Academia is so ....... out there

Benny Profane · #1 04-11-2009, 12:28 PM

Saw this on Craigslist today:

"POSITION DESCRIPTION AND DUTIES:
The New York City College of Technology Department of Advertising Design & Graphic Arts invites applications for the full-time Assistant/Associate Professor position in the Graphics Arts and Advertising Production AAS and B. Tech degree programs.

Responsible for teaching basic, intermediate and advanced digital imaging and vector art courses. Must be an expert in applied theory for digital imaging, color management, retouching, scanning, and vector art.

Departmental duties include participation in department advisement, curriculum development, student activities and college-wide committees. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue creative, scholarly and professional activities at a level appropriate to advertising design and graphic arts. Teaching assignments may include day, evening and Saturday courses.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Master’s degree required; master’s degree plus sustained record of relevant professional experience required for tenure. Experience with digital production management is required. The preferred candidate will have leadership experience developing appropriate and optimized raster and vector digital graphics for a variety of print and non-print graphic communications output. The successful candidate should be able to compare and contrast industry specifications for digital imaging and demonstrate best practices for efficient and effective presentations. The desired candidate should also have a working knowledge of prepress, presswork, post press, Six Sigma methodology, and digital asset management; must be computer literate on multiple operating systems; and should be able to deliver both traditional and online instructions for the classroom and on the internet. A record of success in obtaining industry support for educational programs or in grant submissions will be viewed favorably. University level teaching experience or five-plus years experience in a graphic arts production management job also preferred."

Did you get all that? Now, everybody who has worked in pre press raise your hands. Now, all of you who have, do you know anybody who is any good at anything with a "Masters" degree (in the field)? I thought so. What world do they live in?

Markzebra · #2 04-11-2009, 07:19 PM

Looking for a change of career Benny? That ad reads like "we actually got someone, who wants the job. He may be crap - but unfortunately we need to advertise anyway, so we'll get round the problem by asking for the impossible" -odd that it doesn't mention tea making skills.

Benny Profane · #3 04-11-2009, 07:44 PM

Well, yeah, Apeman, I could maybe be making a nice little sum supplementing my vast fortune in savings as a kindly old teacher of Photoshop, spreading my extensive knowledge and talents to a new, eager generation of retouchers. And, a little, uh, adoration from some of the younger female students would be nice, also.
I don't quite read that ad the way you did, though, but you may have something there. Might explain it.
The way I see it, they're advertising for a stupid person. Only a stupid person would apply for a job with that kind of education and work experience for a assistant/associate professor's wage and hours.

w23 · #4 04-12-2009, 01:55 AM

Thanks for that. It made my day.

zganie · #5 04-12-2009, 06:38 AM

But Unfortunately people will apply And probably quite a few
Its been said before,its the way it is,you see all sorts of adds for people ,We want ten years experience ten years of schooling ,be totally effecient on every imaging program on the planet,and be 25
or my favorite looking for an intern (SLAVE),that we do not have to pay and probably knows as much if not more than us.
This intern thing I have seen popping up a lot lately by the way
But you know what?these companies/institutions are finding people,so what does that say

Benny Profane · #6 04-12-2009, 08:44 AM

Nope. They won't. That person doesn't exist, as described. Betcha ten bucks.

pixelmonger · #7 04-13-2009, 10:10 AM

I have a masters in fine arts and 9+ years working in prepress and retouching, as well as two years teaching art and printmaking. And I live in New York. I should apply.

KR1156 · #8 04-13-2009, 10:18 AM

teach art at a junior high, nice hours, paid summers off....i have friends who love the gig.

pixel_monkey · #9 04-13-2009, 03:58 PM

What's an Assistant/Associate Professor? A fancy term for a teaching assistant? This stuff has been going on at least 10 years back when I was still in school working hard toward a very expensive piece of paper in the BFA program that I haven't found a single employer that cares to look at. The professor just spoke gibberish about art theories for hours while holding a blank piece of paper. The teaching assistant was the one that responsible to teach the real hand-on stuff 'cause the professor literally didn't know how to use the program. It was just terrible and they had been doing that years before I was there.

pixelmonger · #10 04-13-2009, 04:01 PM

Assistant/Associate Professor is the industry standard term in academia for an entry-level but tenure-tracked professor job.

pixel_monkey · #11 04-13-2009, 05:10 PM

Thanks, but I was being rhetorical.

pixelzombie · #12 04-13-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Saw this on Craigslist today:

Did you get all that? Now, everybody who has worked in pre press raise your hands. Now, all of you who have, do you know anybody who is any good at anything with a "Masters" degree (in the field)? I thought so. What world do they live in?

NOPE, i wasn't even aware you could get a masters in Graphic Arts..i find it funny they mention scanning, our 2 scanners sit around collecting dust...

Benny Profane · #13 04-13-2009, 09:12 PM

And, the way I read it is that they expect you to still be connected to the professional world while teaching or whatever: "The successful candidate will be expected to pursue creative, scholarly and professional activities at a level appropriate to advertising design and graphic arts.". Sorta like having to publish in the humanities.

I really want to meet the person who wrote this ad and question him or her. I think it would be like talking to an alien.

