Enhancing Diversity in Search Committees for Successful Recruitment
Successful search committees are built on diversity, training, and experience, leading to highly qualified and diverse applicant pools. Transform the search process by committing to diversity through action, building diverse applicant pools, and avoiding exclusionary practices. Recognize and address unconscious biases that may affect recruitment outcomes. Engage individuals with diverse perspectives in the search committee composition to ensure successful recruitment. Fiction is dispelled about the affordability of faculty of color and women, emphasizing the importance of marketing assets and job environment over salary.
- Diversity in Recruitment
- Successful Search Committees
- Unconscious Bias
- Faculty Recruitment
- Inclusive Hiring
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Leigh Settlemoir Academic Human Resources Leigh Settlemoir Dzwik Dzwik Academic Human Resources Joi Joi Cunningham Initiatives Cunningham Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Initiatives
Successful searches begin with successful search committee members trained, dedicated, and experienced individuals. Search committees succeed when they build highly qualified, diverse applicant pools. Highly qualified, diverse applicant pools lead to the potential for outstanding hires which, in turn are natural recruitment vehicles for the next searches.
Transform the search process Commit to diversity through action Build a diverse applicant pool Avoid exclusionary thinking in recruitment, selection and hiring Be aware of unconscious bias
They must have attended the right school, training program, etc. Consider the situation of the National Football League. If they only considered those from traditionally outstanding programs (e.g., Oklahoma and other Big 12 schools), would John Elway have had the opportunity to lead the Broncos to two Super Bowl victories?
Unconscious bias is based on a stereotype. A stereotype is a standardized mental picture that represents an oversimplified opinion, affective attitude or uncritical judgment about a group. (Merriam Webster Online). MIT/University of Chicago study sent 5000 resumes to help wanted ads in Boston and Chicago with stereotypical white and black names.
The composition of the search committee is critical to its success. Involve people with diverse perspectives and fresh ideas. Note: Departmental faculty not on search committee still play critical role in search process.
The few faculty of color are being sought out by numerous institutions, and are not affordable. Fiction! Fiction! Reality ~ weigh location and job environment more than salary so market your assets! Reality ~ Some minority and women faculty
Faculty of color wont select academethey choose more lucrative positions in government or industry. Fiction Fiction! ! Reality more or less likely to work in academe than other PhDs. Reality ~ ~ Minority and women PhDs are no
Minority scholars are not available in the STEM disciplines. Fiction! Fiction! Reality PhDs and Post Docs are available. Reality ~ ~ Although numbers are low recent
We need to know what role each affected area plays in the search process.
Search Committee Prepares selection criteria, evaluation information and advertisements. Corresponds with applicants. Screens candidates and recommends for interview. Conducts interviews and reference checks. Recommends candidates to hire.
Department Chairperson (if applicable) Appoints search committee Approves recommendations of search committee Interviews candidates Dean/Director Approves recommendations of search committee Interviews candidates Prepares offers to candidates
Inclusion Director/Provosts Office Approves recommendations of the search committee Interacts with search committee regarding procedures Summarizes candidate data and information relative to protected groups with regard to the position
Cast a Wide Net It s important to recruit from a wide range of sources and use a variety of methods to cast a wide net. If you need extra resources, contact the Office of Inclusion.
Do not post job announcement until: 1) Search Committee has reviewed 2) Dean/Director has reviewed and approved 3) Office of Inclusion has reviewed and approved
If you are not going to consider applicants, until all materials are received, indicate so in your job ad. Remember Outstanding candidates often do not apply for advertised positions you must court these potential applicants. Graystone Advertising make them work for you!
