Office of Academic Affairs

SPU Policies, Manuals, and Procedures

Standard Procedures for Faculty Recruitment


Links to Faculty Recruitment Forms

Determine Need and Funding


In discussion with the vice president of academic affairs (VPAA), deans will project a need for a new hire (replacement or new position). Discussions will include source of funding. Please complete a Faculty Recruitment Requisition Form (PDF).

Establish a Search Committee


Schools/departments that have faculty positions open will establish a search committee for each position. Search committees must include:
  • The chair or dean of the department/school.
  • Faculty from within the department/school.
  • At least one faculty person from outside the school where the vacancy is occurring.

Advertise the Vacancy


The hiring dean and/or chair of the Search Committee will draft a vacancy announcement and ad announcement (See Vacancy Announcement Sample and “Line Ad” Sample), and forward them on to the office manger for academic affairs (priced1@spu.edu).

Academic Affairs will produce an “Announcement of Vacancy,” and advertise in the Chronicle of Higher Education, on the CCCU website, and the SPU website.

The school advertises in specific disciplinary journals, and perhaps other publications. (Ads costing more than $250 must have prior approval from the VPAA). The school is encouraged to utilize as many free online advertising sites as possible.

Candidate Applications and Inquiries


Inquiries and applications will go directly to the chair of the search committee, who will make the appropriate acknowledgements throughout the process. All applications must include an SPU application with Faculty Application insert with the one-page essay in response to the Faculty Hiring Statement of Faith. The one-page essay should articulate their Christian faith and its relation to their life and work.

The committee will prioritize candidates after considering vitae, statement of evangelical Christian commitment, evidence of teaching ability, promise as a scholar, and references.

Note: All applications for open positions must be kept for one year before confidential recycling.

Determine Candidate Interviews


The dean will discuss the pool of qualified candidates with the VPAA. The VPAA will authorize a campus interview, normally of the top one or two candidates. After approval by the VPAA, the dean will invite the candidate(s) to campus for interviews. Often the date(s) for interviews are determined by the president's and VPAA's availability. Administrative assistants should work with the office manager for Academic Affairs to schedule interviews with the VPAA and the president.

Campus Interviews


Once interview dates and times are established, the administrative assistant will work with the candidate to arrange travel and lodging for the interview. SPU has special rates at the Marriott Courtyard on Lake Union.

  1. The interview schedule on campus is coordinated by the school or department. The interview schedule for full-time faculty positions shall ordinarily include:
    • Discipline's school faculty
    • School or college dean
    • The search committee
    • All-campus committee (one person from each school: CAS, SBE, SOE, SHS, SPFC, and SOT)
    • Vice president for academic affairs

    In addition, the candidate may be asked to make a formal presentation to the school and other interested faculty, as well as teach a class. (See Sample Interview Schedule PDFs: One, Two, and Three).

  2. Interview packets should be sent to all persons who will be interviewing the candidate. Packets should include: Interview schedule,  the candidate's SPU application, vitae, faith statement, position description, and confidential interview response form. (See Faculty Candidate Interview Forms (PDF) for an example). When sending an interview packet to the VPAA, please include an additional packet for the president's review.

  3. Confidential interview forms should be returned to the chair of the search committee as soon as possible. The dean will review responses and make a recommendation to the VPAA. All other materials (interview packets including applications, faith statement, etc.) should also be returned to the chair of the search committee for confidential recycling.

Recommending a Candidate for the Vacancy


Deans may email a recommendation for a specific candidate to the VPAA. Items to address include a dean's analysis and recommendation and any special conditions of employment. Please complete and submit a Recommendation for New Faculty Hire (PDF).

The VPAA will seek the president's approval. After approval by the president, the VPAA notifies the dean, who then calls the candidate tonotify him or her of an official offer to come. The VPAA sends the official offer letter with any special conditions of employment. (The dean will be given an opportunity to review the letter prior to it being sent.)

For One-Year Faculty (.5 to 1.0 FTE)


  1. The process used for employing regular full-time faculty should be followed in some abbreviated form. In particular, the VPAA approval is needed before funds can be expended to bring a candidate to Seattle for interviews. (There is no reimbursement of interviewing expenses for one-year positions from the VPAA.)  If it is a 1.0 FTE position, both the dean and the VPAA must interview the candidate and the President's Office shall have "refusal rights" on an interview before an appointment can be made. In making recommendations to hire, the school dean shall address in detail the academic qualifications and the nature of Christian mission fit of the proposed faculty member.


  2. The VPAA shall be given opportunity to interview in advance any already-employed part-time faculty member whose load is proposed to increase to over 50%.


  3. All courses taught by part-time faculty shall be reviewed by the students using the standard forms supplied by the Office of Academic Affairs or those evaluation forms used by the particular school. This information, when available, shall be used in future rehiring decisions.

For Adjunct Faculty


1. The school dean or department chair initiates contact and ensures that an SPU application form is completed for these part-time/adjunct positions.

2. Department chairs interview the top candidates and prioritize them, with particular attention given to the Christian mission fit of the applicant.

3. Upon approval of the dean, an adjunct contract will be issued by the school once the position has been accepted.

Last Updated 01/31/08

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