Have they asked for a portfolio?

Yeah. Submit pdf/etc online and mail hard copy for consideration.

If they have asked for a teaching statement/statement of teaching philosophy, your portfolio should reflect or explain your teaching philosophy.

You should also check their tenure requirements and see if they allow 'creative research' or more traditional writing+publishing. If the later, some solid papers from grad school would help.

If this is a tenure track position, you should be able to articulate a research agenda of some sort (see above). If you have any questions about your application, call the Search Committee Chair and ask questions. Just like you would for any other job. Also be prepared to not hear anything for some time once you submit everything.

As far as your personal portfolio goes, when you are selecting projects and images, that you are applying to teach design, not CDs or pro-practice, or what have you. So they don't care about many of the skills that your professional portfolio is probably geared towards displaying. Show the projects that you believe represents your best design work and your best leadership.

Yes, text. Focus on how the pieces represent your design philosophy and how your leadership role on projects demonstrates skills that translate well to teaching.





After writing this, I hesitate to post it, because I honestly question whether any professor I've had that I've considered good would have needed help with this. I think I've decided I'll post it anyway, but seriously, try to up the confidence factor here- students smell fear like dogs, and lack of confidence has a hard time teaching anything.

I appreciate the comments.

I don't lack confidence in professional work or in academic roles. I am lacking in certainty in making what feels like a final decision (jumping full time to academia) and the experience in preparing documents for such an event.

Perhaps my question should be rephrased as: "For your first teaching job, how much did you adapt your professional portfolio to be an academic one?"

Remember, this is an entry level position requiring little to no experience. And rationalist, did any of your best professors actually have this figured out when they got their first job (or how thoroughly so)?

It's a bit hard to answer your question, sixer, because every university will be different in what they want. The application for the job I hold now included images of student work from projects I had taught previously, but not a full portfolio. I would suggest that unless they are very clear about what they are looking for, then you should just do what you feel reflects you, your skills, and your interests best. If you think you want to be teaching practical, skills-based studios, then emphasise that. If you want to be teaching conceptual, explorative studios, emphasise that aspect of your own work.

Hope the application goes well!

hmmm...

tenure track position? for that i believe you will need to be published in juried publications...

in my experience no teaching experience makes harder sell. if you are to conduct seminars alongside studio i expect you will need to show some knowledge about the topic you will teach...urbanism, detailing, whatever it is you are looking at....so text makes sense.

affa8x makes best point. def tailor portfolio to the job if you can. good luck.

Having been part of many faculty interviews:

Find the student work from when you T.A.'d or taught that one studio. Even if it's one piece, I think it's crucial to have at least one piece of student work.

I would focus much more on process in your own work. Showing process and final renderings would probably be perfect. Maybe show 1 or 2 details, but I wouldn't bother with CDs. Most search committees are going to be interested in your passion level, and your ability to teach creative thinking. People who can teach skill sets are a dime a dozen.