Career Center

Computational Media: Associate or Assistant Teaching Professor for Capstone and Experiential Learning (Initial Review 11.21.22)


Position overview
Position title: Associate Teaching Professor (tenure-equivalent) or Assistant Teaching Professor (tenure-track equivalent) for Capstone and Experiential Learning
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience; academic year (nine-month basis).

Percent time: Full-time (100%)

Anticipated start: As soon as possible or by July 1, 2023, with the academic year beginning in September 2023. If starting before July 1, 2023, all degree requirements must be completed by June 30, 2023 for employment beyond that date. If starting on July 1, 2023, all degree requirements must be completed by June 30, 2024 for employment beyond that date.

Application Window

Open date: September 7, 2022

Most recent review date: Monday, Nov 21, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description


The Computational Media department (https://engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/computational-media) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications up to an Associate Teaching Professor for Capstone and Experiential Learning. Candidates should be experienced in the conceptualization, design, development, and critique of interactive, playable forms of computational media. This could include one or more of: video games, interactive narratives, immersive performances, virtual reality environments, alternate reality games, playable installations, and/or many other types of creative, expressive work.

We are open to candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds. We value academic research experience, industry and non-profit development experience, arts/design/performance experience, and more. While this is not a position focused on teaching frameworks/engines or programming (which are covered elsewhere in the curriculum) an understanding of processes and tools used to create computational media work is desired.

The successful candidate will develop and teach courses within the graduate and undergraduate curriculum; continue their work in creative, technical, and/or scholarly practices of computational media; and participate in shaping our diverse, interdisciplinary department. Pedagogical scholarship and participation in departmental and school-wide teaching and learning initiatives also form an important aspect of the position. The teaching for this position is expected to include courses in the capstone sequence for the departments undergraduate degree, courses in the capstone sequence for the professional MS in Games and Playable Media, and undergraduate and graduate elective courses in the faculty members area(s) of specialty. This faculty members computational media scholarly activity and practice will be supported in the same manner as other faculty, with facilities, equipment, internal funding, support in seeking external funding, and other resources available. Service expectations include participating in departmental committees, eventually taking on departmental leadership roles, and optionally developing new departmental initiatives, work at the School of Engineering level, and/or Academic Senate positions at the campus and system-wide levels. Many of our faculty work with non-profit organizations, government bodies, and/or industry. This kind of work can be pursued in integration with a faculty members university research scholarly activity and/or as an independent individual.

Beyond experience with creating and critiquing playable forms of computational media, we are interested in candidates who engage a wide variety of other areas of professional achievement and activity and creative practice. For example, any of these: critical media making, game writing, game artificial intelligence, software and/or platform studies, novel interface technologies, agent architectures for interactive characters, interactive sound, real-time computer graphics, games user experience, efficacy evaluation, story customization and/or generation approaches, augmented reality, procedural content generation, modeling and animation, game software engineering, history and interpretation of computational media, tabletop games, game analytics and visualization, natural language generation and dialog systems for interactive characters, automated analysis and 'distant reading' of computational media, and/or another computational media approach.

The working titles of this position are Associate Teaching Professor or Assistant Teaching Professor, while the payroll titles are part of the Security of Employment title series. These titles are used differently at the University of California than at some other institutions. Important facts to note are: An Associate Teaching Professor is analogous to tenure and an Assistant Teaching Professor is eligible for promotion to an Associate Teaching Professor. This position confers membership in the Academic Senate, earns sabbatical credit, provides summer flexibility and a full vote in departmental decision-making, including voting on all academic personnel cases. The candidate hired for this position will have Principal Investigator status for the purpose of grant applications and administration. The successful candidate, as with all faculty, will be regularly reviewed for further advancement and salary increases, using criteria set by the University of California system. The main difference between this and Professor Series titles is additional teaching (expected course load equivalent to six quarter-long courses per year, with additional course release as appropriate for University services rendered above the normal expectations) along with scholarship and leadership in the implementation and development of innovative pedagogical practices to support a diverse student body. The successful candidate will join a sizable cadre of teaching professors in the School of Engineering, all committed to teaching excellence and innovation.

UC Santa Cruz values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to hiring faculty who will work to advance these values. To be considered, candidates must clearly articulate an understanding of the barriers facing women, people of color, and other groups underrepresented in engineering, as well as describe their experience and future plans to promote equity and inclusion in teaching, mentoring, professional and scholarly activity. Efforts supporting equity and inclusion at UC Santa Cruz will be recognized as important during the merit review and promotion process.

