University of Central Missouri (UCM) is hiring: Assistant Professor - Music Tech

Faculty within the Music Department at University of Central Missouri support the university’s mission of providing student-centered, quality education and are committed to the success of students. This includes quality teaching, advising, collegiality, and communication. In addition, faculty provide service to their program, department, and university, engage in research, scholarship, and professional development activities. During contractual employment, faculty members are expected to be available to assist, engage, and respond to students, colleagues, departmental, college, and institutional needs.

This is a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Commercial Music. Lead and develop courses in audio production, sound design, audio for fixed and interactive media, immersive audio, electronic music, and other music technology and commercial music topics as needed.

Teaching

The primary responsibility of the faculty is quality teaching in their respective content areas, regardless of delivery format. This entails adequate preparation for courses, effective course design and instruction, and fair and timely evaluation/feedback of student progress. To ensure quality teaching, faculty must be committed to the success of students as well as ongoing assessment of curriculum and of student learning.

• Keep current in your discipline.
• Organize courses to facilitate quality student engagement and high-impact practices.
• Assist department/school chairs with scheduling of classes that meet the needs of students.
• Comply with departmental, college, and university standards concerning the academic quality and integrity of their classes.
• Keep current in their use of technology by attending university training sessions and other professional development opportunities.
• Be available to meet students outside the classroom by being available before or after classes by scheduling office hours both in a physical and electronic format to include in person and virtual office hours.
• Assist with department and college assessment and be proactive with modifications to curriculum based on assessment feedback.

Scholarship/Professional Development

The strength of a university rests on the knowledge and skills of its faculty. Faculty must stay current in their field of expertise/teaching area.

• Authoring academic writings.
• Presentation of work at local/state/regional/national conferences.
• Active membership and/or office holding in professional organizations at the local/state/regional/national level.

Service

An expectation of a professional faculty member is to serve the department, college, and university community.

• Attending department/college/university meetings.
• Engaging in committee work that will advance the department/college/institution.
• Assisting with student recruitment.
• Participating in graduation and convocation ceremonies.

Advising

A primary responsibility of faculty is the proper, timely, competent, and professional advising of students.

• Be knowledgeable of the requirements of their degree programs as stated in the appropriate catalog(s).
• Meet/advise students on academic and non-academic matters (e.g., curriculum mapping, internships, graduate/professional school options, and career preparation).
• Provide leadership and promote excellence in student organizations.

Communication

Faculty should communicate effectively and in a timely manner with students and colleagues at all levels of the institution. This implies an understanding of the communication hierarchy within departments, colleges, and administrative levels. Timely communication with students supports other faculty responsibilities (teaching, advising).

• Cultivate a collegial atmosphere when interacting with other faculty/staff within their own department, the college, and the university.
• Be responsive and timely. Respond to student phone calls and email messages within university guidelines.

A successful candidate will:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the University's nationally prominent Music Technology and Commercial Music program, which may include courses in a secondary area (e.g., composition, performance, jazz-commercial music) depending on the candidate's skills and the School's needs. The standard UCM course load is 4/4 (the equivalent of four courses per semester).
• Collaborate as a music technology expert with the Music Technology and Commercial Music program and the School of Visual and Performing Arts as a whole.
• Assist with the supervision and maintenance of the program's music technology facilities and equipment and coordinate students tasked with recording recitals.
• Assist with recruiting for the Music Technology and Commercial Music degree program.
• Maintain an active creative and/or scholarly career in music technology and related fields leading to the continuation or establishment of a national reputation in the field.
• Promote and robustly support a diverse range of student music interests and backgrounds.

Education Requirements

• Ph.D. or D.M.A. in music technology or related fields. ABD will be considered. In the most exceptional circumstances of significant professional experience, other degrees may be considered as well. Strong preference will be given to candidates with industry experience outside of academia.
• Evidence of successful teaching.
• Experience and interest in working in commercial/popular genres of music.
• Broad experience with audio engineering and production.
• Experience with live sound reinforcement, including system design as well as with DAWs.
• Thorough and up-to-date command of Pro Tools and experience with other DAWs.
• Ability to lead a technology performance ensemble.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with classical, jazz, experimental, and other genres of music production.
• Fluency with Max, Ableton Live, and other common music production and electroacoustic composition software applications.
• Experience integrating live performance with electroacoustic music (e.g., interactive computer music, laptop performance, live coding, life diffusion, motion tracking, new interfaces for musical expression).
• Experience with transdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience with sound design, audio for game, and audio for video/film.

UCM Music offers B.A., B.M. (emphases in Music Technology and Commercial Music, or Performance), B.M.E., and M.A. degrees. The University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Higher Learning Commission, and the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. UCM Music is housed in three buildings and includes a 385-seat recital hall. A 1,300-seat concert hall is located in conjoining Hendricks Hall. UCM Music is one of the largest music schools in Missouri, and the state's first All-Steinway School, with nineteen full-time and fifteen adjunct faculty, including multiple artists in residence from the Kansas City Symphony, and more than 200 music majors. UCM Music Technology and Commercial Music is an innovative, industry-leading program in the Midwest region featuring 6,000 square feet of newly renovated recording studios, hosting the Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival (MOXsonic.org) with internationally renowned artists and industry professionals each year. See the websites at: ucmo.edu/music and ucmo.edu/musictech.

To apply: Candidates must complete an online faculty profile found at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/ucmo/facultycareers. For this position, please apply to position #998377. Review of applications will begin on 11/01/2024 and continue until filled. Letter of application expressing the candidate's suitability for the requirements of the job, a current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts showing degrees completed, and three letters of reference. Additional supporting materials may be requested at a later time. Please direct questions about the search to Dr. Jeff Kaiser, Chair, Music Technology & Commercial Music Search Committee: Jkaiser@ucmo.edu.