Visiting Faculty Positions Available
Dr. Paul Overvoorde (Macalester College) served as visiting faculty director of Tanzania: Ecology & Human Origins in fall 2015.
New Opportunities for Faculty
ACM Field Museum Semester: Research in Natural History - Fall 2021
- Program: ACM Field Museum Semester
- Position available: Visiting Faculty Director
- Appointment for: Fall 2021 semester
- Location: Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), Chicago, Illinois
- Open to: ACM faculty in any science discipline and anthropology relevant to natural history
- Application deadline: April 15, 2020
The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) seeks a Visiting Faculty Director for its Fall 2021 Field Museum Semester.
The Visiting Faculty Director leads a group of up to 12 students in an intensive research experience at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. ACM faculty from any science discipline and anthropology relevant to natural history research are eligible to apply.
Field Museum Semester
A new partnership between ACM and the FMNH, the Field Museum Semester is an intensive research and class-based experience for upper-level students interested in natural history research with a background in evolutionary biology, anthropology, geology, and/or a related discipline at ACM institutions. The program provides the opportunity for students to explore scientific research and the FMNH collections through a substantive internship, a semester-long course taught by the visiting faculty director, and a seminar led by FMNH professional staff. The inaugural program will operate for the fall 2021 semester.
The internship component will pair students with ongoing research projects, the expertise of FMNH’s professional staff, and the extensive scientific collections held by the museum. The internship component will be 25-30 hours per week. (8 credits)
The ACM faculty-taught course is intended to be on a broad topic of interest to participating students. Topics should foster ACM’s and FMNH’s mutual commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding of scientific topics and the value of a liberal arts education. Since the program involves teaching, the Visiting Faculty Director should draw on expertise in their own discipline, FMNH’s collections, as well as on their ability to exchange insights with students and specialists in other disciplines. (4 credits)
The FMNH-led seminar will be taught by professional staff from the museum and cover topics related to scientific communication, career development, and career preparation. (4 credits)
Responsibilities of the Visiting Faculty Director
The Visiting Faculty Director is responsible for the overall success and academic quality of the semester and for the safety and well-being of the students during the program. The Visiting Faculty Director reports to the ACM Chief of Staff and works closely with ACM consortial staff and Field Museum staff.
Before the program
- Participate in Faculty Advisory Committee meetings
- Assist ACM staff with recruiting efforts
- Participate in review of student applications
- Assist with pre-semester communications to applicants and accepted students
- Participate in faculty training and orientation
During the program
- Teach an advanced, semester-long course to undergraduate students at the Museum
- Advise students on site
- Primary oversight of student health and safety
- Assist with program orientation and, if applicable, symposium
- Offer extracurricular/field trip experiences for students
- Serve as liaison to FMNH staff
- Conduct research at the Museum
- Participate in Faculty Advisory Committee meetings
After the program
- Provide report of the program to Chief of Staff
- Participate in program review, as needed
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) is home to more than 150 scientists and researchers and nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens. The collection grew out of items on display in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and the Field Museum opened in 1894. According to its mission statement, “The Field Museum fuels a journey of discovery across time to enable solutions for a brighter future rich in nature and culture.” The FMNH community works to research objects in the Museum’s collections, document previously unknown species, conserve ecosystems, craft exhibitions, educate budding scientists, invite cross-cultural conversation, and more. The Visiting Faculty Director is strongly encouraged to participate in the FMNH community and has the opportunity to establish valuable, long-term relationships. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about
Compensation
The Visiting Faculty Director receives one-half of their annual base salary for leading the semester. ACM also provides a housing allowance for the Visiting Faculty Director for the duration of the program, as well as an allowance for round-trip travel from their home campus to Chicago and for the shipping of instructional materials. The Visiting Faculty Director is expected to be in residence by mid-August to work with ACM consortial staff and FMNH staff on scheduling and planning. The Visiting Faculty Director can arrange to be in residence in Chicago earlier than required, at their own expense, in order to conduct their own research.
Proposal preparation and advance visits to Chicago
The Visiting Faculty Director for the Field Museum Semester is chosen through a competitive process on the basis of a written proposal. Applicants preparing proposals should closely examine the FMNH through its website or an in-person visit. Modest travel grants providing two nights housing in Chicago may be available for faculty preparing a proposal. For more information on travel grants, please contact Michael Vertovec, Senior Program Administrator.
Applications must include the following:
- A detailed description of the proposed course topic and its links to the unique resources of the Field Museum of Natural History, including anticipated learning goals and plans for possible assignments. The proposed course topic should provide sufficient focus to encourage productive collaboration but should also cut across different disciplines to accommodate a wide variety of student interest. Topics that have the potential for engaging students broadly with the FMNH’s impressive facilities are most desirable. The Visiting Faculty Director will be required to provide a provisional syllabus upon acceptance.
- Further description, based on past teaching experiences, of how the Visiting Faculty Director plans to engage a group of students with broad educational backgrounds.
- A proposed research agenda/project for the duration of the Fall Program.
- A curriculum vitae.
- A letter from the chief academic officer endorsing the application, sent separately, to acm@acm.edu.
The letter of application and supporting materials should be sent, in electronic form, to acm@acm.edu.
The application deadline is April 15, 2020. A selection will be made by June.
The Associated Colleges of the Midwest is an equal employment opportunity employer. ACM does not discriminate in the operation of its educational programs, activities, or employment with regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
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Other opportunities at ACM
See the Employment Opportunities webpage for other positions available with the ACM.
The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) does not discriminate in the operation of its educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
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