Universities to love
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This is a place to post anonymous comments about positive interview experiences.
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| School || Department || Date || Issue
Please add responses using an asterisk to denote a bullet point.
Please post alphabetically
| School | Department | Date | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American University, DC | History | 2008 | OK, so this isn't exactly a hymn to AU (maybe I'd feel differently if they had given me the job!), but they did treat me extremely decently on a campus visit for an accelerated search. And reimbursed me at lightning speed for travel from a European postdoc.
I am not sure this is the case with everything they do. They did not even acknowledge the receipt of an application letter for a position in art history. I personally do not think very highly of this place, simply because they did not have the decency of responding, after making an announcement. | |
| Antioch University Los Angeles | Liberal Studies (BA Program) | 2008 | This small but plucky university in Los Angeles is an absolute joy to work at. My colleagues are so wonderful - friendly, thoughtful and unbelievably smart. I teach in a small department of about five faculty members, all of whom are so dedicated to our non-traditional student population. The really good students - those who are engaged in the learning process - are as good as any students I have had at the Ivy where I received my PhD. As an institution, we are working on a variety of social justice issues. Part of my job is to do community outreach. I have been able to make so many different contacts with organizations that are working to improve the lives of city residents. When I applied for the position last year, they made the interview process a convenient and humane experience. I actually had fun during the interview and found the questions both challenging and thought-provoking. Everyone was great over the course of the day. I remember thinking that whatever the outcome, I had had such a great day and had made some new friends. An amazing institution. | |
| Boston U | English | 2008 | Didn't end up giving me a campus visit, but clearly all the MLA interviewers had read my materials closely. I can say that in my dozen or so interviews over the years, this was the only one in which this has happened. The SC chair was extraordinarily kind, sending me three (unsolicited) e-mails throughout the process telling me just where my candidacy stood. The only way the notification process could have been more efficient is if he'd Twittered me. | |
| Cornell University | History | 2009 | I didn't get the job, but this was the best-run campus visit I've ever experienced. The search was run with military precision, and I had my schedule (right down to 15-minute increments) two months before my visit! Expectations were clear, folks were friendly, respectful, and professional, and reimbursement was lightning fast. The chair personally called me to inform me where I was in the list of also-rans, and personally called me again two weeks later to let me know that the first-choice candidate had accepted the offer. A great department! | |
| Davidson College | History | 2009 | Very well-organized campus visit. Relaxed meeting opportunities with a variety of faculty, all of whom were friendly, helpful, and candid, and many of whom came to the job talk. The college is a lovely place, and the history department is truly collegial (an increasingly rare thing these days). This would be a splendid place to make one's professional home. | |
| Fairfield University | Math/CS | 2009 | Everything about the interview was extremely well organized, and all travel expenses were paid upfront, though I was asked several times if I had incurred any additional expenses during the trip. The VP, the Dean, and every faculty member I spoke to had read through my materials. Everyone was friendly, gracious, and seemed genuinely interested in both my teaching and research ideas. A strong student turnout for the job talk, too, and several students spoke very highly to me of the department chair and other faculty afterwards. The new mission statement has a solid articulation of their vision for education. Tenure requirements seem quite reasonable. The interview day, though exhausting, was a genuine pleasure. | |
| Franklin and Marshall College | English | Jan. 2009 | This department should run a "how to treat candidates with respect and dignity" seminar at the MLA every year. I just got back from my on campus visit and cannot say enough about the collegiality of the faculty. During all steps of the visit -- research talk, teaching demo, group interview, etc. -- I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed talking with all of them. They seemed generally interested in my work and had not only read the entire writing sample but had read it with depth and engagement. The itinerary had enough free time scheduled in to allow for useful down time without leaving me bored. The associate dean announced that at dinner, I was officially "off the clock" (as much as I could be, at least) and no one was to ask me interview-related questions. The warmth and friendliness they showed allowed me to relax enough that my nervousness didn't distract me when I was "on the clock." The research support is generous, but the tenure-track process is also remarkably humane to junior faculty. Oh, and one other positive: many of the faculty have dogs and bring them to work, which for me is always a good sign (though others might not like this). All in all, should they offer me a job I'd take it in a heartbeat, and if I'm rejected, I'll still remember this interview very fondly.
They are extraordinarily systematic. The campus is driven towards reaching out towards strong research-oriented people. I was there on a job-talk -- and was amazed by how carefully they had read the letters and the materials. In fact, I saw in the hands of at least four people, underlined transcripts of my application letter. Moreover, they had researched most of my presentation material well before my arrival. This is a school to look out for in terms of quality research and teaching. The thing is, even though they are a liberal arts college, ultimately, they grant tenure for teaching and research -- and not for teaching, service and research (in that order). . I like their use of the phrase "down time" in Lancaster | |
| George Washington University | Jewish Studies | 2008 |
Amazing, collegial faculty. The exceptional thing that they did was hire me for a 1-yr replacement position and then let me out of my contract when I was offered a 3-yr job elsewhere, a job which had come on the market late in the game. The only explanation I can come up for this is that their faculty cares deeply about the careers of junior academics in the field even if it makes life a little difficult for them. This is a standard each and every one of us should aspire to meet when we are in the driver's seat.
Ditto - GW. Kind, collegial, warm faculty. | |
| University of the Pacific | Biology | 2008 | Nice, considerate, collegial faculty, sharp undergrads, engaged Masters students, plus their new building is slated to open later this year. Everything about the interview was well orchestrated and professional, and reimbursement was quick. What a great department!
