Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Film & Media Production
Position Overview
The Department of Film & Media Studies at the University of Kansas invites applications for an Open Rank tenure-track/tenured appointment (Assistant/Associate/Full Professor) in Film & Media Production with specialty in Producing. In addition to introductory and advanced courses in film production, the ideal candidate would be able to teach "the business of the business" - comprehensive yet accessible courses covering the knowledge and skillsets required in producing film, television and media production. Course subjects might include: Proposal/Script Development; Production Management; Rights Matters and Responsibilities; Contracts and Agreements; Business Planning; Fundraising and Grant Writing; Budgeting and Financial Statements; Green Filmmaking; Selling Film and Media; Music; Unions, Guilds, and Artist Associations; Legal Representation, and Promotion and Advertising; Distribution; and Markets, Film Festivals, and Premieres. This position would serve the interests in producing among our growing body of more than 300 majors and minors.
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is 28,500 (19,000 undergraduate), with students drawn from 110 nations and all 50 states, 20.6% of KU students are members of minority groups. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of good restaurants.
The College emphasizes interdisciplinary, experiential learning and global awareness, houses a vibrant university wide Honors Program that highlights undergraduate research and service activities, and has created strong affiliations with outstanding cross-disciplinary research centers. Faculty and academic staff have emphasized the importance of continuing and expanding on relationships with centers and entities including the Biodiversity Institute, Kansas Biological Survey, Kansas Geological Survey, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the Life Span Institute, the Institute for Policy and Social Research, the Spencer Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. These relationships have brought a broad range of disciplines together to pursue and conduct sponsored research and education at the international, national, state, regional and local levels, and have created employment structures in which faculty and academic staff share appointments to emphasize collaboration. College faculty and research staff are welcomed as members in all KU’s designated research centers and institutes. The College is home to internationally recognized scholars and scientists who brought in $44M in research funding in FY 2021, nearly 30% of the total funded research at KU Lawrence.
At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are encouraged, noting the value that differences bring to our organization, students, staff, faculty, and community. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is 28,500 (19,000 undergraduate), with students drawn from 110 nations and all 50 states, 20.6% of KU students are members of minority groups. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of good restaurants.
The College emphasizes interdisciplinary, experiential learning and global awareness, houses a vibrant university wide Honors Program that highlights undergraduate research and service activities, and has created strong affiliations with outstanding cross-disciplinary research centers. Faculty and academic staff have emphasized the importance of continuing and expanding on relationships with centers and entities including the Biodiversity Institute, Kansas Biological Survey, Kansas Geological Survey, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the Life Span Institute, the Institute for Policy and Social Research, the Spencer Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. These relationships have brought a broad range of disciplines together to pursue and conduct sponsored research and education at the international, national, state, regional and local levels, and have created employment structures in which faculty and academic staff share appointments to emphasize collaboration. College faculty and research staff are welcomed as members in all KU’s designated research centers and institutes. The College is home to internationally recognized scholars and scientists who brought in $44M in research funding in FY 2021, nearly 30% of the total funded research at KU Lawrence.
At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are encouraged, noting the value that differences bring to our organization, students, staff, faculty, and community. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
Job Description
Research (40%): Establish and maintain an active and productive program of scholarly/creative research within area of specialization.
Teaching/Advising (40%): Teach two courses per semester including introductory and advanced courses in the area of specialty and other production or studies courses as needed. Teaching duties include developing syllabi; preparing and teaching courses; creating, administering, and grading homework assignments and exams; holding regular office hours; and supervising Graduate Teaching Assistants when appropriate. Advising duties may include mentoring graduate students in the Department of Film & Media Studies and serving on undergraduate and graduate thesis and exam committees, as appropriate.
Service (20%): Service to the Department, the College, the University, and the film profession exists in many forms from sitting on committees to directing programs and outreach.
Teaching/Advising (40%): Teach two courses per semester including introductory and advanced courses in the area of specialty and other production or studies courses as needed. Teaching duties include developing syllabi; preparing and teaching courses; creating, administering, and grading homework assignments and exams; holding regular office hours; and supervising Graduate Teaching Assistants when appropriate. Advising duties may include mentoring graduate students in the Department of Film & Media Studies and serving on undergraduate and graduate thesis and exam committees, as appropriate.
Service (20%): Service to the Department, the College, the University, and the film profession exists in many forms from sitting on committees to directing programs and outreach.
Required Qualifications
Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through (1) descriptions of educational and professional experiences in letter of application, (2) record of accomplishments and productivity addressed in CV, (3) samples of creative work (such as films or production documents), and (4) information from three confidential recommendation letters (required only for final candidates):
For appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor:
For appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor:
- A terminal degree in Film or closely related field (expected by the start date of the appointment), with a specialty in Producing that would complement existing departmental specialties;
- Ability to teach film production courses effectively at all levels;
- Potential for high quality teaching in array of courses across the department’s curriculum in addition to Producing;
- Potential to establish an independent line of research that includes film production and external funding;
Additional Candidate Instructions
For more information and to apply, go to https://employment.ku.edu/academic/26231BR. A complete online application includes the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) Curriculum vitae; (3) research statement; (4) teaching philosophy statement; and (5) the names, email and contact information for three professional references. (For the cover letter and statements, please keep them under 2 pages.) In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application:
Application review will begin November 1, 2023 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.
- Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Application review will begin November 1, 2023 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is obtained.
Contact Information to Applicants
For information about the position, please contact Search Committee Chair, Prof. Joshua Miner, j.d.miner@ku.edu.
Advertised Salary Range
commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Wednesday November 1, 2023
Anticipated Start Date
Sunday August 18, 2024