DIRECTOR OF THE LOW-RESIDENCY MFA PROGRAM

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a Director of the Low-Residency MFA Program, beginning in January of 2024. This tenured faculty position will serve in a leadership role, overseeing the Low-Residency MFA Program. 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

The Low-Residency MFA Program at SAIC is a three-year (seven semester) program, with approximately 90 students pursuing artistic, writing, and critical practices in an interdisciplinary environment. Some twenty faculty members from SAIC serve as the program’s core faculty along with a robust program of visiting artists and scholars. The Visiting Artist & Scholar Series has included Yvonne Rainer, Glenn Ligon, Eileen Myles, Zoe Leonard, Andrea Fraser, Wu Tsang, Fred Moten, Lynne Cooke, Cassils, Nancy Shaver, and Rodney McMillan. Students are on campus every summer for a 6-week intensive term in June and July. During the fall and spring, students take courses online and advise with an international network of studio mentors.

Further information about the Low-Residency MFA Program can be found at: http://www.saic.edu/academics/graduatedegrees/lowresmfa/

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of the Low-Residency MFA Program is a leadership position at SAIC. The Director is responsible for envisioning, implementing, and assessing the curricular initiatives of the program in coordination with the Assistant Director, the Graduate Coordinator, and the administrative staff. The Director hires and oversees core faculty, online faculty, teaching assistants, and fabrication instructors while also selecting guest lecturers for the Visiting Artist & Scholar Series and the commencement speakers. The Director also oversees the admissions and recruitment process and serves as a mentor and advocate for the student body, guiding their artistic and professional development while they are in the program, and maintaining connections with alumni after they graduate.

Other duties include facilities coordination and resource allocation. The Director works in partnership with the Graduate Division, Student Affairs, and the chairs of twenty-four studio and academic departments. In addition, the Director is an outward facing member of the SAIC community who represents the program to the School at large, to potential students, the city of Chicago, and in professional circles.

A selection of primary responsibilities of the Director include:

• Liaising with institutional, departmental, and program leaders throughout SAIC to effectively plan and implement the Low-Residency MFA curriculum and programming.
• Selecting and overseeing the Visiting Artist & Scholar Series in consultation with the Assistant Director, Graduate Coordinators, Administrative Director and core faculty.
• Directing and mentoring faculty in their departmental service responsibilities, promotion processes, and classroom activities.
• Hiring and scheduling faculty for all Low-Residency MFA classes in consultation with the Assistant Director, Graduate Coordinator, and Administrative Director.
• Working with the Assistant Director and Graduate Coordinator to develop assessment models and analyze their results, while also engaging with broader school-wide assessment procedures and accreditation cycles.
• Collaborating with the Senior Administrative Director to develop departmental procedures and logistics and to oversee the administrative staff.
• Working with Graduate Admissions on recruitment, overseeing the admissions process at the department level, including scholarship awards and admissions conversion.
• Supervises Graduate Coordinator for the MFA Exhibition and events in conjunction with the Department of Exhibitions and Exhibition Studies.
• Supervises Program Mentor Coordinator for mentorship pairings with each student in the Fall and Spring terms.
• Active participation in SAIC shared governance through membership on Faculty Senate Committees and in monthly Department Heads meetings.
• The Director must be present on campus during the 6-week summer intensive.
• In addition to the above, the position of the Director involves numerous other responsibilities that emerge from the ongoing administrative needs of the program.
• This position is based in Chicago.

QUALIFICATIONS

An MFA in fine art or writing or a terminal degree in another relevant field of study is preferred. Significant teaching and/or program directing experience is preferred. The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and practices in the field. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants are encouraged to apply by October 1, 2023 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 November 1, 2023.

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
• 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
• Documentation of a selection of professional work

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/wor... 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.