A College search is conducted when a dean determines a position will be designated as a college position.  This may happen when an interdisciplinary center or an institute is involved or when several departments are searching for similar positions, as reflected in their departmental hiring plans.  The dean identifies potential lab space for the hire before the search begins. 

The Dean selects the chair and members of the college search committee, trying to find a balance reflective of the departments/disciplines involved. The members of the committee will be from the pertinent area of research being recruited and will include members from potential departments.

The Search Committee Checklist should be used as a guideline for the actions of a college wide search committee.  In addition, special attention should be given to those elements that will allow for a broad coverage of disciplines and input from the department to which the candidate may eventually belong.  These include:

The chair of the search committee, in consultation with the entire search committee, will develop or expand on an existing, approved position description, a college cover letter, and an advertisement plan. The position description should be broad to cover several sub-disciplines.

Once the application files, which are housed in the deans office or institute(s) (centers), are complete, the committee meets to develop the short list.

The short list of candidates, as determined by the search committee, is provided to the Dean who approves it and sends it to the Office of Faculty and Staff Affirmative Action for approval, consistent with normal search guidelines; this review can be done concurrently. The list should also be sent to relevant departments for informational purposes. If the list of candidates is changed, it must be re-reviewed by all. Interested college faculty are then invited to review these files in advance of the interviews.

Following all interviews, the search committee provides the dean with a list of acceptable candidates, having taken into consideration any comments from college faculty.

The Dean notifies the relevant department chairs and the chair of the search committee which candidate(s) will be invited to the campus for a second visit.  The candidate(s) will indicate a preference for a home department(s) and that department(s) conducts the second interview.

Before initiating negotiations, proposed rank and step for appointment must be agreed upon by the Dean and the Department Chair as well as a preliminary compensation package discussed and space designated, as appropriate.  The principal negotiator is either the home Department Chair or the Dean, as determined by the Dean.  Refer to Negotiation Process.

The department chair will prepare the appointment file, including a yes/no faculty vote on appointment, to be forwarded to the dean.