The Department of Writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in poetry, beginning in August of 2024. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
PROGRAM PROFILE
SAIC’s Writing Department uses the studio art model to create a unique, interdisciplinary writing curriculum within one of the nation’s most influential colleges of art and design. Students in the Writing Department have opportunities to explore both within and between genres, and to connect with disciplines throughout SAIC. In addition to developing distinct literary work, the integrative emphasis of the school galvanizes students to form collectives, presses, galleries, and theater groups that enrich local, national, and international cultural landscapes. The Writing Department draws on a distinguished core faculty with diverse artistic and intellectual concerns, and the innovative curriculum encourages exploration of the possibilities of hybrid work, new forms, and collaborative projects.
Writing Department courses are populated by students from the writing degree programs along with but also students from nearly every department at SAIC. Our talented students come from varying educational, professional and lived experiences and backgrounds. Writing faculty encounter student filmmakers, performers, video artists, visual artists, designers, historians, and other practitioners incorporating writing in their work. Successful SAIC faculty meet our students where they are in their professional practices, assist them in identifying and developing their individual educational objectives, and support their artistic development wherever their unexpected paths may lead.
Further information about the Department can be found at: http://www.saic.edu/academics/departments/writing/.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Full-time faculty in the Department of Writing teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. This Assistant Professor position will be charged with teaching poetic practice, mentoring students, and situating poetry within the broader artistic contexts of the Department and the School. Full-time faculty participate in the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development, departmental administration, and school governance.
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD or MFA in creative writing/literary studies or a terminal degree in another relevant field of study is preferred. Teaching experience and a substantial record of ongoing publication and practice in the area of poetry are required. SAIC is particularly interested in candidates who can contribute creative and engaged pedagogy with as expansive an understanding of poetry’s history and potential as possible, including its intersections with other writing, art, and design disciplines and studio practices, as well as its range of social and technological inflections. Candidates should have proven experience working productively with students from a broad range of aesthetic practices, cultural backgrounds, and intersecting genres. The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and/or a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversation and creative practices in the field. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds and practices. Candidates should demonstrate their experience with, or aptitude for, departmental administration.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, January 8, 2024, for full consideration. Please submit application materials via http://SAICfaculty.slideroom.com. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline. Applications will not be accepted after February 8, 2024.
Complete the fields for: educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:
- Cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Diversity statement
- Statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, gender, and/or socio-economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field
- Statement of research and practice
- Writing samples (not to exceed a combined maximum of 30 pages)
- Documentation of a selection of professional work if interdisciplinary work is a core component of practice
- Two examples of course syllabi
All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
ABOUT SAIC
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.
Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MDes in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Title IX Coordinator
Robert Babcock, 116 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60603, rbabco@artic.edu.
Section 504 Coordinator
Felice Dublon, PhD, Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, The Office of Student Affairs, 36 S. Wabash Ave., suite 1204, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.629.6800, fdublon@saic.edu.
For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS
SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs at mscranton@saic.edu.
