Faculty Job Advertisements

Please send drafts of all faculty position announcements to [email protected] for review by John Gerry, Chris Goh, and Rakan Safa before making them public. Examples can be found online at http://employment.williams.edu/faculty/.

Recommended elements of the advertisement:

  1. name of host department or program
  2. job title (assistant professor, lecturer, visitor, rank open, etc.)
  3. appointment terms, as appropriate:
    • for example, “[department/program] seeks to appoint a tenure-track assistant professor”
    • and perhaps “a more senior appointment is possible under special circumstances”
    • non-tenure-track: renewable, visiting, part-time, full-time, or other parameters
    • teaching load, especially for part-time or visiting positions
    • start date
    • duration of contract (esp. for visitors)
  4. eligibility requirements, if any:
    • designation of field or specialty
    • PhD in hand, or other terminal degree, etc.
  5. department or program facts, figures, philosophy (brief), if desired.
  6. application deadline:
    • “all materials must be received by [date],” or
    • “review of applications will begin on [date],” etc.
  7. application components (see this short Chronicle article for a few suggestions and best practices):
    • required materials for the application dossier should include, at minimum, a cover letter and CV
    • additional materials for the dossier might include recommendation letters, a teaching and/or research statement, sample syllabi, a writing sample, transcripts, a portfolio of creative work, etc.; these kinds of materials can either be required as part of the original application or requested from short-list candidates later in the search
    • request for a diversity statement featured in the body of the ad. You may choose from the following examples, or create your own statement in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity. Examples:
      • “In the letter of application, we ask you to speak to your ability to work effectively with a student population that is broadly diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.”
      • “We welcome applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the field and ask you to state in their your cover letter how you will enhance the diversity of offerings and educational experiences in the department/program if hired.”
      • “We seek applicants who can demonstrate in their supporting materials a capacity for inclusive teaching and for working effectively with a student, staff, and faculty population that is broadly diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.”
  8. method of application via Interfolio
    • e.g., “Applicants must apply through Interfolio using this link: [include landing page URL]”
  9. what to expect during the search process:
    • e.g., “The search committee plans to conduct online video interviews with 8-10 semi-finalists in November.”
    • e.g., “Three letters of recommendation and a writing sample will be requested in October from all applicants who advance to the semi-finalist stage.”
    • e.g., “During the 30-minute interview, candidates will be asked to discuss….”
    • e.g., “A department representative will be available to meet with applicants at the XXX conference in December.”
    • e.g., “Campus visits for finalists will be conducted in December.”
    • e.g., “The search committee hopes to make an offer in January.”
  10. point of contact for questions—a name, phone number, or email address

Required institutional statements

  • regarding non-discrimination and diversity; please do not amend:
    • Williams College is a liberal arts institution located in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. The college has built its reputation on outstanding teaching and scholarship and on the academic excellence of its approximately 2,000 students. Please visit the Williams College website (http://www.williams.edu). Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive.

i. Advertising

For printed and online advertisements (these should be submitted for review by OIDEI and DOF):

  • Use the new Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action language in all advertisements, accompanied by the longer text designed to inform candidates about the College and its surroundings.
  • From your program or department: advertise in discipline-specific and general publications catering to underrepresented groups, e.g., Society of the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists (SACNAS).
  • Younger scholars rely on electronic media, so invite various faculty members to post the ad to listserves or social media platforms for specific subdisciplines.
  • Provided by the DOF and/or OIDEI office: a full listing of all College faculty positions in the Chronicle of Higher Education, HigherEdJobs.com, Diverse Issues in Higher Ed, Latinos in Higher Ed, and the Southern Regional Education Board

ii. The Interfolio Hiring Service

To facilitate faculty hiring the college contracts with Interfolio.com to use their online search service. Departments and programs have found this paperless system to be efficient, secure, and convenient. It is both easier for applicants to submit their dossiers and for search committees to review them and the interface is intuitive and fully customizable. Another benefit of using the Interfolio Faculty Search system is that it ensures standardized EEO data collection for all searches.

Before you place your ad you’ll need to “create your position” in Interfolio in order to have a “landing page.” The landing page is where your applicants will go to apply for the position. This is why all ads should include language to the effect of “Applicants must apply through Interfolio using this link: (insert landing page URL).” The administrator in the department that is posting the ad is responsible for creating the position in Interfolio. Call Justine Beringer (x4351) with any questions.