Non-Tenure Track (Open Rank) Specialized Faculty in Hip Hop – School of Music

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Non-Tenure Track (Open Rank) Specialized Faculty, Hip Hop
School of Music
College of Fine and Applied Arts

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Job Summary

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Music seeks Specialized Faculty in Hip Hop for multiple part-time to full-time non-tenure-track positions. These are one-year or one-semester positions, renewable depending on school needs. Candidates may be offered an affiliate 0% non-service appointment initially; when a teaching/project need is determined, salary and service will be commensurate with course load. The budgeted salary range for this position is $6,000 to $7,000 per course.

Located on the campus of one of the world’s leading research universities, the University of Illinois School of Music is a center for creativity and collaboration through performance, research, and education. Historically rich in tradition, the School of Music is a resource for music research of all kinds, and offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to its nearly 700 students in many different fields of study. Hosting a diverse population of faculty, students, and staff, the School of Music embraces cutting-edge innovation and discovery while providing an array of musical and engagement opportunities within the artistic and educational communities of Urbana and Champaign. Please see www.music.illinois.edu/ for information regarding the University of Illinois School of Music, which is part of the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

Teaching Areas:

  • Hip Hop Songwriting: teach introductory and advanced elective courses for undergraduate music and non-music majors; student learning outcomes include developing and refining music composition techniques and self-expression in Hip Hop; acquiring skills in writing, recording, and performing original songs; providing constructive feedback for others; and self-reflecting on the creative process
  • DJing: teach introductory and advanced elective courses for undergraduate music and non-music majors; student learning outcomes include developing a music library capable of use in DJ sets; developing and using an analytic vocabulary to describe and review DJ performances; identifying and demonstrating foundational DJ techniques; identifying and developing advanced DJ techniques; creating and performing sets for live audiences; acquiring a variety of scratching techniques; collaborating with performers and producers; developing a personal brand; booking and promoting live performances; and generating revenue streams as a DJ
  • Emceeing: teach introductory and advanced elective courses for undergraduate music and non-music majors; student learning outcomes include analyzing, creating, and performing at introductory and advanced levels as HipHop vocalists; understanding the history of emceeing; developing tools for understanding existing practices; engaging in writing, performing, and recording experiences around students’ original work; collaborating with performers and producers; developing a personal brand; booking and promoting live performances, recording sessions, generating revenue streams as an emcee; and recording a collaborative album of original music
  • Music Monetization: teach introductory and advanced elective courses for undergraduate music and non-music majors; student learning outcomes include learning how to properly engage artists, agencies, venues, technical personnel, and PR companies in arranging a live music performance; learning how to talk to artists and their agents; how to appropriately offer compensation; understanding how to hire sound and lighting engineers, security guards, and door staff; working with bar management, PR agents, hospitality runners, etc.; booking and interviewing guests; and identifying and marketing to an audience
  • Audio Recording Techniques: teach introductory and advanced elective courses for undergraduate music and non-music majors; student learning outcomes include learning to set up and record multiple vocal channels at high quality (stationary and mobile); pre-producing timed “episodes” with intros, segments, and transitions; and uploading and distributing recordings

Responsibilities:

Appointees will teach assigned courses, which entails the following major responsibilities:

  • Lecturers/Instructors will engage in timely course preparation, including ordering required and recommended texts via the Illini Union Bookstore, and making arrangements through the School of Music for purchases and rentals necessary to support course goals.
  • Lecturers/Instructors will present students with course syllabi and other course documents that align with course descriptions as they appear in the univeristy’s Course Catalog.
  • Lecturers/Instructors will ensure that instructional design and delivery are in keeping with expectations of the School of Music as communicated by the relevant Area Chair, with design and delivery adhering to the university’s accessibility requirements (enumerated for faculty instructors on the CITL website).
  • Lecturers/Instructors will convene class meetings during the times (and employing the modes) announced in the Class Schedule module of the university’s Course Explorer.
  • Lecturers/Instructors will comply with student requests for reasonable accommodations as presented in Letters of Accommodation issued by Disability Resources and Educational Services.
  • Lecturer/Instructors who believe that students have violated academic integrity provisions of the Student Code will use the Faculty Academic Integrity Reporting (FAIR) system to address alleged violations.
  • Lecturers/Instructors will evaluate student performance in line with School of Music norms, as communicated by the relevant Area Chair. Final grades will be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in a timely manner.
  • Lecturers/Instructors will make themselves available to students for office hours at a frequency agreed upon with the relevant Area Chair.

Minimum Qualifications
* Adjunct Instructor/Instructor: Master’s degree in a field related to the course(s) to be taught. Lesser degrees will be considered if accompanied by significant professional experience.
* Adjunct Lecturer/Lecturer: Terminal degree in a field related to the course(s) to be taught. Lesser degrees will be considered if accompanied by significant professional experience.
* Candidates must demonstrate effective college-level teaching skills, the ability to design and deliver instruction that supports students with a wide range of academic preparation and learning needs, and versatility in teaching undergraduate and graduate students.
Preferred Qualifications
* Three years of combined teaching and professional experience in a field relevant to the intended field of instruction. Merit-based exceptions to this qualification will be considered.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 8/16/2026. The budgeted salary range for this position is $6,000 to $7,000 per course. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements. This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Full consideration will be given to applications received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on July 6, 2026. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Application materials should include:

  • Letter of interest specific to the teaching area being applied for. Applicants for performance-related positions should include a section that provides 3-5 hyperlinks or URLs for representative online audio or audio/video files of recent live or recorded performances (please do not include links to entire websites or collections of videos)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • A list of three professional references, including name, position, email, and phone number. These references should be able to speak to your teaching and professional experience and expertise.

Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Micki Hallam, HR Generalist, [email protected]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career – along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is not eligible for benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [email protected].

How to apply

Requisition ID: 1036488 Job Category: Faculty Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.eduThe University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The administration, faculty and staff embrace diversity and are committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.

We serve the state, the nation, and the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and addressing critical societal needs through the transfer and application of knowledge.