Sessional Instructor: Graphic Novels, Faculty of Arts & Science, Fall/Winter 2025-26

Job Description

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.

The Faculty of Arts & Science invites applications for the following anticipated course offering in the Fall / Winter 2025-26 terms:

ENGL-4010: Graphic Novels (1 credit)

(Winter 2026: September 3, 2025 – December 19, 2025; Tuesday 3:10 PM – 6:10 PM ; In-Person)

Course Description:

A detailed look at book-length sequential art, this course will examine the history of comic book publishing and readership, including superhero, science-fiction, historical, and autobiographical forms, as well as various international types, such as manga or historietas. Also under consideration will be an exploration of how the terms "graphic novel," "comic book," and "popular culture" affect perceptions of the genre. How meaning is approached and understood when text and images are incorporated will be a central theme of the course.

Responsibilities:

Teaching and teaching-related responsibilities may include but are not limited to: course outline development, studio preparation and delivery inclusive of lectures, critiques, grading, mid-term evaluations and final evaluations/reviews; including responsibility for health & safety and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines.

Qualifications:

• The successful applicant should have a terminal degree in art, design or relevant discipline and/or equivalent professional/practical experience
• Experience teaching at the post-secondary level is considered an asset, equivalent relevant experience will be considered
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership and experience promoting a respectful and inclusive work and learning environment for students, staff, and faculty

Terms of Employment:

Sessional appointments are fixed-term annual contracts. Sessional compensation includes a per-course pay scale with salary level of $7,508.00 (per 0.5 credit course) plus 7% in lieu of benefits and vacation pay, per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act. These positions are subject to budgetary approval and satisfactory enrolment levels.

Applications must include the below materials as one continuous document in PDF format:

The PDF file must include the following:

1. A letter of intent stating the candidate’s interests in the areas of teaching by identifying relevant courses above;
2. A curriculum vitae;
3. A statement of teaching philosophy that responds to the profile of the position;
4. A link or web address to your digital portfolio of recent and current work/publications (if applicable)
5. And the names and contact information of three references.

Please upload all five (5) components (including the URL to work) as one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload: FirstName_LastName-Job Code

Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Faculty of Arts & Science Appointments Committee, online, by clicking the “Apply Now” button below.

The review of applications will begin on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM and will continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).

If you require application support, please contact the People & Culture Office. Please note that People & Culture cannot update you on the status of your application as these searches are decentralized to their respective Faculty offices. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview. If the posting is advertised, we are still accepting applications.

As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University (OCAD U) recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD U understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous faculty, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

*OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to *OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.