Description
UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN-STOUT
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Assistant Professor: Animation / Professor
of Practice: Animation
The School of Art & Design at
the University of Wisconsin–Stout invites applications for an open position in
Animation commencing fall semester of 2019. This position will support BFA and
MFA students studying Animation and Game Design & Development, as well as
interdisciplinary collaboration focused on animation technologies such as
motion capture. The Assistant Professor position is a
tenure-track, 9-month academic year position and the the Professor of Practice
position is a non-tenure-track, academic staff, 9-month academic year position,
beginning with a two-year contract that becomes renewable annually.. Position
expectations primarily include teaching at the undergraduate level, graduate
level, outreach to industry, creative research, and service to the department,
college, and university.
The BFA in Entertainment Design
and BFA in Game Design & Development regularly have a high national
profile, with recent rankings in The Princeton Review and Animation Career
Review, and student awards at the E3 College Game Design Competition,
Entertainment Software Association, and Intel University Games Showcase.
Collectively, the programs house more than 300 students within the
1,000-student School of Art & Design, the largest public art and design
program in the upper Midwest. The MFA in Design program was ranked #18 on the
2018 ranking list of “Top 25 Graduate Schools for Game Design” by the Princeton
Review.
QUALIFICATIONS (Assistant Professor)
Minimum/Required
- Expertise using industry standard digital
animation tools and software
- Master’s
degree in field related to animation
-OR-
QUALIFICATIONS (Professor of Practice)
Minimum/Required
- Expertise using industry standard digital
animation tools and software
- Bachelor’s
degree in related field, and minimum ten (10) years of professional
experience in a field relevant to animation, including game development,
or a combination of teaching and industry experience equivalent to ten
(10) years
Highly Desired for either
position
- Terminal degree (M.F.A., Ph.D., etc.) in an
area of expertise relevant to digital animation
- Expertise in at least one of
the following areas: rigging, 3D animation, game engine implementation, or
performance-based motion capture animation.
- At least five (5) years of
teaching or professional experience in a field relevant to animation,
including game development
- Knowledge of the animation
process within the game development pipeline
- Evidence of successful
teaching, including traditional and/or online approaches
- Experience in leading
successful creative collaborations
- Experience in VR and AR
technology
Note: Terminal degree (M.F.A., Ph.D., etc.)
required for tenure and promotion, unless by special exception process.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Teach studio courses each semester, following
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) guidelines, that may
include introductory, intermediate, and advanced animation classes, as well as
other studio classes that support the major.
Provide management and oversight of the School
of Art & Design’s Vicon Motion Capture Animation Studio
Collaborate with School of Art & Design
faculty to develop new curriculum
Commitment to working with diverse populations
and fostering an inclusive learning environment
Provide academic advisement for students and
assessment of student learning
Participate in course and program assessment
Perform service to the department, college, and university
Engage in professional creative research
Pursue external funding
Perform other duties as designated by Chair
ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrate organizational skills, collegiality,
and the potential for future leadership in the animation program
Interest in graduate level (MFA)
teaching/support
Advise graduate (MFA) students (only Assistant
Professor position)
Contribute to a rigorous learning environment
with willingness to use traditional, alternative, and digital delivery methods
PROGRAM INFORMATION
The animation area at the University of
Wisconsin–Stout resides in both the Entertainment Design program and the Game
Design & Development BFA programs. UW–Stout competes in these disciplines
on both a regional and national level, attracting students from around the
country and regularly participating in professional organizations such as E3,
GDC, Intel University Showcase, IGDA, IDMAA, SIGGRAPH and the Higher Education
Video Games Alliance. The majors share two new computer labs with industry standard
2D and 3D hardware and software provided to both students and faculty, as well
as a brand new Vicon Motion Capture system and chroma key green screen wall
that is managed and run by the Game Design and Entertainment Design programs.
All programs in the School of Art & Design are accredited by NASAD. For
more information, please visit both:
https://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfa-game-design-and-development and https://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfa-entertainment-design
https://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bfa-game-design-and-development.
