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[oatmeal]

Dear Forumites: I have written a few posts about a search for a new chair position. I appreciate the various responses. I would like to get your thoughts on something and I have to be careful not to reveal too much. I was an on-campus finalist for a Chair position in a large department in the Humanities. I had a great interview (I thought so) and the committee was very positive (very positive). This was over 2 months ago now. I have heard nothing at all, not even a rejection. Is this normal? I find it unprofessional. I do know that there have been problems with this search and that this the fourth time in two years that they ran the search. The top level administrators turned down finalists in the past. Is that common? I have no idea what has happened here but I would like to know, as it is getting very late in the "season" and moving now for a senior position would be a lot of work. I know it is not good to contact the chair of the committee, but is this allowed for a senior position? Or, contacting the Dean (who makes the appointment). I suppose I am just venting here but I have never heard of such a long duration. Maybe they are bringing in more candidates. As a current chair I just find this rather unusual. Any thoughts?

[zharkov]

.... this the fourth time in two years that they ran the search.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!  I don't think there is anything "usual" about this situation.

I'd be inclined to call the SC chair or dean, despite the usual advice against doing so.

[science_expat]

Or maybe email the Dean stating that you're still interested in the post and inquiring about the timeframe?

Personally I'd be wary about the post, however.

[larryc]

I'd call.

[oatmeal]

Thanks for the replies. I will contact the Dean. Yes, I am certainly very wary of the position but it is a good career opportunity. Thanks.

[oatmeal]

Forumites: An update for you. I have contacted the Dean now and still no reply, over three weeks later...

[madhatter]

The dean is either dead or rude. Either way, close the books on this one and move on.

[oatmeal]

Yes, I have definitely moved on. Just wanted to give forumites an update.

[underground8]

I don't think your situation is terribly unusual. But I also suspect that economic factors may be influencing and extending the process: universities are reducing salaries and benefits. In the meantime, faculty continue the tradition of musical chairs.  And the market is saturated with the unemployed, under-employed and unhappily employed.  Negotiations are increasingly complicated and often unproductive.  And in the short term, it saves the university funds when positions remain vacant.  Hold a position vacant for 6 weeks and you've cut the budget 10%.

But I'm also struck by the lack of professionalism in some university hiring practices. Some years ago I had a similar experience as yours. Checking to confirm that the position had not been filled yet,  I finally wrote a letter requesting that I be removed from consideration for the position. I was also very clear that I would not  be interested in working in an institution that treated potential employees, and thus most likely employees in general, in such an indifferent  manner.  A week letter I recieved a form letter inviting me to apply for the same position. Sheesh.

When I applied for my current position, it was three months before I was invited to an interview.  I'd actually forgotten about the position by the time they called. but this was a new position offering the opportunity to do something new that I had dreamed of for 20+ years. When I interviewed a month later, it went quite well.   When I'd not heard anything after a month, I wrote the search committee chair a letter.  She responded with a phone call, not wanting to risk a digital or paper trail.  I was told that although I had been the only candidate recomended by a search committee, the university president had offered the position to another candidate. The university was now in salary and rank negotiation with that individual. The search committe and the department chair were frustrated with the situation and asked me to provide additional support matterial- unofficially- that might help them market me to the president.

It was over a month later that  their negotiations broke down and I was offered the position.  And I balked. In part because I had subsequently recieved a promotion and a raise, and I really did like (but was tired of) my current (old) position. I asked for 3 days.  They saw this as a negotianion strategy (it wasn't) but unknown to me, they were up against an accreditation time line.  I'd decided on a salary I needed and started working the budget with my wife. (It would still be a pay cut, but I really WANTED this position.) Then the provost called, offering me the rank of associate and 5K in excess of what I was prepared to settle for. (all of those negotiations -and time wasted- with the other candidate served me well) 

It was 8 months between application and offer.

[oatmeal]

Thanks for your interesting story underground8. Was your position a senior one? 8 months is indeed a long time. However, it sounds as though you are happy with the move? I finally heard some news last week.

[underground8]

Yes, I guess my current position could be considered a senior position. Associate Professor: one of two full time faculty hired by a small university to develop a brand new professional degree program contingent upon an external accreditation process that would span 3 years.  Yes the 8 months was a long time, but the initial posting was early in the year, and then they were almost 6 weeks in negotiation with the president’s candidate. 

Yes I'm generally quite happy.  But disillusioned by the considerable BS and narcissism that is apparently so rampant ( and tolerated) in higher education. I'd not been prepared for that and as a matter of fact still struggle with it.

I surmise from your recent post  that your story did not end the way you had hoped for.  I am sorry.

[oatmeal]

My story actually ended on a good note. I would have turned the senior position down, unless the money was just too good and even then I still would turn it down. I am very happy where I am and it was just one of those opportunities that comes along post-tenure. I was very surprised by the rather long time frame involved with informing candidates, finalists in fact, but from what I have read, this can happen.

[itried]

Yes, it happens, but it's totally unprofessional and unacceptable. I'd be very concerned about taking a job at a university where I was treated like this; it suggests dysfunction at the departmental and / or university level. Red flag.