Search committee vs. other faculty members

[guest7]

First time on the job market and applying to schools in Canada and the US. I am wondering if someone could explain to me the role of search committee members vs. other faculty members in the department. What are their roles? Do faculty members outside of the search committee also vote at each stage (i.e., long list→short list for campus interview→final candidate)? I know this could vary by institutions, but just want a general sense. 

[Directional cj]

At my directional CJ program non-committee members have no roles or influence. Maybe a brief 1 on 1 meeting and lunch. The chair doesn’t care about our opinions and the Dean decides who ultimately gets offers.

[^^^ yep]

My experience has been identical. I think this is especially true at state universities that have to follow strict guidelines re privacy of the candidates and unbiased procedures. The committee risks scuttling the search if they don’t play by the rules. Faculty outside of the committee might know about candidate visits, but that’s it. They don’t even know who received an offer until it has been formally accepted.

[slac]

At my SLAC, the SC screens initial 150 or so applicants and compiles a long list of 20. The whole faculty reads the files and votes on a list of 8-10 for zooms. An SC vote is weighted the same as any other faculty at that point.

The SC conduct the zooms and conveys any key impressions or notes. The faculty votes again with each person’s vote being equal.

By the time we get to campus visits, there is no difference between an SC member and other faculty.

Chair is a different story…they take on the task of arranging the candidates schedule and usually do more with the candidate during the actual visit.

[state school]

This does vary some by institution. I have been at 3 R1 state schools. All three have operated as described by slac guest above. SC screens full slate of applicants, narrows to a long list. The entire department votes to narrow to the short list of campus invitations. SC member votes are no different from those of other department faculty members after the long list is created.

[Ditto]

Been part of searches at two R1s. The description of the SLAC process above is the same as what I’ve experienced. I’ve learned from friends that Canadian universities often have a more formal interview with the search committee and candidate that I’ve not experienced at US R1s.