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[gerbera]

Sorry this may seem obvious to many, but I have searched and not found an answer here easily.

When a job starts in September, and the ad says "PhD by date of appointment," does that mean one must finish before the job begins in the fall, or before one signs a contract, or ? (It all hinges, obviously, on what is commonly considered the "date of appointment".) 

Many Thanks!

[pink_]

It means that you must have your degree in hand by September when you show up to campus.

[prof_smartypants]

It means that you must have your degree in hand by September when you show up to campus.

Or whenever the start of your contract is - in my case, July. However, not necessarily when you sign your contract.

[imawakenow]

It means that you must have your degree in hand by September when you show up to campus.

That's what it meant for me.

I had to have a letter from the graduate school in my file that stated that all degree requirements had been fulfilled by the first day of the fall semester.

[t_r_b]

It means, "if we hire you, and you then fail to finish your diss on schedule, we'll be pissed. Get it done already."

[mad_doctor]

At some schools it means that you'll be a non-tt Instructor until you finish your Ph.D.  You need to get clarity on exactly what they mean by that.

[t_r_b]

At some schools it means that you'll be a non-tt Instructor until you finish your Ph.D.  You need to get clarity on exactly what they mean by that.

No, you don't.

To understand why, you need to consider how the question sounds to a search committee:

What a candidate says: "Exactly what does 'PhD by date of appointment' mean?"

What an SC hears: "Um, I'm not nearly as far along on this diss as my letters indicated, and I have no idea when I'll actually be ready to defend. Just how long can I stretch this thing out?"

For now, don't worry about it, and instead focus on writing. If you get an on-campus interview, the department chair will explain the details of the deadlines to you (and the consequences of missing them). You will thank her for the information, but not appear too concerned about it. At some point in the course of the conversation, you will have the opportunity to reiterate that you will be defending long before the next academic year begins. The department chair will be inwardly skeptical and wonder why you don't have a date set yet, but at least you won't be sending out "I have no clue when I'll finish" vibes.

[gerbera]

You are all amazingly helpful.

Thank you!!!