Quantum3Studio · #14 04-14-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixel_monkey

What's an Assistant/Associate Professor? A fancy term for a teaching assistant? This stuff has been going on at least 10 years back when I was still in school working hard toward a very expensive piece of paper in the BFA program that I haven't found a single employer that cares to look at. The professor just spoke gibberish about art theories for hours while holding a blank piece of paper. The teaching assistant was the one that responsible to teach the real hand-on stuff 'cause the professor literally didn't know how to use the program. It was just terrible and they had been doing that years before I was there.

That's absolutely true. It happens a lot in Argentina as well...

Markzebra · #15 04-14-2009, 03:34 AM

Yes I think we have all experienced people in supervisory roles who can't even use a computer. I worked in a design agency 7 years ago, and was greeted by their head of design who proudly informed me "can't use all this new computer stuff, pencil and paper man myself" I was thinking, 'sooner or later, this guys surely going to lose his job' Went back there last year, and the only person I recognise is him! he's still there, still not touching the hands-on.

Some people seem to come from a position that lack of technical skill is actually a benefit, not a hindrance. And by sheer BELIEF seem to pull it off. Always baffled me.

zganie · #16 04-14-2009, 08:51 AM

Nope. They won't. That person doesn't exist, as described. Betcha ten bucks.

Exactly my point!
but thet still find people

Benny Profane · #17 04-14-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markzebra

Yes I think we have all experienced people in supervisory roles who can't even use a computer. I worked in a design agency 7 years ago, and was greeted by their head of design who proudly informed me "can't use all this new computer stuff, pencil and paper man myself" I was thinking, 'sooner or later, this guys surely going to lose his job' Went back there last year, and the only person I recognise is him! he's still there, still not touching the hands-on.

Some people seem to come from a position that lack of technical skill is actually a benefit, not a hindrance. And by sheer BELIEF seem to pull it off. Always baffled me.

You betcha. I worked for a major sports magazine for some time, and the "Design Director" of that kingdom was a proud luddite. I thought the same as you, Apeman, thinking that he wouldn't survive the modern world, but, he's still there, and has been in that position since '84. It's all about being a political animal at some point, especially in a large company.

SilvaFox · #18 04-14-2009, 09:09 AM

Someone will talk their way into that position, talk their through it and be just fine until someone realizes that they are learning from the students.

pixelmonger · #19 12-23-2009, 11:35 AM

Hey everybody, I got that job. Posted in march, sent my CV, etc. way back then. Interviewed in October with the search committee, then last week with the President of the University. Maybe I "talked my way into the position", but I meet all the qualifications they required. MFA? Yup - in fine art. 10 years of retouching and a load of other professional experience, including working as a graphic designer for the Museum of Natural History.

Not everyone in these forums does one thing only.

KR1156 · #20 12-23-2009, 11:56 AM

pixelmonger: 1 — retouchpro community: 0

0lBaldy · #21 12-23-2009, 07:16 PM

Congrats, Pixelmonger!

Does that mean Benny gets a finders fee?
(should be at least $10.00 to cover his bet! Of course 20% of your first years salary would be better)

pixelmonger · #22 12-23-2009, 08:53 PM

I should have posted that first - a heartfelt and enthusiastic thank you to Benny for posting this in the first place. If you hadn't put this up here, I never would have known about this opportunity. The amazing thing is that the campus is within walking distance of my apartment here in Brooklyn.

Quantum3 · #23 12-23-2009, 11:18 PM

I think the candidate should have 200 years old at the least, in order to learn and practice all those requirements.

Godmother · #24 12-24-2009, 07:48 AM

I wanna know what they pay

x

ogee · #25 12-24-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixelmonger

Hey everybody, I got that job. Posted in march, sent my CV, etc. way back then. Interviewed in October with the search committee, then last week with the President of the University. Maybe I "talked my way into the position", but I meet all the qualifications they required. MFA? Yup - in fine art. 10 years of retouching and a load of other professional experience, including working as a graphic designer for the Museum of Natural History.

Not everyone in these forums does one thing only.

Fantastic...hope you eventually get tenure...and hope you enjoy the job...sometimes things work out in ways we can't imagine.

Benny Profane · #26 12-25-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godmother

I wanna know what they pay

x

Me too.

Merry Xmas!

0lBaldy · #27 12-25-2009, 03:54 PM

If it is on the Internet it must be true!

Professors in the United States (Salary)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

zganie · #28 12-26-2009, 05:17 AM

I will tell you these ads or ones something like them ,like work for free,intership free training, etc,etc,etc... are everywhere and Believe what ever you wany. BUT! they are finding people and you would be surprised what there getting paid
I see tons of these adds everyday and I am sure the companies are not closing

eraanexact · #29 12-26-2009, 12:33 PM

Congrats to you, pixelmonger! I won't use your real name just in case you're currently dodging haters. Rock that tweed!

pixelmonger · #30 12-27-2009, 10:00 PM

That wikipedia link in pretty close to the truth - also, it is a public institution, so I'm pretty sure the pay is a matter of public record. Let's just say it is a comfortable base but I will need to continue freelancing. Also, I think because of being in NYC it is higher than other starting prof. salaries in other cities/states. It is expensivo to live here.

Thanks again, Benny, for posting this, I never would have heard of it otherwise. This is a full-on life-change for me and my career. All thanks to the internets!