Examining An Alternative Approach to Hiring Tenure Track Faculty

Abstract

Hiring tenure track faculty is one of the most important decisions in higher education. Hiring outcomes shape faculty careers, the process is costly and time consuming and, ultimately, hiring significantly impacts the character of academic departments and institutions. Despite its central importance, hiring is often driven by past practices with little regard for empirical data concerning "successful" hiring. The hiring process at California State University Channel Islands, a startup campus with an alternative approach to faculty hiring, may offer useful contrasts to traditional practices. This paper examines several years of experience using our alternative approach and suggests avenues for additional research.

Hiring tenure track faculty is one of the most important decisions in higher education. Hiring outcomes shape faculty careers, the process is costly and time consuming and, ultimately, hiring significantly impacts the character of academic departments and institutions. Despite its central importance, hiring is often driven by past practices with little regard for empirical data concerning "successful" hiring. The hiring process at California State University Channel Islands, a startup campus with an alternative approach to faculty hiring, may offer useful contrasts to traditional practices. This paper examines several years of experience using our alternative approach and suggests avenues for additional research.