Tenure Track Faculty

7332BR

College of Art and Design

CAD School of Design

Detailed Job Description

The School of Design in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology invites applicants to apply for two (2) tenure track positions to teach in the 3D Digital Design program . The School of Design offers a BFA in 3D Digital Design. The program enrolls approximately 140 students. A combination of full-time and adjunct faculty contributes a range of professional interests and expertise in a studio setting. Students work with 3D graphics software to develop game levels, virtual worlds, digital characters, visualizations, simulations, motion graphics, projections, and more.
Position Description:

The 3D Digital Design program is seeking applicants to teach primarily 3D Digital Design courses using real-time design software such as Unreal (or willing to transition Unity skills to Unreal curriculum) as well as standard 3D content creation software (like Maya/Blender) within a design curriculum.  Expertise in other graphics software is important as well. The ability to teach a variety of some of the following content: modeling, lighting, materials, rendering, scripting, etc., as well as awareness or interest in adapting to emerging tools like XR, AI, virtual production, or the Metaverse, is particularly important. As our field is rapidly changing and adapting, a commitment to scholarship combined with constant professional development is key.  Courses focus on 3D digital skills as they relate to design. Utilizing research, experimentation, critical thinking, creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a range of problem-solving principles, students learn to solve complex visual problems within the constraints of time, space, budget, and technology. Emphasis is also placed on the delivery of content in immersive environments with full-body input. In addition to a full teaching load each term, other responsibilities include advising students, assisting in curriculum development, pursuing research/scholarship, and providing service to the program and school. The candidate will teach primarily in the BFA program but may also have an opportunity to teach in an MFA program and sit on MFA thesis committees.
Responsibilities include:

• Teaching 5-6 courses per year ranging from lower-division foundations to upper-division and graduate levels
• Working with School of Design faculty on program and curricular development
• Maintaining a high level of expertise in 3D graphics areas
• Advising students for capstone/thesis projects and providing professional mentorship
• Engaging in scholarly activities/research within the arts, design, and media disciplines
• Rendering service to the school, college, university, and community
• Career advising and mentoring students

We are seeking an individual to live our values, embrace diverse perspectives, and nurture the RIT community to remain a great place to work for all; who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student-centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; respect, diversity and pluralism; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT’s 

core values

, 

honor code

, and 

statement of diversity

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Department/College Description

THE DEPARTMENT:  The internationally-recognized School of Design offers five undergraduate programs and three graduate programs. The undergraduate programs include 3D Digital Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and New Media Design. The graduate programs include Visual Communication Design, Industrial Design, and Integrative Design. All programs are supported by the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. SOD provides a creative community where students have the opportunity to discover their unique talents and expressive potential, while at the same time developing the skills needed to fulfill any creative or technical role in the expansive fields of design. SOD has an enrollment of more than 800 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. The renowned alumni and faculty have been recognized as National Design Award recipients, design leaders at some of the most respected company brands in the world, and thought-leaders in the field of design and bettering the human condition. To learn more, visit https://www.rit.edu/artdesign/school-design .

THE COLLEGE:  RIT’s College of Art and Design is the university’s creative hub where art, design, science, and technology intersect in our 200,000+ sq. ft. facility. We are a dynamic and professional arts and design community comprised of 1,900 students (UG and Grad), nearly 140 full-time faculty, 60 creative staff, and a number of professional part-time faculty, all of whom contribute to our College’s ecosystem. The College’s four schools offer programs in Art, Design, Crafts, Film and Animation, Photography and Photographic Sciences. The range of innovative programs offers students a panoramic perspective from creating fine art using centuries-old methods to pushing the boundaries of digital creativity. The College of Art and Design also takes full advantage of RIT’s opportunities in technology, STEM, engineering, sustainability, and entrepreneurism programs, as well as our global campuses, https://rit.edu/artdesign .

Required Minimum Qualifications

• MFA degree or equivalent terminal degree.  In certain circumstances, exceptional professional and creative experience in a design-related field may be considered.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience
• Minimum of two years of teaching experience at the university level beyond a teaching assistantship
• Progressive and innovative approach to teaching and learning 3D digital design
• Strong 3D digital design and aesthetic skills, as well as skills in areas such as scripting, imaging, interactive media, real-time design, or related areas
• Proficiency in related 3D software, for example, Unreal Game Engine, Unity, Maya, Blender, Zbrush, and Adobe Creative Suite.  Will look favorably on candidates with scripting and coding knowledge.
• Competence in planning and organizing principles and strategies for developing, implementing and supervising creative and innovative projects using 3D software.
• Ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the college’s continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism, and individual differences.

Required Minimum Education Level

MFA

Faculty Type (Tenure Status)

Tenure-Track

Faculty Rank

Assistant Professor

Employment Category

Fulltime

Anticipated Start Date

16-Aug-2023

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, List of References, Portfolio of Students’ Work, Portfolio of Work, Statement of Diversity Contribution, Statement of Teaching Philosophy, Video samples (provide links to websites or YouTube)

How To Apply

Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty ; search openings, then Keyword Search 7332BR. Please submit your application; cover letter addressing the listed qualifications; your updated curriculum vitae; and upload the following attachments:

• A brief teaching philosophy
• Provide the names, addresses and phone numbers for three references
• A Contribution to Diversity Statement that addresses ways in which you approach diversity in your teaching process and incorporate elements of diversity into your design approaches
• Provide a link to 5 to 10 examples of professional work
• Provide a link to 5 to 10 examples of motion design student work

To receive full consideration, all application materials should be received by January 15, 2023. The search will remain open until an acceptable candidate is found.

Additional Details

The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Commitment To Safety

COVID 19: Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of the RIT Safety Plan . Information on the responsibility for each employee can be found on the RIT Ready website. As per the RIT Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy , all university employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Vaccination exemptions may be granted: (1) to employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition or disability; (2) on the basis of an employee’s sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, or (3) to employees who are fully remote and sign an Employee Attestation stating that they will not be on campus for any reason, nor will they participate in any in-person university-sponsored activities.