Tenure-Track or Visiting Faculty in Gaming & Animation

Position Announcement

Posted 9/8/2020

OC Mission and Purpose: Oklahoma Christian University is a diverse community of scholars and learners, all committed to a common mission to “transform lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service.” OC is committed to hiring employees who are actively engaged in a life of Christian discipleship as we strive to create an employment culture that encourages faculty and staff to lean into the university’s Christian mission with an emphasis on authenticity and unity, not uniformity. Though dependent on God’s and each other’s grace, we aspire to professional and personal standards reflective of Christ’s example and adherent to principles drawn from Holy Scripture. To assist our individual and collective accountability to these standards, university employees enter a Covenant of prescriptive conduct and assent to a Statement of Commitment that identifies defining core beliefs. The university recognizes that employment at OC is not a fit for everyone, so we encourage you to explore what we believe to determine if our mission is your calling.

As a Christ-centered university, Oklahoma Christian values diversity as an essential dimension of God's design for human communities. In seeking to become more inclusive and fully representative of God’s broad array of human creation, we especially encourage applications from women and candidates from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented on our faculty and staff.

Position: Oklahoma Christian University’s Division of Fine and Performing Arts invites applications for a tenure-track or visiting faculty position to teach courses in its Gaming & Animation program. OC offers rigorous BFA and BA experiences for more than 200 majors in 5 Art & Design concentrations (Fine Art, Digital Art, Gaming and Animation, Graphic Design and Interior Architecture). With Approximately 100 majors, Gaming and Animation constitutes the largest program in the Division; it has consistently been rated a top national program by the Princeton review; and it has been selected for an OC Strong priority funding initiative which will provide significant funding to ensure resources for continued growth and excellence in all aspects of the program. The successful candidate will be qualified to teach courses from within the following areas—concept art, sculpting, animation, modeling/game design and design/motion graphics. Candidates with academic breadth and who are also able to teach in diverse areas are especially encouraged to apply. Rank and appointment to a tenure-track will be dependent on selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. Specific course assignments will be determined collaboratively with the objective of optimal deployment of departmental faculty strengths and areas of expertise.

Primary Qualifications:

• MFA or other terminal degree in Game Design, Animation, New Media, and/or Graphic Design is preferred.
• Consideration may be given to a candidate without a terminal degree but who possesses a distinguished professional record and alternative academic credentials compatible with departmental needs.
• Demonstrated competence as a teacher, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and ability to communicate and positively engage students and colleagues across racial, gender and cultural barriers.
• Evidence of scholarship and/or creative professional achievement in the field of expertise preferred.
• Active engagement in a life of Christian faith and service, including membership in a local church.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Teaching: A full-time load—typically three studio/lab courses per semester during the fall and spring terms.
• Service: Academic advising as assigned, engagement in recruiting activities, and serving on university committees that contribute to the academic, spiritual and social quality of campus life and help fulfill faculty responsibility in a model of shared governance. Provide mentorship to individual students and to student organizations, including discipline-related and service-oriented groups. Maintain membership and active involvement in a local church.
• Scholarship: Initiate and sustain activities necessary to be current in the discipline and innovative in pedagogical method and technology. Engage in scholarly and/or professional activity designed to advance human knowledge and understanding, such as research, writing and intellectual dialogue. Maintain appropriate educational records to document the academic performance of students. Collegially contribute to the positive work and learning environment of the division and the university.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary and rank commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Standard university benefits package
• Health insurance premium support
• Retirement plan: 403(b) matching contribution
• Tuition discount and other staff benefits

Timetable: Application review begins October 10, 2020 continues until the position is filled. This position could accommodate a start date of either January 2021 or August 2021. To apply send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, OC application form, personal statement of faith, and copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (please do not send official transcripts at this time), to Human Resources at: human.resources@oc.edu or P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136. Electronic attachments and cover letters are preferred. As candidates advance through the screening process additional materials, such as letters of recommendation (including one from a home congregation), a writing sample, and a statement of teaching philosophy, and evidence of commitment to diversity and equity will be requested.

Oklahoma Christian University is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Though all applicants who are actively engaged in a life of Christian faith and service will be considered, preference will be given to candidates who are active members of the Church of Christ. The University complies with all laws regarding race, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, military service, and disability. As a religious educational institution the University is permitted by law to consider religious beliefs and practices in making employment decisions and the University does so to achieve its mission.

Oklahoma Christian University is looking for employees who are willing to express the “The Second Mile—Serving One Another” goal of the University, to demonstrate a personal faith in Jesus Christ, to be actively involved in a local congregation, and to support the Christian mission of the University.