2.2 Search Plan and Position Request - Academic Hiring Manual

Academic Hiring Manual

2.2 Search Plan and Position Request - Academic Hiring Manual

A. Search plan (Chairperson may want to confirm that the Dean will approve the position before initiating the formal process of search plan and position request.)

Search Committee:
- The Chairperson must charge the search committee. and delivers the charge to the search committee
Chairperson submits the Academic Position Request form, which includes the "Search Committee Composition" to the Dean.

B. Position Request: Chairperson submits electronically the Academic Position Create Request including advertisement to the Dean.

Use the Academic Position Request form for both continuing positions (those without end dates) and fixed term positions (those with end dates).
For specialist positions, also submit the Specialist Position Description.
Tenure system positions are generally requested at the assistant professor level. When requesting a rank of associate or full professor, supporting commentary which justifies the need for the position at this rank is required.

C. Dean approves the Academic Position Request form (including Search Committee Composition) and submits it with the Specialist Position Description (for specialists only) and supporting commentary (for tenure system positions at rank of associate or full professor) as a package to the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs.

D. The Provost approves the position request taking into consideration, level of unit productivity, enrollment projections, staff flexibility, program needs, priorities (University and college), budget implications, staff flexibility, and salary range. A disapproved position request is returned to the Dean at this point.

E. Human Resources posts approved positions on the Careers @ MSU websites.

F. If a position is not filled within two years of Human Resources approval, the unit must start over with the search plan, position request, and posting process. If a search is to be completed shortly after the conclusion of a 2-year period or has been completed, but the individual will not be joining the MSU faculty for some time, the Dean notifies the Associate Provost/VP for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs by e-mail, listing the position number affected and an estimate of the projected date on which the appointment materials are to be submitted to the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs; then sends the appointment materials on or before the projected date.

G. To modify a previously approved position, the Dean emails the Associate Provost/VP for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs to request approval.

Last Update: 04/15/2025 - Compliance Revisions

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