CCA Critical Studies webpage

Critical Studies Computational Practices Minor Information

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Unranked, Adjunct Faculty, Critical Studies Program

Part-time

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Critical Studies Program, housed within the Humanities & Sciences division, develops students’ distinctive voices and critical thinking skills. The curriculum invites students to consider multiple perspectives when exploring complex problems. Our courses provide opportunities for stimulating interactions, conducting interdisciplinary work, and respecting diversity and inclusion.

Science & Math courses teach skills in experimentation, modeling, and observation. Critical Studies offers a minor in Computational Practices, which invites artists and designers to apply computational programming skills within the context of their studio practice in art and design. Coursework in Computational Practice provides students with the skills and resources to create new technologies and tools in ways that advance their disciplines. The program views programming and technology in a broad sense, and incorporates a range of tools and techniques drawing on hardware, interfaces, and other new and emerging technologies that invite creative experimentation in understanding, generating, and applying data about the world. Faculty in Science & Math who teach Computational Practices courses are dedicated to helping students understand and appreciate the role of technology in society, and how to create and combine technological designs to improve society within the framework of the scientific method.

Position Summary

The Critical Studies Department at CCA invites instructors with programming and technological expertise to apply for unranked Adjunct positions (Adjunct I and Adjunct II). Candidates should have experience programming in JavaScript, Arduino, and other programming languages. They should have experience building usable tools, devices, and systems designed for an array of practical contexts, as well as experience using programming in the service of art or design-focused projects. The ideal candidate will have strong track record as a technologist as well as demonstrated success in art and design contexts. Candidates should be able to teach students both programming and critical thinking skills related to scientific methods. Experience with current and emerging topics in Computational Practices, including artificial intelligence / machine learning, sensing, and physical computing are also desirable.

In keeping with CCA’s commitment to diversity, community engagement, social justice, and belonging, we seek candidates who cultivate an equitable scholarly environment and curriculum within an increasingly international student body and a large demographic of first-generation college students. Ideal candidates will bring energy and enthusiasm to the task of teaching innovative curriculum in order to foster the next generation of artists to achieve brilliance in the 21st century. We value intellectual flexibility and creative approaches to scholarship and to teaching.

This position may teach across the Computational Practices minor, and from one to up to as many as three to four classes per year in some combination of the following:

• Introduction to Computational Practices 1
• Introduction to Computational Practices 2
• Computational Studio practices
• Programming in specific languages such as JavaScript and Arduino
• Specialty programming topics

Unranked faculty jobs serve the specific instructional needs of the college. Adjunct I and Adjunct II faculty provide students with instruction by ensuring the delivery of designated course content and adherence to stated learning goals for assigned courses.

Core Duties:

• Maintain competence in the field of instruction (inclusive of staying informed of current developments in that field) and successfully bring this expertise to bear on instruction and the achievement of student learning for all students in the course.
• Attend new faculty orientation, if applicable.
• Develop and/or revise the course section description, syllabus, assignments, activities, curricula, and policies in accordance with all program policies and directives.
• Adhere to the course description as communicated to students by the College.
• Adhere to the course-specific learning outcomes as designated and provided by the Program, and participate in course, program, and college assessment and accreditation activities.
• Prepare for class; plan, coordinate, and lead all classroom activities; and assist students with course materials.
• Regularly monitor student progress, provide feedback and grades to students, and discuss performance with students.
• Exclusively use CCA email addresses and servers for all CCA communications; and during the period of the course obligations, substantively respond to all CCA-related communications within 48 hours.
• Submit a course syllabus adhering to all program and college requirements and input the required textbook information by the deadlines established by the College.
• Submit grades for all students by the deadline established by Student Records.
• Attend meetings related to course teaching obligations when required.
• Apprise the program chair, designated coordinator, program expert, advising staff, and/or administrative staff of any concerns regarding students as needed.

Adjunct I and Adjunct II faculty are expected to attend all scheduled course meeting sessions. Additional guidelines regarding faculty absences are outlined in the Faculty Handbook and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Adjunct I and Adjunct II faculty will be evaluated according to the college-wide faculty evaluation process as a method of demonstrating teaching effectiveness.

Adjunct I faculty must apply for promotion review after teaching five courses at CCA and be awarded promotion by the Provost in order to be eligible to continue teaching at the College. Adjunct II faculty must apply for promotion review after 12 semesters of teaching at CCA or ten course lines as an Adjunct II, and be awarded promotion by the Provost in order to be eligible to continue teaching at the College. The promotion review process and outcomes are defined in Article 15 of the CBA.

Adjunct I and Adjunct II faculty members are expected to abide by all operational policies of the College; however, it is the responsibility of the College to give appropriate advance notice of policy and operational changes, and to include information concerning changes in faculty orientation and training sessions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADJUNCT I

● A terminal degree is preferred.

● High quality teaching of four or fewer courses as an instructor of record or its equivalent level of student teaching responsibility at an accredited higher education institution; and/or

● The equivalent in non-teaching professional experience in the area of the teaching, as judged by the College, is required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADJUNCT II

● A terminal degree is preferred.

● High quality teaching of five or more courses as an instructor of record or its equivalent level of student teaching responsibility at an accredited higher education institution as judged by the College, is required.

Salary

Current pay rates are available here. 

Application Deadline

Applications are now being accepted. This is a rolling application process. The review of applications will be ongoing and materials will be kept for future possibilities unless applicants indicate otherwise.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates may apply via an online application available at this address:

Qualified applicants must complete the online application by uploading the following materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of interest
• Statement of teaching philosophy highlighting areas of pedagogic concentration
• Statement addressing scholarship and/or professional practice
• Contact information for three professional references

Samples of student work, course descriptions and/or syllabi may be requested by the search committee at a later date.

College

Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is an independent non-profit art college with undergraduate programs in architecture, design, fine arts, visual studies, and writing and literature. The college also has graduate programs in architecture, comics, design, interaction design, curatorial practice, design strategy, fine arts, film, visual and critical studies, and writing.  Through these programs, the college has created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment to fulfill the school’s motto of “Make art that matters.”  Diverse cultural perspectives enrich the CCA community and the college believes that continuing to expand the horizons of the students and faculty is essential to achieving its educational objectives. CCA represents over one hundred years of dedication to its mission, whose character reflects its location in the San Francisco Bay Area, where histories of radical politics and technological innovation inform a culturally rich academic community infused by art schools, research universities, world-renowned museums, galleries, start-ups, and community-run institutions. 

EEO Statement

As an educational and cultural institution, California College of the Arts has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people, with special attention to supporting groups historically underrepresented in higher education. We believe that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence, and our student, faculty, staff, and trustee bodies should reflect the diverse world in which we live, with attention to race, ethnicity, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and ability. California College of the Arts is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.