Change in the law related to permanent residency-- National Print Ad No Longer Required!! Can still place national print advertisement but can use electronic or web-based national professional journal too. What is required if use electronic or web-based national professional journal? Advertisement must be posted for at least 30 calendar days Documentation of advertisement placement required Documentation of advertisement placement must include evidence of the start and end dates Documentation of advertisement placement must show text of advertisement NO POSTION WILL BE APPROVED FOR INTERVIEW UNLESS THERE IS DOCUMENTATION OF ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT. TEAR SHEETS OR SIMILAR DOCUMENTATION MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE PEOPLE ADMIN SYSTEM AS PART OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
Cannot give the appearance of or favor relatives or those with which you have a personal relationship No involvement in the search process No direct or indirect line of supervision Such relationships must be disclosed to Academic Human Resources Might pose a conflict of interest in contravention of Board of Trustees policy Conflict of Interest Policy In the Appointment and Assignment of Related Employees
Invite minority and women scholars to campus to present symposia, etc. Provide mentoring and other resources for junior faculty, esp. important for women and minority faculty. Build cultural competency into clinical and educational experiences. Build diversity into curriculum.
Messages start with words and behavior of leaders (deans, department chairs, etc.). Build networks and resources/ continuous recruiting. Grow the pipeline. Champion Diversity Initiatives at OU ERGs, programming, Welcome Committee, policies!!
ALL search committee members share responsibility to attract diverse pool and ensure fair and equitable treatment of all applicants.
Telephone calls Personalized letters to potential applicants Personalized emails Talk face-to-face with people who might nominate candidates
Approach potential candidates at professional meetings. Consult with diverse faculty members on campus about outreach activities. Contact traditional professional organizations that have affiliated groups for women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Other ideas?
Committee must establish selection/evaluation criteria and scoring process before reviewing applicant materials. Internal applicants should not participate in the evaluation process of other applicants.
Treat all applicants consistently and fairly. Be courteous and prompt in correspondence. Remember your own experiences as an applicant.
The search committee does not need to wait until the materials submission deadline to review applicant materials. Review may begin at any time.
All discussions among committee members are confidential. Applicant names and materials should be kept in secure location. Confidentiality breeches should be disclosed to committee chair.
Formal selection interviews are conducted by the search committee and sometimes additional evaluators. Must be consistent for all applicants. Use questions that cover major job functions and desired skills/abilities only. Must ask same questions of all applicants, but can ask varying follow up questions depending on applicants answers and/or experience/education. Use interview questions to probe potential using what if type questions.
Committee members who miss some or all of the interviews should not participate in discussions of rank ordering of applicants, but may provide comments on those that they attended. You or the applicant have questions Academic Human Resources Ex:2922 Office of Inclusion Ex:3496
Inappropriate interview venues: Sporting Events Gentlemen's Club Dinner with Partner/Spouse and Family House Parties
Do not ask about or discuss the following (even if applicants volunteer the information): - age - sexual orientation - marital status - religion - children (present or future) - ethnicity/culture - veteran status - disability status - Pregnancy and Health
Arrange for applicants to meet with other faculty of similar interests or backgrounds on campus. Prepare welcome packet for campus visits (e.g., handbooks, school/dept policies, benefits summary, web site info, regional activities, chamber of commerce materials, etc.). MI-HERC Dual Career Issue
Concern about struggles with promotion due to race/ethnicity (perception that they might not fit the profile ) Having gender/ethnicity given more attention than credentials (often report that their race is mentioned first, not their academic credentials) Being expected to work harder than non- minority/male colleagues
Being treated as a token and feelings of isolation Being expected to handle minority affairs (expected to be experts on their racial or ethnic group) Concern about whether they can maintain their cultural identity under pressure to fit in
Connecting faculty with campus resources and support Mentoring programs Clearly stated standards and procedures for advancement
No negotiations with finalists, even verbal, are to occur prior to Provost s Office review and approval of the search and the finalist list.
Not enough time to perform a search Renewing a visiting faculty contract (must be completed each year) Outstanding individual (with detailed explanation attached) Make certain to attach CV to the completed form for submission/approval
Turner, Caroline S.V. 2002. Diversifying the faculty: A guidebook for search committees. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges & Universities. www.aacu-edu.org Barker, Kathy. 2002. At the helm: A laboratory navigator. Cold Spring Laboratory Press. (Covers personnel issues in a laboratory setting. Geared toward new Principal Investigators.)
http://www.oakland.edu/ahr Academic Human Resources website http://www.oakland.edu/?id=59&sid=66 Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives website
