Search Committees: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Faculty, Staff, and Administrative Searches - Softcover

Lee, Christopher D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1620362007 ISBN 13: 9781620362006

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

Finding the right candidate for administrative, professional and faculty positions is one of the most important tasks that any institution or enterprise undertakes. However, few higher education professionals receive training on the search committee process, but are expected to serve on or lead committees.

This book provides advice, training, and a step-by-step guide for conducting a rigorous, thorough search. Following the expert model presented in this book will virtually guarantee successful searches. This guide furthermore provides advanced diversity selection techniques that are not commonly found in many resources inside or outside of higher education, and that have become institutional priorities in the context of demographic changes and globalization that require that higher education serve more diverse populations and compete internationally.

This guide covers the complete cycle of hiring, starting with defining the position and forming and briefing the committee, through cultivating a rich and diverse pool of candidates and screening and evaluating candidates, to making the selection, successfully completing the search successfully, and welcoming colleagues to campus.

This volume includes over 30 templates that are designed to be copied and used as training handouts or as handy reference and resource materials that provide guidance at various stages of the search process. The over two dozen vignettes included can be used as training case studies or as expert advice that illuminates key concepts that are helpful with improving the quality of the search process.

The guide includes:
1. An expert step-by-step search model.
2. Dozens of templates, samples, tools, plus a bank of interview questions.
3. Diversity recruitment and selection protocols and techniques.
4. Resource guide with advice, case studies, examples, and training materials.

Coverage includes:
* How to Build a Successful Search
* Recruiting Guide
* How to Design a Diverse Selection Process
* Minority Recruiting Resources
* Interview Guide
* A Bank of Interview Questions
* Screening Methods
* Sample Forms, Templates, Checklists
* Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues

This guide serves the needs of administrators who shape hiring policy and goals, committee chairs and members. It is also a resource that human resources professionals can use to train, equip and support search committees.

A complementary website at www.SearchCommittees.com offers additional resources.

[Previous edition published by CUPA-HR: Search Committees: A Tool Kit
By Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., 2000]

About this title

About the Author:

Christopher D. Lee is a leading authority on the search process. His first Search Committees book earned the 2001 Kathryn Hansen publication award from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). Since that time, he has provided search committee training to more than 1,000 human resource professionals and he has consulted with dozens of colleges and universities on the search process. He is the founder of www.SearchCommittees.com, a website that is an online repository of hundreds of resources and training materials on the search committee process designed to train and empower search committees. Additionally, Chris is a former question writer for the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) and SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) examinations administered by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and the author of numerous human resources-related articles, chapters, and three books, including Performance Conversations: An Alternative to Appraisals.

Edna Chun and Alvin Evans are award-winning authors and human resource and diversity thought leaders with extensive experience in complex, multi-campus systems of higher education. Two of their books, Are the Walls Really Down? Behavioral and Organizational Barriers to Faculty and Staff Diversity (Jossey-Bass, 2007) and Bridging the Diversity Divide:Globalization and Reciprocal Empowerment in Higher Education (Jossey-Bass, 2009) were recipients of the prestigious Kathryn G. Hansen Publication Award by the national College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. In addition, their co-authored book, The New Talent Acquisition Frontier: Integrating HR and Diversity Strategy in the Private and Public Sectors and Higher Education (Stylus: 2014) received a silver medal in the 2014 Axiom Business Book Awards and is the first book to provide a concrete roadmap to the integration of HR and diversity strategy.

Recent publications include Leading a Diversity Culture Shift in Higher Education (Routledge, 2018) that draws on extensive interviews with chief diversity officers and university leaders to provide a systematic approach to diversity organizational learning and The Department Chair as Transformative Leader (Stylus, 2015), the first research-based resource on the academic department chair’s role in diversity transformation. Other books include Diverse Administrators in Peril: The New Indentured Class in Higher Education (Paradigm, 2012), the first in-depth interview study of the work experiences of minority, female, and LGBT administrators in higher education 2012)  and Rethinking Cultural Competence in Higher Education: An Ecological Framework for Student Development ( Jossey-Bass, 2016), a study that draws on a survey of recent college graduates now working as professionals to offer leading-edge, integrative models for the attainment of diversity competence.

Both authors are sought-after plenary speakers and facilitators at national conferences and symposia. Their numerous journal articles in leading HR and diversity journals focus on talent management and diversity strategies. Edna Chun is Chief Learning Officer and Alvin Evans is Higher Education Practice Leader for HigherEd Talent, a national diversity and human resources consulting firm.

Review:

“In the second edition of his guide, Lee fully demystifies each stage of the search process and shares numerous tips, talking points, and cautions. Search committees and search chairs can rely on Lee’s highly organized and authoritative publication. Other recommended users include department chairs, human resources officers, experienced trainers of search committees, and faculty advocates for equity and diversity. Lee’s book contains thirty-four useful exhibits meant to be copied and used as training handouts or as handy reference materials. Exhibit #1, for instance, provides a checklist of almost two dozen questions that deans, department chairs, and search committees often forget to ask themselves. For example, “Did organizational issues prompt the vacancy (change of leadership, change of work requirements, frequent turnover, downsizing, etc.)?” “What changes have occurred with this position over time, such as new or different duties and greater responsibility?” Such preliminary questions are invaluable to put on the table; they demonstrate Lee’s intent to more fully engage department chairs and their search committees in scrutinizing the why and how of upcoming searches. Exhibit #13 provides a “narrative or qualitative screening instrument” that calls for committee members to provide details and evidence about each candidate’s qualifications in almost a dozen job criteria categories. This evidence-based review is an exemplary practice that blocks a rush to judgment and boosts quality control. Also noteworthy is Lee’s glossary, which provides definitions of search components so that search members and others can stay on the same page. So simple and yet so effective for quality control. Search trainers, department chairs, and others will use to advantage Lee’s twenty-seven vignettes. These are long and short call-out boxes presenting information about the exorbitant cost of a bad hire, proven strategies to avoid a failed search, reliable ways to talk with applicants’ references, and so on.

