Adjunct Instructor, Art Foundation (ARTF 131 – Drawing Studio)

Role overview

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar is hiring an adjunct instructor for the Fall 2026 term in the Art Foundation Program to teach ARTF 131 – Drawing Studio. This is a semester-length studio course carrying 6 studio hours and 3 credits. Enrollment is limited to first-year fine arts and design majors in the School of the Arts.

Course focus

The course examines the historical foundations of drawing and how those ideas continue to shape current studio practice. Students work hands-on with key drawing topics such as line, perspective, gesture, figure drawing, space, atmosphere, and erasure. The class is designed to strengthen observation, interpretation, and visual communication through repeated studio engagement.

Responsibilities

• Finish all mandatory university training, including FERPA, before the first class begins.
• Distribute a course syllabus in the first session that clearly sets out the course goals, format, requirements, grading standards, and applicable policies supplied by the Director.
• Apply departmental and university rules in a professional and supportive way.
• Plan each class carefully so studio time is used effectively in support of learning outcomes.
• Work with other instructors teaching ARTF 131 to maintain consistency in course structure and shared departmental outcomes.
• Keep weekly office hours at the rate of one hour per class taught; for this role, that equals two office hours each week, and remain reachable to students through university email.
• Evaluate all assignments and return feedback that is prompt and constructive.
• Submit midterm and final grades following the registrar’s timeline and submission process.
• Attend all department meetings.

Qualifications

• A graduate qualification such as an MFA, or an equivalent degree, in a field related to drawing and studio art.
• Strong people skills and the ability to work collaboratively.
• Enthusiasm for teaching in a multicultural setting.
• Proven experience promoting a respectful, professional, and civil environment among faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds, or a clear commitment to doing so as a VCU faculty member.
• Authorization to work in Qatar, or the ability to satisfy the immigration and employment requirements set by Qatari law.

Preferred background

• Previous teaching experience, especially in studio-based classes.
• Well-developed oral communication and presentation abilities.
• Teaching experience in Qatar, the Arab Gulf region, or the Middle East.

Application materials

Applicants must submit their materials online through the university jobs portal; only submissions made through that system will be reviewed. The application package should include a current CV, a letter of interest explaining your teaching approach and professional practice, a portfolio of professional work and, where available, samples of student work, and the names and contact details of three references. If file size is an issue, applicants may provide an accessible link to a website or cloud storage location, along with instructions needed to view the visual materials.