Faculty Recruitment and Hiring

Appointment Without a Search

The College of Liberal Arts expects that rigorous search strategies will be followed when filling most academic positions. While typically all tenure-track and tenured faculty appointments require a national search, there are two exceptions–spousal/partner hires and exceptional hires.

If a spousal/partner hire or exceptional hire is anticipated, please contact the Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty or CLA Human Resources for assistance with the required documentation and approvals. The University's procedural requirements for spousal/partner and exceptional hires are detailed in the Administrative Policy, appendix C: Hiring an Academic Employee Without a Search.

Spousal/Partner Hires. Hiring authorities may wish to consider a spousal/partner hire in cases where the unit desires to hire a highly qualified individual who has been identified as the finalist in a search process and for whom a major condition of their acceptance of the position is the employment of their spouse or partner. A spousal/partner hire might also be considered in a retention case of a valued faculty member or other academic staff member where the employment of a spouse/partner may be a factor in the decision to remain at the University or leave.

Exceptional Hires. Hiring authorities may hire individuals from outside the University without a search where there is an opportunity to recruit an individual who is particularly well-suited for a position, especially considering the individual’s gender, race and ethnicity; academic scholarship; teaching; exceptional achievements; outstanding leadership and service; or other special talents so as to confer a distinct benefit to the institution’s mission.

The recommendations brought forward by search committees and the decisions made by hiring authorities are among the most significant determinations reached in the College of Liberal Arts. On behalf of the college, many thanks for your commitment to the faculty recruitment and hiring process at the University of Minnesota.