This second edition is sound, succinct, and detailed and should have a long shelf life. And his new, intense focus on how to achieve faculty and staff diversity should be immensely appreciated." (The Department Chair 2015-04-01)

“Selecting the right person for an academic appointment has become increasing challenging in a competitive environment with dwindling resources. In his guide Dr. Lee provides a clear process for a search including helpful tools, hints, and warnings to improve the likelihood of success for the institution. Woven through the guide is an evidence-based rationale for the recommended approach, including vignettes that make the theoretical come to life. This reference is a must for both novice and seasoned search committee members.” (Patricia Maguire Meservey, President 2014-03-01)

“The book is well organized, and referenced, and provides some outstanding tools and ready-to-use templates for HR professionals supporting searches, as well as committee chairs and committee members. Rather than ‘guessing’, or simply utilizing the process your institution has had for many years, this book can help any institution build (or re-invigorate) its search committee process!” (Isaac Dixon, Associate Vice President and Director Human Resources 2014-03-01)

“This is a comprehensive resource and guide to effective recruitment of faculty and staff. Chris has a high level and sophisticated understanding of the higher education community, as evidenced by his ability to delve deeply and broadly into critical nuances and to offer practical advice for every stage of the search process. Throughout, Chris incorporates strategies to promote the development of a strong and diverse pool of candidates – which is foundational to an effective process and to ensure a successful outcome. I highly recommend this book for all HR professionals, especially those charged with providing leadership in the area of recruitment, and for others across campus that participate in any way with the faculty and staff search, recruitment and selection process.” (Lauren A. Turner, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources and Equal Opportunity & Outreach 2014-03-01)

“In my 15+ years in talent acquisition, I have rarely encountered a single resource that provides step-by-step guidance in maximizing your institution’s recruitment and selection process. Dr. Lee’s book delivers exactly what it promises in the title: a comprehensive guide for search committees that will instantly upgrade faculty, staff, and administrative searches. If you are among the enlightened souls who believe diversity recruitment is not an after-the-fact consideration, but is rather a required component of all successful searches, this book will prove invaluable to you. The templates, samples, interview protocols, case studies, exhibits, and other first-class training materials make Dr. Lee’s book ‘required reading’ for all search committee members.” (Glenn R. Powell, Director, Employment Equity 2014-03-01)

“Search Committees is an intelligent guide to identifying well-qualified candidates for various levels within academic organizations – a critical activity for the success of any organization, often taken for granted, and not always thoughtfully implemented. Included are useful techniques and strategies for illuminating the complex and sometimes overwhelming search process, including integrating diversity and involving stakeholders. The value of this book is that it can serve as a checklist of techniques many of us know, but fail to use, as well as motivate committees to renovate the search process.” (Cheryl R. Wyrick, Professor, Management and Human Resources, and Associate Dean 2014-03-01)

“In the competitive world of identifying and successfully recruiting professional talent for higher education, I consider Dr. Lee’s book a must read before any serious search is undertaken. The release of this second edition further confirms why Dr. Lee’s methodical approach to finding, accessing, and securing talent is so indispensable to building a professional staff.” (Elaine M. Lemay, Executive Director of Human Resources 2014-03-01)

“I saw Dr. Lee speak at a CUPA-HR conference in the early 2000’s and was immediately impressed with his knowledge of the subject matter of higher education searches. There was such a dearth of information on the subject that I, as a busy HR administrator of a higher education research organization, was thrilled to have access to a bounty of high quality material that I could actually reproduce to train with! Thanks to Dr. Lee, my campus has some of the very best material for our search committees. Our searches are lawful, cast a wide net and are fair and equitable. Our committees are thankful for the ability to understand each of their roles along with comprehension of how critical the choice is to the institution to reach and choose the most qualified applicants. I highly recommend that those with responsibilities to conduct searches, in whatever capacity, be it as an administrator or a member of a committee, take advantage of this marvelous book and the companion Web site. It may be one of the best choices you make in your career.” (Sandra Schoelles, Director, Human Resources Office of Sponsored Programs 2014-03-01)

“In this in-depth practical playbook chock-full of useful scenarios, examples, templates and tools, Dr. Lee masterfully captures the essence and art of the higher education search committee process. This is a ‘must have resource’ for all CHRO’s and higher education HR professionals responsible for leading, managing and recruiting an equitable ‘meritocracy’ in higher ed institutions.” (Brian K. Dickens, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Payroll Services 2014-03-01)

“The work of selecting new faculty, staff, and administrative colleagues is very challenging. Often, it is performed by committees made up of deeply concerned individuals for whom human capital issues are not part of their daily work. That’s why this book is so important. Dr. Christopher Lee demystifies the work of selection committees―both for those who are asked to serve on them and for the candidates with whom those committee members will interact. Ensuring that new employees are a good fit within an academic institution is a tough job, and the market for highly-skilled talent is extremely competitive. It’s important that committees work quickly and diligently to ensure their institution will have the broadest candidate base from which to select. This book will help selection committees avoid the pitfalls that can slow their progress. Dr. Lee has done a fine job of making smart selection processes accessible to committee members and the employers who rely on the fruits of their work.” (Cheryl Crozier Garcia, Professor, Human Resource Management and Program Chair 2014-03-01)

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1620362007
• ISBN 13: 9781620362006
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 204