Despite improvements in the efficiency of the faculty recruitment process, some academic departments are struggling to convince finalists to accept offers of employment at the University.
The process for recruiting and hiring new faculty members is a rigorous one, employing department chairs, faculty members, numerous committees and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean’s office. Members of each group gave the News an overview of the procedures, speaking to the challenges the University has recently faced in the recruitment process.
“We have a low success rate when we make offers, because the people we make offers to typically also have offers from five or more other top ranked schools,” said Daniel Spielman ’92, Sterling Professor of computer science and statistics and data science. “So we do really have to make many offers to get one, which is a bit of a gamble.”
Spielman is currently conducting this spring’s search for the Department of Statistics and Data Science. Last year, he said, the statistics and data science department made offers to seven candidates, all but one of whom had offers from at least six other universities. Out of all seven candidates to whom positions were offered, none accepted.
New Haven isn't the only place to live for many professors...
