Adjunct Faculty - Visual Arts

Position Title: Adjunct Faculty – Visual Arts

Department/Program: Visual Arts 11120

Work Location Authorization: Remote

Campus Location: Remote

Reports to: Amy Bobeda

FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried

FTE: 15% (6 hrs/week)

Compensation: $3900 per semester for 3 credit course ($1300 per undergrad credit)

Number of Openings: 1 

Application Deadline: 8/1 or until filled

Job Summary
Naropa University is seeking to hire talented Visual Arts adjunct faculty members to teach online courses in Fall of 2026. The times and number of credits are listed next to each course description. All courses are held at the Nalanda Campus located at 6287 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO.

ART-132E 3-D Ephemeral Art (3 credits)
Adjunct Faculty Ephemeral Art (3 credits): This online asynchronous courses focuses on principles of 3-D design through the lens of ephemeral sculpture. With a focus on weaving, wearable art, and greenware sculpture, this process-based course focuses on working with natural elements and archiving work. The course culminates in the construction of an artist book.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare course syllabus according to the Academic Affairs syllabi instructions (past examples available). Submit the syllabus to the Office of Academic Affairs by the specified due date.
• Maintain Canvas shell and respond to students within 48 hours to maintain online learning environment.
• Teach the course for the full semester, August 24-December 11, 2026. The number of required contact hours depends on the number of credits of the course, 15 hours per credit, delivered as 3 hours per week. Teach with a professional level of preparedness.
• Provide one hour of office hours each week plus availability to students by appointment through meetings, phone or e-mail as needed.
• Attend faculty meetings during the semester of this teaching assignment.
• Obtain permission from the copyright owner for any copyrighted material to be used in sourcebooks.
• Complete any and all faculty and staff trainings as required by the Human Resources Office or the Office of Academic Affairs within the time period set for completion by those departments.
• Create and maintain a positive team environment and behave professionally with everyone encountered in the course and scope of the job duties.
• Grades all assignments, provides feedback to students in a timely manner, and submits final grades by the deadline established by the Registrar.
• Submits grading and attendance data into the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) in a timely manner.
• Mentors students outside of class through meetings, phone or e-mail, as needed.
• Supports the Core Curriculum assessment process as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

What We Require

Minimum length of prior relevant experience required: 2 years
Educational degree/diploma required: MFA in Visual Studio Arts
• All job candidates must demonstrate their level of understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

What We’d Like You to Have
• Examples of your own artwork and art-related projects; optional - samples of student work.
• Experience teaching asynchronous undergraduate courses.
• Experience working with textiles and garment construction.
• Experience with Canvas or other LMS platforms.
• Ability to maintain student engagement throughout the semester.
• Knowledge of and ability to teach the views of contemplative education.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and assertive communication skills.

Applications: Application review continues until position is filled. Qualified candidates should apply online and include the following.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• A cover letter specifying the course you are applying to teach, brief examples of your approach to teaching this subject, and details of how you would teach the contemplative component of your course (See mission statement). Be sure to specify classes you are interested in teaching.
• Three professional references; names, contact information and relationship.
• A brief teaching philosophy.

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions

Faculty members spend most of their time in their classrooms with some time in offices. In the classrooms and on campus one may experience: interruptions, distractions, heat, cold, dust and/or dampness. As a faculty member, you may spend extended periods in front of students and speaking as well as:
• Reading academic texts and materials, student papers, etc.
• Operating personal computer and audio-visual equipment.
• Standing or sitting for hours at a time.
• Moving around campus for classes and meetings.

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here:  

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.