Head of Foundations on Campus

Location: Lakewood, CO

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 per year + annual stipend

Application Deadline: June 12. 2024

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design invites applicants to apply for the position of Head of Foundations supporting the college campus. This is a full-time, non-tenure track position consisting of studio art instruction, faculty mentorship, leadership, and curricular development. The Head of Foundations will primarily teach first-year and transfer students enrolled in the BFA degrees at the college and will also teach courses in Fine Arts. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team consisting of the Chair, three department Heads, and four facilities Coordinators. Responsibilities include teaching five courses a year within Foundations and Fine Arts conducted over 8-week terms, active participation in college service, faculty mentorship, developing co-curricular opportunities for Foundation + Fine Art students, and engaging in an active studio practice. Other responsibilities include supporting the student-centered paradigm, curriculum development, and working across the college in support of the institution’s mission, values, and diversity statement. The position responsibilities are shared with department leadership and vary throughout the year according to the academic calendar.

Position Details | Teaching + Instruction:

• Teach a minimum of 1 class of 12-20 students within an 8-week term for 5 terms.
• Courses taught in this role are determined by the candidate’s expertise. Foundations + Fine Arts classes may include Seminar: Methods of Inquiry, 2D Design: Elements + Principles, 3D Design: Space + Materiality, Time-Based Media, Special Topics Courses, Professional Practice, Form + Content, Portfolio Reviews, and Senior Studio courses. General Fine Art areas include painting, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and time-based media.
  
  
  

Scholarship + Creative Work:

• Create and exhibit creative works; examples can include but are not limited to performances, installations, and general works of art.
• Contribute to scholarship that advances knowledge and learning; examples can include but are not limited to peer-reviewed articles, texts, chapters, and national conference presentations.
  
  
  

Service to the College:

• Support the Institutional Mission, Vision, and Values, and the Diversity Statement of the College.
• Participate in academic assessment and program review.
• Attend college events, meetings, and training sessions as determined by the Provost, the President, Deans, and Department Chair.
• Engage with community organizations and associations that further and promote RMCAD.
• Engage in outreach activities including open house events, orientations, webinars, and presentations.
  
  
  

Service to the Department:

• Assist the Chair in curriculum development activities in the Foundations and in the Fine Arts.
• Develop exhibition and professional practice opportunities for students in the Denver Metro area and beyond.
• Mentor faculty and assist with course preparation each term. This responsibility is shared with two other department Heads and the Chair.
• Assist in the hiring of faculty, on-boarding process, and faculty observations.
• Support Foundations + Fine Arts faculty in daily operations and troubleshooting issues.
• Manage the end of term clean-up to ensure the successful start-up of the following term.
• Assist the Chair in ordering supplies for designated courses.
• Assist in the development of Department policies and procedures.
• Assist the Chair in planning curricular summits, department meetings, student meetings, advisory board meetings, and special events.
• Assist the Chair with the oversight of departmental, institutional accreditation.
  
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• A collaborative, empathetic approach to working faculty and students from a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and academic backgrounds is essential.
• A Master of Fine Arts within the Studio Arts.
• At least three years of postsecondary teaching experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum building and teaching in the area of Foundations.
• Evidence of a dynamic professional practice and engagement in the field through exhibitions, publications, or similar endeavors.
• Demonstrated evidence of strong organizational skills.
• Must live in or be willing to relocate to the Denver Metro area.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Online teaching experience.
• Leadership experience or evidence of high-level service with examples of proven results related to community engagement or college-level service work.
• Significant experience in contemporary practice.
• Applicants whose studio practice and teaching are engaged in the inclusion of diverse perspectives are encouraged to apply.
  
  
  

Benefits:

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Basic Life & AD&D
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Sick
• Paid Holidays (7 Most Observed, Birthday, & December Gift Holidays (determined by President annually)
• 401k employer match
• Tuition Assistance
• Other Voluntary Benefits Offered
  
  
  

About the Department:

The unified Departments of Fine Arts + Foundations serve RMCAD’s BFA degrees in Animation, Art Education, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Game Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Illustrative Design, Interior Design, and Photography. The Foundations area educates students in the development of creative studio practice by fostering individualized and collaborative learning emphasizing cultural engagement, process, and visual literacy. The Fine Arts area develops conceptual and technical abilities in students to pursue creative professional careers, individual studio practices, or advanced education in the Arts.

Our curriculum takes a multi-disciplinary approach to Art and Design. Students experience a broad range of disciplines to better align with the ways contemporary makers are working today. We encourage our students to contribute to the ongoing dialogue of creative culture and to pursue life-long scholarship and creativity.

To Apply:

• Submit a single PDF to the ‘Resume’ area of the application including the following:
• A cover letter describing your interest in RMCAD and qualifications. Please keep letters to one page.
• Current CV
• A statement of teaching philosophy that interweaves your approach to an inclusive classroom.
• A statement including research interests, research accomplishments, and goals for the future.
• A link to a website consisting of personal work and student work.
• Submit an additional PDF or website link to the ‘Cover letter‘ section of the application including:
• a professional portfolio of 10-20 works with project descriptions
• a student work portfolio of 10-20 works with project descriptions
• Unofficial Transcripts; the successful candidate will submit official transcripts
• Please keep PDFs under 5 MB
  
  

About the College:

The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a growing and dynamic community of diverse educators and practicing artists. RMCAD was established in 1963 by Philip J. Steele, who had the vision to provide students with a quality higher education in art and design. RMCAD continues to experience growth since its comparatively modest beginnings and now thrives on a lush, historic campus including more than 23 acres of land and 16 buildings. RMCAD currently enrolls over 1,600 students and is dedicated to living its mission and values, specifically that “Our students come first.” The college continuously works with faculty and staff towards developing an evolving student-ready paradigm.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design commits itself to the tenants of change, growth, and action, which embrace diversity as an integral part of the academic and professional community. Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is an accredited institutional member of National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is a non-tenure institution and an equal opportunity employer.

EOE