Assistant Professor of Communication Arts

Assistant Professor of Communication Arts

The School of Arts and Sciences at St. Thomas Aquinas College invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in Communication Arts, starting September 2021.

About the College
STAC is a coeducational, independent, nonprofit institution of higher education founded by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, whose values and spirit continue to pervade the campus. Occupying a bucolic 60-acre campus in the historic Hudson Valley of New York, the College has the advantage of being located in close proximity to New York City and the major metropolitan area of northern New Jersey. The College serves both undergraduates and graduate students and offers a values-based education in the liberal arts and sciences, business, and education.

Total enrollment in fall 2019 was 1,700 undergraduates and 140 graduate students; transfer students numbered 130. The institution attracts a diverse student body (57% Caucasian, 19% Latinx, 9% African-American, 4% Asian-American); one-quarter of the student population is Pell eligible. Three-quarters of the students come from New York State. STAC has a robust dual enrollment program with local high schools and has close to 900 students enrolling in these programs each semester. Students of all backgrounds are attracted to STAC, including recent high school graduates and returning adult students, working professionals, and veterans of the armed services. First-year to second-year retention in fall 2018 was 81%, and the 6-year graduation rate of the 2012 cohort was 53%.

Approximately 45% of students live in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing. The College sponsors 20 NCAA Division II athletic teams (10 for men, 10 for women), involving over 300 student athletes, and another 150 students participate in Club football and Club eSports. STAC hosts more than 30 student clubs --- from those with an academic, ministry, or cultural orientation, such as Future Leaders in Healthcare and Multicultural Student Association. The College conducts 1st Destination Survey the year after graduation. On the most recent survey, 90% of recent bachelors-level graduates are employed or engage in graduate studies.

The School of the Arts and Sciences
The School of Arts and Sciences offers more than 20 majors, from Philosophy to Criminal Justice to Forensic Science, and a Master of Public Administration in Criminal Justice Administration. The School is also home to the newly established Center for Justice Studies, which supports a variety of justice-based initiatives within the College and with respect to the surrounding community. The Center aims to create a forum and location for interdisciplinary dialogue and curricular initiatives to promote social and civic equity and racial justice and strengthen the College's goal of engagement and inclusion of culturally and racially diverse audiences through a distinctive and purposeful liberal arts education that prioritizes social justice.

The School of Arts and Sciences includes more than 35 full-time faculty and serves approximately 600 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Its academic programs prepare students for careers in fields as far-ranging as law, medicine, criminal justice, and teaching. Faculty share a common goal to develop in students the ability to think critically and become engaged, informed citizens who are able to make a positive difference in their community, country, and the world. This goal is enhanced by a comprehensive education in disciplines that are at the very core of understanding the human experience and are fundamental to achievement in all areas of life.

Responsibilities and Qualifications
Situated in the School of Arts and Sciences, this position will serve the Communication Arts program. Applicants with experience and expertise in studio, digital, and video content production, or related media fields, and who can teach coursework in the field of broadcast and streaming media are encouraged to apply; additional courses must satisfy program needs but may be tailored to the candidate's teaching interests and strengths. Experience or interest in designing curricula, developing course materials, engaging with community organizations, overseeing internships, and participating in interdisciplinary initiatives is a plus. Applicants will, furthermore, be expected to demonstrate knowledge of industry trends and contribute positively to discussions about revising and updating the Communication Arts program.

Faculty duties include a 4:4 teaching load, student advisement, mentorship, committee service, and curriculum development. The College prides itself on the high quality of the teaching of its faculty as well as on their scholarly contributions to their discipline; so, successful candidates should address both areas in their application. College teaching experience and a MA degree in a related area from an accredited institution are required.

Application Process
Applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter addressing the applicant's credentials and experiences as they relate to the position; 2) a statement of teaching philosophy; 3) a curriculum vitae (CV); 4) sample course outline(s); and 5) three letters of recommendation, at least one of which addresses the applicant's teaching. Materials should be sent electronically to Dr. Heath Bowen, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, at sassearch@stac.edu. Preference will be given to applications received prior to Tuesday, December 15, 2020, though applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

It is the policy of St. Thomas Aquinas College that no person on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability shall be discriminated against, excluded from participation or employment in, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which St. Thomas Aquinas College is responsible.

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