Grand Valley State University

Affiliate Professor of Introduction to Art Department of Visual & Media Arts

Full Time

R103809

The Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA) at Grand Valley State University invites applications for a position as Affiliate Professor of Introduction to Art, to begin Fall 2026. The successful candidate will teach four sections of ART 101 - Introduction to Art (a general education course designed for non‑majors) per semester and will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the course, including curriculum oversight, assessment, staffing, scheduling, and budget management.

This is an in‑person teaching assignment.

Applicants are expected to have, at minimum, a master’s degree in a discipline represented by the VMA's five major programs (Art Education, Art History, Film/Video Production, Photography, or Studio Art). Individuals from all backgrounds, including from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

• MA, MFA, or Ph.D. in a field represented by the five major programs in the Department of Visual & Media Arts:
  Art Education, Art History, Film/Video Production, Photography, or Studio Art. (
  
  Note:
  
  There are eight areas of concentration within the Studio Art major, including Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry/Metalsmithing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Visual Studies.)
• Two years of college level teaching in a field related to one of the five major programs in VMA:
  Art Education, Art History, Film/Video Production, Photography, or Studio Art.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect and cultural humility.

• Experience teaching introductory art to non‑majors, online and in‑person
• Evidence of sustained engagement with contemporary visual arts
• Evidence of experience with curriculum development
• Evidence of leadership experience in an academic or professional context

The successful candidate will teach eight courses per year (4/4, 24 credits per year) in a NASAD‑accredited undergraduate program. Their principal teaching assignment will include multiple sections of ART 101, with the potential for teaching one course each year in another VMA program area. In addition, they will act as coordinator of the ART 101 course, responsible for oversight of its curriculum, assessment, staffing, scheduling, and budget.

ART 101 is a general education course for non‑art majors, designed to foster interest and appreciation for the arts broadly, serving between 400–600 Grand Valley students each year. There are typically 13–15 sections of 101 per semester, each comprised of 35 seats.

The successful candidate will apply a broad perspective in their teaching and coordination of ART 101, ideally making connections between course content, the five major VMA programs, and supporting a liberal arts education.

Affiliate faculty are not required to maintain an active record of scholarship/creative work. However, they are expected to remain current in their field of practice through professional development activities that will improve their disciplinary knowledge, competence, or skills. In the Department of Visual and Media Arts, professional development activities typically include attending exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and obtaining professional certifications, among other initiatives.

Professional Development financial support can be obtained annually through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Affiliate faculty have a higher time commitment toward effective instruction and therefore should not expect to engage in department service unless compensated for their efforts through reassigned time on task.

Typically, the initial appointment for Affiliate Faculty is for one academic year, on a full‑time basis. This may be renewed once for an additional academic or fiscal year. Thereafter, such individuals may be appointed for up to three consecutive academic or fiscal years. Employment…