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[4healthedprof]

Hello all--

I am a long-term adjunct, transitioning to tenure-track.

I applied to a TT position at a mid-sized public university. About 1 week after I applied, I received a call from one of my references; and an email from another, indicating that the university had contacted them. Both references were contacted  prior to the SCC contacting me.  Furthermore, it has been about 2 weeks, and I have heard from neither the SCC, nor department administrator, et al. 

Two questions:

1) Is it standard practice to contact references before speaking with the candidate? I've been a finalist twice (on both occasions, an internal candidate was selected); yet, I've ALWAYS been contacted first. It's a new experience for me, and any feedback is appreciated.

2) Is it clear to assume that I was probably not selected as a candidate, since I have not heard back so long after my references were contacted?

I value all feedback!

Thanks so much...

[seniorscholar]

Yes, it is a standard practice at my R-1 (and also at most of the places where my doctoral students have been hired) to contact references before making invitations for a campus visit. We contact the references only for the top three candidates, but may move quickly to contact further references if (1) we hear that the dissertation will not be defended before July 1 (which is necessary for our provost's "PhD in hand" rule), or (2) we hear something seriously disturbing from one of the references, or (3) one of the references tells us that the candidate has already accepted a position elsewhere. We do this, as you can see, because we do not want to waste the time and funding for a person we will not be able to hire.

It can take at least two weeks -- and possibly more, depending on schedules and time of year -- for the search committee to get permission to bring people in for a campus visit. To begin with, the committee has to reach a final decision about whom to invite (this means finding a time to meet), the department has to approve the list (usually pro forma, at a department meeting, but there can be problems), and the dean has to approve the list also -- with the department recommendation, the information from references in hand, etc. -- before releasing the funds for the campus visits.

And (since it's fresh in my mind) I received a phone call checking references on  one of my doctoral students who has accepted a TT position this year about six weeks before s/he received the call for a campus visit, though this six weeks did include the Christmas holiday period.

[ruralguy]

As you have probably now surmised, there really is no specific "general practice", and certainly the order in which things are conducted (reading certain docs, commitees conferring, callings refs, candidates, etc.) varies from school to school and might depend on field, size of school, public vs. private, etc. and maybe even just differ due to the personalities involved).

I would say it is certainly not UNUSUAL to contact references at any point in the process. It is also not unsual for some places to never contact them at all. It really just depends on what schools need to do this as some sort of HR thing, or who needs to do it as directed by custom or rule, or order from Dean, or just because they want more information.

I wouldn't make too much of these sorts of things. Just be glad that 3 schools seem to have shown interest, and that hopefully you will get more interviews and at least one decent offer!

Good luck!

Ruralguy

[4healthedprof]

Thank you both very much.  I've managed--albeit through a great deal of anxiety--to not throw up my hands and say "oh well, they don't want me."  I'm also newly conferred, so I guess this is another level of scrutiny I must endure:  "is she READY for the big league?"

I've not heard any negative feedback from my references (eg. "I really don't think you are ready to apply for TT" or "I really don't think I'm the best reference" et al.), so I guess I'll just take up a hobby, and stop stalking my email...

[4healthedprof]

*Update*

I have not heard back, yet noticed that they have pushed back their ABD candidate "defend-by date" to 2/1/12. I am sort of at a loss; and feeling like the writing is on the wall. I'll keep working towards to the next opportunity.

Thanks for all the advice.

[4healthedprof]

Received the "nail in the coffin" letter in the mail today. Oh well.

[palla]

Received the "nail in the coffin" letter in the mail today. Oh well.

Sorry.  Those letters are never fun.