Tarleton State University

Job Title

Assistant Professor Tenure-Track - Art Foundations

Agency

Tarleton State University

Department

Visual Arts and Design

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Stephenville, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

The Department of Visual Arts & Design, housed in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, invites creative individuals to apply for the Assistant Professor of Art Foundations tenure-track position, starting in Fall 2026. This position offers an exciting opportunity to join a vibrant department and collaborative learning environment that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and technical expertise to prepare students for success in a dynamic and competitive field.

This is a 9-month tenure-track position located on Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville, Texas. Work hours: Mon-Fri; 8 AM-5 PM or as work and teaching requirements indicate. May be required to teach at other campuses or online at the institution’s discretion. Must have the ability to work remotely at the request of the university in times of inclement weather or other special circumstances.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence and innovation in teaching, maintain an impactful research program, mentor undergraduate and graduate students, actively engage in mentoring and guiding doctoral students through their academic and research endeavors, fostering a supportive and enriching environment within our PhD* program, and participate in the necessary operation of the institution.

• The Public and Applied Humanities PhD is under submission and pending approval by THECB and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges with a proposed launch date of Spring 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

60% Teaching and Service:

• Plan, prepare, and deliver lectures, seminars, and/or laboratory offerings to undergraduate and/or graduate students, which may include general education core curriculum.
• Develop course syllabi, select instructional materials, and design assessments such as exams, quizzes, papers, etc.
• Assess student performance, provide timely feedback, and evaluate student learning outcomes to inform teaching practices and curriculum improvements.
• Engage students in active learning, foster critical thinking skills, and provide opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and hands-on learning.
• Provide academic support and guidance to students through office hours, feedback on assignments, and mentoring.
• Adhere to university policies, academic integrity standards, and accreditation requirements related to teaching responsibilities.
• Incorporate innovative teaching methods, technologies, and pedagogical approaches to enhance student learning and engagement.
• Engage in ongoing professional development activities to stay current in the field, improve teaching skills, and explore new instructional strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues, departmental faculty, and university staff to coordinate course offerings, share resources, and contribute to program development and improvement.
• Participate in institutional service roles including but not limited to, college committees, advisory committees, student/faculty recruitment, and mentoring of new and part-time faculty.

40% Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity:

• Maintain an active agenda for research, scholarship, or creative activity appropriate to the applicant’s academic discipline.
• Make original contributions to the advancement of knowledge/creative expression in the applicant’s discipline through scholarly publication, presentation, or exhibition.
• Demonstrate potential for external funding, national impact, or professional recognition.

Minimum Requirements:

• Earned doctorate/terminal degree in Visual Arts or a closely related field from an accredited university.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge and understanding of disciplinary subject matter at a level adequate for graduate-level instruction; written and oral communication skills sufficient to conduct effective teaching and research activities; ability to interact with students, staff, and faculty in a professional, collegial, and collaborative manner.

• Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience***

Application Procedure:

During the application process applicants have one opportunity to enter the requested information, upload documents, and Submit the application. Applicants will not be able to make changes or add additional documents once the application materials have been submitted via the "Submit" action.

Employment applications must include (required):

• Completed online application
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest addressing qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• 20 images of creative work compiled as single PDF with captions indicating title, media, year, size
• 20 images of student work compiled as single PDF with captions indicating course and brief project description
• Statement of creative practice
• At least 3 current professional references and their full contact information
• Unofficial transcripts
  • Applicants with degrees earned outside the United States must submit transcripts translated into English, along with an official credential evaluation from a recognized service.
• Philosophy Statement related to Teaching, and Research – no more than 1500 words

Applications received by Tarleton State University must have all job application data entered. Failure to provide all job application data could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. “See resume” is not an acceptable entry in the job application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Anticipated start date Fall 2026.

Official transcripts must be received directly from each degree‐granting institution prior to a letter of appointment being issued.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.