Faculty recruitment and hiring are important opportunities to advance UMBC’s commitment to academic excellence. UMBC’s strategic plan calls for strengthening and expanding pathways to identify, attract, and retain outstanding faculty. It also emphasizes fostering a faculty that reflects the diversity of Maryland and our student body.
Faculty Hiring Request and Search Plan
Departments conducting faculty searches should complete the Faculty Hiring Request and Search Plan, also known as the FHRO. The FHRO offers guidance for planning and documenting the recruitment, evaluation, interviewing, and selection process, including:
- Search committee composition and applicant access
- Recruitment strategy and inclusive excellence in recruitment
- Selection and evaluation criteria
- Interview procedures
- Search timeline
- Required materials, including the draft job advertisement, evaluation rubrics, and core interview questions used throughout the search process
Search committees should consult with their Dean’s Office regarding any additional college- or school-specific requirements.
Recruitment Strategy and Inclusive Excellence in Recruitment
As a core value of UMBC, inclusive excellence should be integrated throughout each faculty search process. Committees will be asked to describe the steps that will be taken to support inclusive excellence in recruitment, including active recruitment efforts to broaden awareness of the position and reach a broad pool of qualified candidates.
Committees will be asked to identify the professional associations, publications, academic programs, disciplinary and professional networks, faculty interest groups, and other sources through which the position will be advertised or circulated.
Evaluation and Interviewing
The plan should describe the criteria and process the search committee will use to review applicants, evaluate candidates, and determine who advances through each stage of the search. All evaluation rubrics and criteria used for application review, initial/online interviews, and finalist/on-campus interviews should be included as appendices to the FHRO.
The plan should also describe how the search committee, department, program, or center will conduct interviews in ways that support a fair, transparent, and consistent process. Core interview questions should also be developed in advance and included in the FHRO.
Application Materials
Candidates may be asked in their cover letter to address their commitment to inclusive excellence and how their teaching, research and creative achievement, and/or service align with UMBC’s Mission and Vision.
Drafted job advertisements should use welcoming and inclusive language. Advertisements should also include the position title and rank, responsibilities, required and preferred qualifications, required application materials, application deadline, and UMBC nondiscrimination statement:
UMBC does not make hiring decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University’s nondiscrimination policy. We encourage applications from all candidates who meet the job qualifications and who will contribute to the University’s core value of inclusive excellence through their research, teaching, and service.
Resources for Search Committees
Faculty can access asynchronous faculty search courses supported by the Division of Institutional Equity through UMBC’s online training portal. Select View Library and search for “faculty searches.”
Through UMBC’s institutional membership in the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC), search committees can access additional recruitment tools, resources, and professional development opportunities.
Faculty Affairs can also provide additional training and resources to support faculty search committees.
Search Plan Review and Approval
- Upon completion, the search committee chair should submit the entire FHRO, with all required appendices, to their department/program chair/director for review.
- Department/Program Chairs/Directors should review the plan and submit to the Dean’s Office.
- The Dean’s Office should review the plan and submit it to Faculty Affairs within the Provost’s Office.
- Faculty Affairs will review the plan, provide feedback as needed, and send approval to your college/school’s Dean’s office.
Questions
If departments have questions regarding faculty search planning or process, please contact Walter Parrish (walterp1@umbc.edu) or facultyaffairs@umbc.edu.