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[mh_rose]

First question from me on the boards. I looked for thread on this and did not see anything.

Some background: I am interviewing next week for TT job at a SLAC. My partner works at a very highly ranked university in development and we hope to get him a similar position if I am offered the job. The university where he works has a VERY successful and innovative (at least in his department) development program, where the SLAC where I am interviewing has a fairly typical development program for that type of school. I believe the funding difference between the two schools was about 300 million dollars last year. SO has been a part of several big changes at his school (and others), including one that brought in a large gift (more than $50 mil) from a non-alum to the school. If I was not on the market, he would stay at this school or move to a similarly ranked university.

I am meeting with the Dean, the Provost, and the President during my visit. I intend to raise the possibility of a job for him at the school in one of these meetings.

My question is this: Could this help me in anyway? Should I talk him up during my meeting(s)? Who should I bring this up to? I would appreciate any advice on this!

[sibyl]

If you are not the first choice of the department, then the dean and the provost will have a hard time ramming you down the department's throat because of your spouse.  The department will say that the institution cares more about development than about academics and that the provost and dean don't respect shared governance.  And they will be correct.

You might mention it to someone who asks about your family, or in passing to the president, but you might well choose to say nothing.  I would wait until you get the offer. 

That said, it will be much easier for the SLAC to find a job for your partner in development than in an academic department.

Good luck.