School of Art and Design - Assistant Professor of Art (2D/3D Foundations) and Foundations Coordinator

The School of Art and Design at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning September 1, 2027. The successful candidate will serve as Assistant Professor of Art (2D/3D Foundations) and Foundations Coordinator, providing academic leadership for the School's Foundations Program while maintaining an active program of creative research and scholarly engagement. Competitive salary and credit toward tenure may be offered based on the qualifications and prior experience of the selected candidate.

The successful candidate will be an artist-scholar whose creative practice is grounded in a studio discipline such as drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, interdisciplinary studio practice, material studies, or a related field. While maintaining a focused area of research expertise, the candidate will demonstrate broad knowledge of contemporary art practice and the ability to teach across a range of foundational art and design experiences.

The successful candidate will sustain a program of creative activity and/or scholarship with the potential to achieve national and international recognition. In addition to maintaining an active professional practice, the candidate will contribute to the intellectual, curricular, and pedagogical development of the School of Art and Design.

Teaching responsibilities include a 2/2 undergraduate teaching load (four 3-credit courses per academic year), primarily within the Foundations curriculum. Courses may include ARTS 1311 (2D Design), ARTS 1312 (3D Design), ARTS 1316 (Drawing I), ARTS 1317 (Drawing II), and related foundation-level studio coursework. The successful candidate will foster an inclusive, rigorous studio environment; mentor student projects and portfolios; and teach in face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning environments as assigned.

As Foundations Coordinator, the successful candidate will provide leadership for the school’s foundations curriculum across the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. This role serves as a critical gateway to student success by supporting the transition, retention, progression, and academic development of first- and second-year students pursuing degrees in art and design. Responsibilities include coordinating course scheduling and section offerings; aligning syllabi, learning outcomes, evaluation protocols, and accreditation standards; mentoring parttime faculty pool who teach Foundations courses; and managing the zero-credit, pass/fail Foundations Portfolio Review. Assessment and portfolio-review data will be used to strengthen preparation for upper-division study and improve student retention, progression, and time to degree.

Foundations Coordinator Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will provide academic leadership for the Foundations Program through the following activities:

• Retention and Gateway Success.
• Serve as primary coordinator for the foundational curriculum and develop targeted initiatives supporting first- and second-year retention, progression, and academic success.
• Collaborate with advisors and School leadership to identify and address academic barriers affecting progression from gateway courses into upper-division programs.
• Curriculum, Scheduling, and Assessment.
• Lead multi-campus coordination across Edinburg and Brownsville, including course scheduling and section offerings in collaboration with School administration.
• Oversee alignment of learning outcomes, syllabi, evaluation protocols, and accreditation standards for ARTS 1311, ARTS 1312, ARTS 1316, ARTS 1317, and related Foundations courses.
• Ensure consistent rigor, instructional quality, assessment standards, and equitable student learning experiences across sections and campuses.
• Part-Time and one-year appointment Faculty Leadership and Instructional Coaching.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and pedagogical orientation for part-time and one-year appointment faculty teaching in the Foundations Program.

Portfolio Review Coordination:

• Coordinate and oversee the zero-credit, pass/fail Foundations Portfolio Review.
• Establish portfolio assessment standards and evaluation procedures.
• Use portfolio review data to inform curricular improvements and student success initiatives.
• Provide guidance to students as they prepare for entry into advanced studio and design concentrations.

Accreditation and Institutional Priorities:

• Support NASAD accreditation and institutional assessment efforts through assessment, documentation, and continuous improvement activities.
• Contribute to institutional priorities related to student success, retention, degree completion, and academic excellence.
• Strengthen foundational preparation that supports advanced study, professional practice, and the University's research mission.

UTRGV faculty are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to student success and to advancing the missions of the University, College, and School. UTRGV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and emerging research university dedicated to educational opportunity, community engagement, and academic excellence. 

The School of Art and Design serves approximately 1,000 undergraduate students and 33 graduate students through programs in studio art, graphic design, art history, and art education. Faculty maintain active records of creative and scholarly achievement while contributing to a collaborative and student-centered academic environment. 

This is a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2027.