The School of Art & Design has over
60 faculty/staff and over 1,000 students, making it the largest public higher
education art and design entity in the upper Midwest. UW–Stout has six distinct
BFA programs, including Entertainment Design, Game Design & Development—Art,
Graphic Design & Interactive Media, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and
Studio Art, a BS in Art Education, and an MFA program in Design. The School of
Art & Design student population accounts for roughly 13% of the on-campus
undergraduate population at UW-Stout. For more information, please visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/artdes
CAMPUS INFORMATION
The University of Wisconsin-Stout offers a rich, dynamic and
collaborative environment in which to work and grow. A member of the University
of Wisconsin system, UW-Stout is unique within the system—it is named after its
founder, James Huff Stout, and holds the distinction of being Wisconsin’s
Polytechnic University, a designation which highlights its combination
of applied learning, real-world experiences and a solid liberal arts
foundation. UW-Stout values innovative approaches to solving problems in
society and industry, and faculty are encouraged to maintain strong ties and
seek collaborative projects within their disciplines and industries. UW-Stout
offers 48 undergraduate and 26 graduate degrees, including two terminal
degrees. Student enrollment is just over 9,500.
The university is located in Menomonie,
Wisconsin, just 60 minutes east of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul,
Minnesota. Menomonie is a vibrant town of 16,000, and is surrounded by lakes,
streams and woodlands. The community is part of the scenic Chippewa Valley
Region, which has a population base of more than 200,000.
More information about the UW-Stout
community and region: http://www.uwstout.edu/about/community.cfm. Facts and data about the university: http://www.uwstout.edu/about/facts.cfm.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This vacancy is being announced
simultaneously with Job Posting ID# 14807 & 14806; please note that only
one vacancy exists. Having two position vacancy listings allows the
School of Art & Design to consider candidates with a different set of
credentials for this particular vacancy.
Applicants
with a Master’s degree should apply for the Assistant Professor
(faculty, tenure-track) position using Job Posting ID #14806 via
https://jobs.uwstout.edu/
Applicants
with a Bachelor’s degree and 10 years experience should apply for the
Professor of Practice (academic staff) using Job Posting ID #14807 via
https://jobs.uwstout.edu/
Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications
and experience. The UW System provides
an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State
retirement plan.
As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative
action employer, UW-Stout is committed to inclusive excellence and is actively
seeking applications from individuals from diverse groups; veterans and
individuals with disabilities.
In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment
Act, employment will be contingent upon a criminal background check and
authorization to work within the United States as required by the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986.
In response to a
public records request, the University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the
identities of applicants who request confidentiality in their online
application, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be
released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
For campus safety information and crime statistics
visit: http://www.uwstout.edu/police/clery.cfm
TO APPLY
Go to: http://jobs.uwstout.edu/
Applicants will
need to complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to
submitting the online application.
Note: Once you have attached your materials and submitted your
application you will not be able to go into the system and change them.
Required application materials:
- Cover
letter specifically addressing how you meet the minimum and desired
qualifications
- CV
- Names
and contact information for a minimum of three (3) professional references
- Unofficial
copies of transcripts; official transcripts required at time of hire
- Professional
Portfolio: A link to an online portfolio of professional work, which might
include animations, a compilation reel, games, and other types of work
samples. Additionally, a media list with brief written descriptions of
work and software used.
- Evidence
of Teaching Potential: A link to an online portfolio of student work,
which might include animations, a compilation reel, games, and other types
of work samples. Additionally, a media list with brief written
descriptions of work and software used.
To ensure full consideration, complete applications must be
submitted online by Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Screening of applications will begin November 1, 2018 and
will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
It is the policy of UW-Stout to provide reasonable
accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need
assistance, or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please
contact us using the information below. Employment opportunities will not be
denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified
individual's disability.
For questions
regarding the application process, or if you submitted your application prior
to uploading all of the required application materials, please contact:
Mary Jo Pittman
Academic Department Associate, School
of Art & Design
pittmanmj@uwstout.edu
(715) 232-1097
For other
questions regarding this position please contact:
Erik A. Evensen
Chair, Animation Search Committee
Associate Professor, Department of
Design
evensene@uwstout.edu
(715) 232-5324
Before starting the online application process we
recommend you preview the frequently asked questions (FAQs) available at: https://kb.wisc.edu/hrs/page.php?id=21900