UC Santa Cruz is a Minority-serving Institution (MSI) with a high proportion of first-in-family students. UC Santa Cruz is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU, an association of the top research universities in the US), a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a member of the Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Research Universities (HRSU), a member of the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and a member of several identity and ethnic affinity professional societies. Broadening participation in engineering, and equitably and inclusively serving underrepresented minoritized students, are key values at UC Santa Cruz.

The Computational Media Department is dedicated to the creation, enhancement, and study of media forms where computational processes enable deeply interactive and generative experiences. As a pioneering department, we are looking for new faculty who are excited to help us define and grow this emerging area. The department emphasizes the construction of technologies that make possible novel media experiences, while simultaneously embracing and engaging in theoretical and practical approaches from the arts, humanities, and social sciences. (Our faculty have exhibited artworks internationally, published monographs with leading presses, released widely-played games and influential software, and received a variety of awards from computing, social science, humanities, and arts bodies.) The department offers a BS in Computer Game Design and an MS and PhD in Computational Media at the Santa Cruz campus. In addition, it offers professional MS programs in Games and Playable Media, Serious Games, and Human-Computer Interaction at the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara, California. The Computational Media Department is located within the Baskin School of Engineering. The successful applicant will typically spend multiple days per week in Santa Cruz and is also expected to spend on average one day per week on the Santa Clara campus (more when teaching a class on the Santa Clara campus). The ability for on-demand transportation between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz with or without accommodations is essential.

Our campus is the nearest University of California campus to Silicon Valley and has close research ties with the local computer industry. Nestled in a redwood forest above the city of Santa Cruz, our beautiful campus has a long history of embracing groundbreaking interdisciplinary work. Our proximity to Silicon Valley, and our satellite campus there, afford opportunities and avenues for collaboration with researchers working in the many research and development labs in Silicon Valley, as well as with the other San Francisco Bay Area universities.

The chosen candidate will be expected to sign a statement representing that they are not the subject of any ongoing investigation or disciplinary proceeding at their current academic institution or place of employment, nor have they in the past ten years been formally disciplined at any academic institution/place of employment. In the event the candidate cannot make this representation, they will be expected to disclose in writing to the hiring Dean the circumstances surrounding any formal discipline that they have received, as well as any current or ongoing investigation or disciplinary process of which they are the subject. (Note that discipline includes a negotiated settlement agreement to resolve a matter related to substantiated misconduct.)



Department: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/computational-media


Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
B.S./B.A./B.F.A., or equivalent foreign degree, and ten years of professional experience relevant to computational media; or M.S./M.A./M.F.A., or equivalent foreign degree, and five years of professional experience relevant to computational media; or a Ph.D. or equivalent foreign degree in Computer Science, Digital Media, Human Computer Interaction, Computer Games, Computational Media or other relevant field. It is expected that the degree requirements will be completed by June 30, 2024. Demonstrated experience in college or university teaching, professional mentoring, and/or other pedagogical work. Demonstrated record of professional achievement or contributions to computational media via publication, released media, exhibition, performance, and/or other professional activity. Demonstrated record of university and/or public service.


Application Requirements


Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  
• Cover Letter - Detailed letter of application describing how your computational media work, training, and management experience prepare you for this position.
  
• Statement of Teaching/Mentoring Statement - A statement of teaching/mentoring interests and pedagogical experience.
  
• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion** - a statement addressing your understanding of the barriers facing traditionally underrepresented groups and your past and future/planned contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through pedagogical work, professional activity, and service. Candidates are urged to review guidelines on statements before preparing their application: https://apo.ucsc.edu/diversity.html.
  
  **Initial screening of candidates will be based only on statements of contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  
• Sample Evaluations (1 of 2 sets required) - Set of instructor teaching evaluations from a course you have taught and/or evaluations from work with mentees in other contexts.
  
• Sample Evaluations (2 of 2 sets required) - Set of instructor teaching evaluations from a course you have taught and/or evaluations from work with mentees in other contexts.
  
• Sample Syllabus - Sample syllabus for a computational media course you have designed
  (Optional)
  
• Sample Syllabus - Sample syllabus for a computational media course you have designed
  (Optional)
  
• Sample Evaluations (up to 8 optional sets) - Set of instructor teaching evaluations from a course you have taught and/or evaluations from work with mentees in other contexts.
  
  If submitting more than one optional set please combine into one single PDF before submission.
  (Optional)
  

Reference requirements

• 3-4 letters of reference required

Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation* (a minimum of 3 are required and a maximum of 4 will be accepted). Please note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSCs confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.
Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01371

Help contact: egregg@ucsc.edu

Campus Information


The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the Universitys equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify). The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html).

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs - With Updated Interim Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. Additional information and resources for compliance are located on the campus Health Center site

VISIT UC Santa Cruz: https://www.ucsc.edu


Job location

Santa Cruz, California


To apply, visit https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01371







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