I chair a humanities department that made a hire last year and learned SO much about how the market works and how departments can do things differently. I hope this thread doesn't sound sanctimonious but…
First of foremost, the initial application absolutely does not need more than a CV and job letter.
@profjasonruiz @RadioRodriguez At the public teaching intensive universities like my campus California State Fullerton we have stream lined the system a lot but we need to do more. The modern dossier is too much.
@profjasonruiz This is an incredibly important thread. In such difficult times, treat candidates professionally and as human beings
@profjasonruiz Our university does not allow you to send rejection letters until someone is hired.
@profjasonruiz this varies. I was on a committee this year in Norway and we DO read every piece (some apps were 100s of pgs) and we write a long evaluative report for all applicants to read. Hundreds of hours of work, everything was read.
@profjasonruiz I appreciate this so much - most of the time (in my experience) asking for 3 lettres of rec for grad. Applications and then for fellowships and eventually the job market, it can be extremely daunting to find 3 writers. I have a committee member not want to write me one because 1/
@profjasonruiz Great advice. Any thoughts on what makes a 'good' covering letter?
@profjasonruiz Thanks for great info as I get ready to chair a search committee to hire a TT in History for our small liberal arts institution this upcoming academic year.
@profjasonruiz Great post - wish other departments followed your lead
@profjasonruiz I recently applied to TT At a top Canadian institution. They asked for references, not letters, & limited all other docs (except CV) to 1 page. It was glorious from applicant's perspective. (I suspect committee was dancing w/ joy at change too.) This seems like good compromise.
