VII. The Search Initiation Process

E. Advertising

The search committee is expected to advertise publicly all vacancies in addition to using other appropriate methods of candidate solicitation. A draft advertisement should be included as a component of the search initiation package.

The position should be described in a way that qualified candidates would have a fair understanding of what the job entails. It is appropriate to state what training or experience is required or if preference will be given to certain factors. Advertisements should not be tailored to fit a special candidate or candidates. Departments may want to include the URL for a website where potential candidates can find more detailed information about the job opening.

1. Advertisement Text

For positions in the University Tenure Line, the advertisement should define the position as broadly as possible in order to attract a large, diverse pool of candidates.

In the Non-tenure Line, the advertisement may define a relatively narrow field that is of particular benefit to a broader research program within the department.

In the Medical Center Line, the advertisement may define a specialty that aligns with the department's programmatic need.

When a potential finalist is known to the search committee at the beginning of the search process, special care should be taken to prevent the advertisement from being tailored to fit that particular candidate.

All advertisements must include the following statement:

"Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty. It welcomes nominations of and applications from women and members of minority groups, as well as others who would bring additional dimensions to the university's research, teaching and clinical missions."

For positions in the University Tenure Line, the advertisement must include this language:

"The predominant criterion for appointment in the University Tenure Line is a major commitment to research and teaching."

For positions in the Medical Center Line, the advertisement must include this language:

"The major criteria for appointment for faculty in the Medical Center Line shall be excellence in the overall mix of clinical care, clinical teaching, scholarly activity that advances clinical medicine, and institutional service appropriate to the programmatic need the individual is expected to fulfill."

For positions in the Non-tenure Line (Research), the advertisement must include this language:

"The major criterion for appointment for faculty in the Non-tenure Line (Research) is evidence of high-level performance as a researcher for whose special knowledge a programmatic need exists."

For positions in the Non-tenure Line (Teaching), the advertisement must include this language:

"The major criterion for appointment for faculty in the Non-tenure Line (Teaching) is evidence of high-level performance as a teacher for whose special knowledge and pedagogical skills a programmatic need exists."

2. Advertisement Approval

All advertisements are reviewed and approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Upon receiving written approval from the Office of Academic Affairs, the department may proceed to place advertisements in journals and other venues, as appropriate.

3. Advertisement Placement

All positions to be filled in the professoriate must be advertised in at least one issue of at least one national journal (e.g., New England Journal of Medicine). It is at the departments' discretion whether to place ads in print or online venues. Departments are encouraged to also advertise in journals targeted to women and minority candidates; this indicates awareness about diversity and may identify promising applicants. A list of such journals is available through the Office of Diversity and Leadership.

All School of Medicine faculty positions are posted on the website of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCalHERC), which includes more than 25 state and private colleges and universities. To post a position, departments are asked to follow the instructions, which are included on the Office of Academic Affairs website.

4. Timeframe

A minimum of four weeks must elapse after publication of the advertisement in a national print journal before the department may make the final evaluation and selection of a candidate for the position.

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