Art faculty comprise a group of enthusiastic practitioners and thinkers, with expertise in publication design, letterpress, typography, screen-printing, web design, illustration, digital imaging, advertising and design history. The program emphasizes critical thinking skills and practical experience in both traditional and digital media.

The Department

Within the School of Art, there are approximately 350 students majoring in studio art, design ( BFA ), art education and art history (BA), as well as graduate programs in Fine Arts ( MFA ) and Art History (MA). All programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design ( NASAD ). For more information visit our website at: www.montana.edu/art

The College

The College of Arts and Architecture is home to distinctive academic programs housed in the Schools of Art, Architecture, Music and Film & Photography. Students enjoy close mentoring relationships with faculty through a curriculum that is rich in studio- and lab-based pedagogy. The College offers international and cultural travel opportunities for students in all majors and encourages internship experiences for many of its programs. The College hosts the only accredited Architecture program in Montana and supports a unique, world-class graduate film program in science and natural history filmmaking. Graduates from the college enjoy successful careers in art, design, media production, photography, architecture, education and music, or choose to apply the discipline, creative problem solving skills and work ethic embedded in their programs to other careers. The College is home to the internationally recognized Montana Shakespeare in the Parks theater company and supports the Black Box Theatre as well as innovation and design spaces such as the Design Sandbox for Engaged Learning and the Community Design Center. For more information about the College of Arts and Architecture, go to www.montana.edu/caa

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on February 9, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

• Teaching Statement; Experience and Philosophy

• Resume AND /OR Curriculum Vitae

• Sample Creative Work (15 – 20 examples in a PDF portfolio)

• Sample Student Work (15 – 20 examples in a PDF portfolio)

• Letter of Interest specifically addressing qualifications

Diversity Statement

Montana State University values diverse perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career (https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment-hiring-onboarding/dual_career/dualcareer.html) couples.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

MSU’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Website: https://www.montana.edu/hr/recruitment-hiring-onboarding/dual_career/dualcareer.html