III. Faculty: Personnel Policies, Practices, and Procedures

F. Procedures for New Faculty Appointments

The selection of new faculty is one of the most significant responsibilities undertaken in the College, since the excellence of the College is dependent upon the excellence of the faculty. The process shall take place in accordance with the commitment of the College to Equal Opportunity Employment (Infra, Chapter V.)

Note: Records of all appointments, whether full or part-time, including all candidate materials and notes, must be kept for a minimum of two years by the department chair, in accordance with Equal Opportunity Commission requirements.

1. Full-Time Regular Faculty Appointments and Appointment of Librarians with Faculty Status

a. When a vacancy occurs, the position may be considered for possible reallocation, redefinition or both, as determined by current priorities. The review of a position shall be carried out under the direction of the Dean of the College. When a vacancy occurs or is anticipated, the Dean shall request the department chair to provide a written rationale outlining reasons for the continuation of the position as defined or redefined in the context of the department's purpose and current staffing. A copy of this rationale shall be brought to the Faculty Representative Committee, which will review the request in the context of the overall academic program of the College. Its advisory recommendation shall be forwarded, with the department's and Dean's recommendation, to the President for a final determination. In the event that the Dean's recommendation to the President is to discontinue the position, the Dean will discuss that recommendation with Faculty Representative Committee and seek their recommendation prior to making a formal recommendation to the President. The Dean shall then forward the departmental rationale, the advisory recommendations of the Faculty Representative Committee and the Dean's recommendation to the President for final determination. The Dean will also report to the faculty the substance of the Dean's recommendation to discontinue the position in the event that the recommendation is accepted. Should a vacancy occur during the late spring or summer, every effort will be made to follow the procedure outlined to the extent practicable. [Amended: Faculty, 11/7/94; Trustees, 2/10/95]

b.  The department to which a position is allocated shall form a Search Committee consisting of the department chair and at least two other members of the department. In the event that the Search Committee would consist of fewer than two faculty members, because of department size, the department chair should, in consultation with the Dean of the College, invite at least one other full-time faculty member to join the Committee.

c.  The Search Committee shall prepare a position description, clearly setting forth the status of the position and specific qualifications and requirements for the position for approval by the Dean of the College. Appropriate announcement or advertisement of the position shall be made by the Dean of the College. Such advertisements should request a letter of application, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least three references (or letters of reference), and a current curriculum vitae. The Search Committee shall also contact other universities and colleges or appropriate colleagues to request the names of possible candidates. Efforts shall be made to encourage application from minority and female candidates.

d.  Following a preliminary screening of all candidates, the chair of the Search Committee shall review the files of the top 10 to 12 candidates with the Dean of the College. The chair of the Search Committee and the Dean of the College will consult about the need for preliminary off-campus interviews at professional meetings or other appropriate locations. It may also be determined that telephone inquiries should be made about various candidates to those who may have knowledge of the candidate. Telephone calls to candidates may be an important preliminary step, but should not be used, except in unusual circumstances, as a substitute for an on-campus interview.

e.  From the final group of candidates, the Search Committee, with the advice of the Dean of the College, shall normally select a maximum of three candidates for on-campus interviews. Such candidates shall be requested to have an official transcript or transcripts sent to the Dean of the College.

f.  Interviews of candidates shall be conducted whenever practicable by the department chair, other members of the department(s), the Dean of the College, and the President of the College (in the case of tenure-track positions). Students should also be invited to meet the candidates for a formal or informal presentation or discussion when possible.

g.  The recommendation of the Search Committee, including advice as to the length and rank of the appointment, shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College. The Dean, after consultation with the President, shall be responsible for making the appointment, setting the salary, and concluding the appointment procedures. The Dean shall inform the department chair in writing of the terms of appointment, except for salary.

In the event of disagreement among those making the recommendation to the Dean of the College, or between the Dean of the College or President and those making the recommendation, the parties involved shall meet and attempt to resolve their differences. No offer of appointment shall be made to a candidate without the mutual consent of the Search Committee, the Dean of the College, and the President of the College.

2. Part-Time Faculty Appointments

a.  The allocation of all part-time positions shall be made by the President based on the advice of the Dean of the College, who will in turn seek the advice of the department chair(s) involved.

b.  An appropriate Search Committee, as determined by the department chair and the Dean of the College, shall be formed within the department following the allocation of the part-time position.

c.  Appropriate announcement of the position shall be made by the Dean of the College and the Search Committee. The Search Committee may also contact other universities and colleges or appropriate colleagues to request the names of possible candidates. The extent of the search (i.e., number or types of advertisements placed and number of outside people contacted) shall be determined by the chair of the Search Committee and the Dean of the College. In few cases shall the search be as extensive as that for a regular full-time appointment.

d.  Following a preliminary screening of all candidates, the chair of the Search Committee and the Dean shall review the top three to six candidates, depending upon the number of applicants, to determine which one to three candidates shall be brought to campus for an interview.

e.  Interviews of candidates shall be conducted by the Search Committee, the Dean of the College, and others deemed appropriate by the Search Committee and the Dean of the College.

f.  Recommendations of the Search Committee shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College, who, with the approval of the President, may make an offer of appointment. No offer of appointment shall be made to a candidate without the mutual consent of the Search Committee, the Dean, and the President of the College.