Assistant Professor In Theatre, Costume Design And Construction
Southern Oregon University
Application
Details
Posted: 12-Sep-24
Location: Ashland, Oregon
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 5601579
Assistant Professor In Theatre, Costume Design And Construction
Southern Oregon University
POSITION SUMMARY: Date application must be received for priority consideration by: November 1, 2024 Anticipated Appointment Begin Date: September 16, 2025 Closing Date or if blank, Open Until Filled: Job Family Group: Faculty Division/Department: School of Arts & Communication/Theatre Compensation Range: $65,508 - $69,520 (Assistant Prof YIR 1-4) commensurate with experience in a comparable faculty appointment and according to the SOU faculty collective bargaining agreement Faculty Classification of Instruction Programs (CIP) Code anticipated: 50.05, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft FLSA Status: Exempt Appointment Basis: 9 month Time Type: Full-time Benefits Eligible: Yes Renewable/Non-renewable/Grants/Limited Duration: Renewable This position is designated as a critical, security-sensitive or safety-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check: Yes Work Location Type: On-Campus Worker Status: Must be able to legally work in the United States without visa sponsorship
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:
Finalist Candidates for faculty positions shall provide copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the search committee at the time they are notified that they are a finalist.
Each applicant is required to provide (as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) letter providing some detail of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) current resume/CV; (3) at least three professional references; (4) Online design portfolio. If you are unable to attach the supplemental materials to the online application, please contact Human Resources for assistance.
For inquiries and additional information, please contact: Human Resource Services via email at [email protected] or by phone at (541)552-8553.
Our benefits package is an important complement to the offered salary and our Total Compensation Calculator, https://inside.sou.edu/hrs/comp-calc.html, demonstrates our value and commitment to our employees.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The School of Arts & Communication (ACO) at Southern Oregon University (SOU) is seeking candidates for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor in Theatre, Costume Design and Construction.
Located in the vibrant theatre community of Ashland, Oregon, SOU's Theatre Department offers an undergraduate BFA program that mounts 3-6 full scale productions per year and serves approximately 200 majors.
The Costume and Character Design and Production faculty member will serve an intensive costume and character design sequence, as well as the general SOU student population. We work closely with other programs in the School of Arts & Communication, such as Digital Cinema, Music, Art, and Emerging Media Digital Arts.
The Costume Design and Construction faculty member will provide courses in costume design and fabrication along with character design and concept art to students of all levels. They will also provide other courses that support the Theatre major and in their area of expertise. Based on expertise, assigned courses might include Fashion in Western Culture, Costume Crafts, Stage Makeup, Elements of Design, African-American Theatre, Asian-American Theatre, Latinx Theatre, World Theatre, Theatre History, Dramatic Literature, or others. Teaching responsibilities may include online or large lecture-style courses. Faculty will also mentor students in the design and fabrication of costumes, makeup, hair, and costume props for Theatre productions and other school collaborations, such as student films produced in the Digital Cinema program.
This position actively supervises the costume shop and is supported by a dedicated full-time staff member. Together, the faculty and staff will share responsibility of managing the costume shop's equipment and inventory, budgets, and costume stock. Attendance at regular production meetings and some rehearsals is expected. Other responsibilities include advising, recruiting, curriculum development, professional affiliations as appropriate, and other responsibilities as assigned.
As a tenure track member of the faculty, they will be expected to maintain their creative activity and scholarship. This can be achieved through continued professional engagement including professional design or technical work, publishing, conference attendance, workshop presentations, and involvement in professional organizations. Tenure-track faculty also have service responsibilities within the department, school, and institution, including committee service, student advising, and new student recruitment.
The School of Arts & Communication is actively engaging in addressing and serving the needs of the growing diversity of its student body and welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds including historically underrepresented groups in higher education.
We offer excellent comprehensive health and retirement benefits. The start date is September 2025 and the position will be open until filled with priority deadline of November 1, 2024.
Southern Oregon University is a public liberal arts institution of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. The surrounding area is known for cultural offerings such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Ashland International Film Festival, and the Britt Music Festival. The region is noted for its unparalleled biodiversity and the university lies in close proximity to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The Rogue Valley is renowned for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and biking.
Minimum Qualifications
Initial appointment at the rank of assistant professor requires an MFA in costuming or in a related discipline from an accredited institution.
Applicants should have at least one year of university teaching experience AND professional credits as a costume designer and/or fabricator in the arts
Demonstration of effective teaching and mentorship;
Demonstration of the desire, patience, and ability to effectively train novice students;
Ability to work collaboratively and cordially with fellow faculty, student performers, designers, technicians, guest artists, and directors;
Applicants should provide documented evidence of teaching excellence and scholarly activities.
Preferred Qualifications
Significant professional design and fabrication experience for the performing arts;
Additional design and/or fabrication experience outside of Theatre, this may include film/television, dance, fabric arts, fashion industry or similar related industries;
Scholarly knowledge of costume and fashion history and culture;
Experience managing a costume shop and production schedule;
Experience with life drawing and fashion design using traditional media;
Experience with character design and concept art especially with digital tools;
Experience or willingness to adopt digital design techniques into the design workflow including digital painting, 3D modeling and sculpting, and digital fabrication such as 3D printing;
Experience or interest in fabrication with non-traditional media in sculpture, installation art, fabric arts, or stage properties.
Eagerness to work collaboratively on creative projects outside of traditional Theatre design;
A truly collaborative and collegial temperament with students, faculty, and staff on all aspects of the position.
Evidence of sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, LGBTQ, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students;
Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching and supervising students from diverse backgrounds.
Essential Functions
Duties - The following examples are typical work activities that are meant to illustrate the general range of work functions and are not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive
(100%) The primary responsibilities of all faculty members are: teaching, professional development, and service.
Teaching encompasses normal instructional activities beyond the teaching of assigned courses such as academic advising, working with students outside of class, posting and maintaining appropriate office hours, course and curriculum planning, etc.
Professional Development includes maintaining currency in the discipline taught.
Service includes program and institutional administrative, committee, and student support and retention activities
In addition, professorial faculty members are expected to participate in scholarly and/or creative activities, including formal research (whether in scholarship of discovery, scholarship of synthesis, scholarship of application, or scholarship of teaching), and in service to the university and beyond the campus, such as in professional organizations or other professionally related public service
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Demonstrated excellence in written, verbal, and technical communication skills and with a high degree of personal integrity and standards
Ability to facilitate an innovative, transformative curriculum and pedagogy to enable students to be prepared for the future
Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing
Demonstrated experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations
Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist
Demonstrated ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, sometimes under pressure and a fast-paced environment
Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations
Demonstrated ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems
Ability to independently analyze software functionality and design and document efficient/effective work processes
Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with community leaders, business leaders, and donors to advance the mission and vision of the institution.
Demonstrated ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information.
Must be able to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy
Ability to take initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters
Demonstrated ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail
Proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, internet/online systems (e.g., calendaring and email), social media platforms, Learning Management Systems, etc.
Demonstrated ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere internally and externally, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds
Physical Demand
Regular teaching activities, including standing/sitting, lecturing, and using a computer.
Special Conditions
Workload expectations are outlined in the Association for Professors, Southern Oregon University (APSOU) Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 19.
Teaching assignments may include First Year Experience, online and/or hybrid courses, Medford and Ashland campus classes, and day, evening, and weekend courses.
Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
Must be able to work additional hours and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.
Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
Under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), this position classification is defined as exempt and is not subject to overtime regulations.
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the Oregon Revised Statutes and is required to comply with the requirements set forth by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Compensation: Any formally approved and authorized salary change shall automatically amend this contract.
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SOU is an equal access AA/EOE committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Southern Oregon University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application, interviewing, and selection process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on this application. If, however, you require a reasonable accommodation in the application and/or interview process due to disability, requests must be made in a timely manner to Human Resources.
Diversity Statement: Southern Oregon University is a welcoming community committed to inclusive excellence and the celebration of diversity. Without diversity, our educational process is diminished. Working together in support of our commitment to diversity, we strengthen and enrich our role as learners, educators and members of a tightly connected global community. We encourage those who share in our commitment to diversity, to join our community and we expect all our employees to demonstrate an ability and desire to create an inclusive campus community.
SOU Land Acknowledgement We want to take this moment to acknowledge that Southern Oregon University is located within the ancestral homelands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples who lived here since time immemorial. These Tribes were displaced during rapid Euro-American colonization, the Gold Rush, and armed conflict between 1851 and 1856. In the 1850s, discovery of gold and settlement brought thousands of Euro-Americans to their lands, leading to warfare, epidemics, starvation, and villages being burned. In 1853 the first of several treaties were signed, confederating these Tribes and others together - who would then be referred to as the Rogue River Tribe. These treaties ceded most of their homelands to the United States, and in return they were guaranteed a permanent homeland reserved for them. At the end of the Rogue River Wars in 1856, these Tribes and many other Tribes from western Oregon were removed to the Siletz Reservation and the Grand Ronde Reservation. Today, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (https://www.grandronde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (https://www.ctsi.nsn.us/) are living descendants of the Takelma, Shasta, and Latgawa peoples of this area. We [you may say I or the name of a program/department] encourage YOU to learn about the land you reside on, and to join us in advocating for the inherent sovereignty of Indigenous people.
Notice to Prospective Employees Section 485 of the Higher Education Act, and The Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (now referred to as the 'Clery Act'), require that prospective employees be notified of the availability of SOU's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report provides the annual statistics and campus policies for the reporting of and responding to campus crimes and fires; access to campus facilities; conduct code and campus policies on the use, possession, and sale of drugs/alcohol; and educational/information programs to inform the campus community about campus security procedures and crime prevention.
An electronic copy of the Annual Security Report (ASR)can be accessed at the following link: https://inside.sou.edu/security/statistics.html. A physical copy of the ASR is available at no charge upon request. To request a copy please visit the Campus Public Safety Office at 382 Wightman Street, Ashland OR 97520. For more information call 541-552-6258, or email [email protected].
SOU provides career-focused, comprehensive educational experiences to over 6,200 students. Along with an emphasis on student success and intellectual growth, SOU is committed to diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Theoretical and experiential learning programs provide quality, innovative experiences for students. At SOU, students build strong community connections through internships, mentorships, field studies, capstone projects, volunteer opportunities and civic engagement.