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| Bowling Green State | English | Smart, sharp people who do amazing work. Campus visit was very well organized. I was treated very courteously. Excellent questions during job talk. Reimbusement was quick. | ||
| Central MO Univ | Biology | Nice people, plenty of space, I would have taken if offered | ||
| Denison University | English | I cannot imagine a more friendly, enthusiastic, supportive, and generally wonderful faculty. Reimbursement was practically immediate and every effort taken to make my visit pleasant. As one measure: my meeting with the provost was actually enjoyable! | ||
| Depaul University | English | From the moment I submitted my application, I was treated with respect and decency. The administrative assistant sent a very kind email acknowledging receipt of the application, and included the following reassurance (!): "I realize that an email message may seem a rather impersonal way to acknowledge your application, but please be assured that the Appointments Committee will read your letter and vita with careful attention." Wow. They also wrote a very kind email to tell me I was out of the running on Dec 18, just a day after the wiki showed that calls for MLA interviews had been made. The English department at Depaul ran an efficient, thoughtful search, and it was very much appreciated. Please, if other SCCs are out there, consider taking a similar approach. | ||
| Eastern Kentucky University | History | They don't have a lot of money and they teach an enormous amount, yet everyone was great. The faculty are friendly, including the people I met from other departments. The administrators are administrators, but by no means the worst I've ever encountered. They did a very thorough job and I was pretty sure that everyone on the faculty had read my stuff with a careful eye. Overall a great place to interview. | ||
| Florida State University | Classics | Their search got canceled, but they did an amazing job of spelling out exactly what would be asked in the interview, actually reading and questioning me about my writing sample, and having a phenomenally helpful website. | ||
| Hamilton College | History | 2000s | I wasn't a candidate for a tt job just a VAP but this was a great experience and good for my career. There are many wonderful people on the faculty, good financial support, smart if slightly predictable students, and a nice junior faculty environment. I'd heard rumors that a few of my colleagues were "difficult" but the truth is even those people were nice and supportive if you engaged them a little in their work and tolerated their eccentricities (not really hard). Upstate NY isn't the best place to live. But this department is friendly, professional, collegial, and genuinely interested in the development of its junior members. Simply a great place to work. | |
| Hampden-Sydney College | History | I was a finalist for a search there and was not offered the job. However, over the course of being part of their search I admired how prompt they were with communication and how well they treated me. They promptly acknowledged my application, invited me for an AHA interview a month before the conference, and arranged for my on campus visit quickly thereafter. While I was on campus I treated affably as a future colleague and was impressed with everyone I met. Also, faculty attended my job talk from multiple departments, asked questions, and made sure to talk to me afterward. This is truly a liberal arts college and run by classy, humane, and friendly folks. Finally, I found the students to be engaging, willing to talk in my teaching demo and ready for a rigorous education. | ||
| High Point University | Political Science | This was probably the nicest faculty I have ever talked to. They were funny, personable, interested, complimentary, and honest. They were more transparent about their hiring process than anything I have experienced. I didn't get the job, but would apply here again in a heartbeat. | (new poster) I have to agree on this one. I interviewed this year with the History Department and they were great. I had a phone interview and then AHA, but did not get a campus invite. But, the SC was very pleasant and they seemed very happy with their school. I would also apply here again! | |
| Idaho State University | Visual Arts | Interviewed there last in Summer. Didn't get the job, but I was treated to a wonderful day. Great company, food, discussions...It was great all around. | ||
| Illinois Central College | English/Language Arts | great school. The usual with student body, but wonderful instructors and a supportive associate dean. Less than the usual politics between adm and faculty. Great staff. Many good professors under which to mentor. My only complaint is that this area of Central Illinois is really, really dull. If you get a t/t job, bring your spouse and/or family because there is no support for single folks and very little do do around here. Still, very good professors to work with! And as I typed, administration is generally supportive. | ||
| Kansas State U | English | bad town, but great school; MLA interview was actually enjoyable; was well taken care of during campus interview, including 2 dinners, and the reception was actually at professor's house, where I felt completely welcome; when my flight was delayed, rather than have me take a bus to the university town, 2 profs picked me up from the airport and drove me there (they even gave me food in the car!); didn't get the job, but am still in contact with them. *Seconding this post. Did not get the job but had wonderful campus visit, amazing faculty and grad student support at job talk, and genuine interest from search committee about my areas of research and how I would contribute to their program. Young, dynamic faculty and well-organized program. | ||
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Kennesaw State University | English | 2009 | Didn't know what to expect before the campus visit, but I was really impressed with pretty much everything. Faculty seemed to get along well and actually know each other outside the department. School has tons of financial resources for scholarship, teaching, collaboration. Faculty were genuinely interested in my work and teaching methods, and newer faculty seemed to be mentored well for tenure track. Students were smart and engaged during demo. Reimbursement for campus visit came quickly. The school and this department really seem to have their act together. | |
| Michigan State U. | English | 2007-08 | While I was not offered the job, the campus interview experience was wonderful. The faculty were prepared to discuss my work, ask questions, and provide feedback. The principle of academic freedom was readily apparent in all aspects of the interview. The chair kept me up to date on the search all the way through. The department is congenial, professional, and fascinating in its diversity. | |
| Mississippi State | English | date withheld (recent) | Very professional throughout. The head of the dept. arranged times for discussions with all senior faculty as well as a separate time for discussion with all junior faculty. Plenty of breaks scheduled during the campus visit, and everyone showed interest in job talk | |
| Mount Holyoke | English | Incredibly nice people. Very professional. Intellectually engaged. The most fun I had ever had on a campus visit. Search committee chair called me to inform that they had offered the position to another candidate; this was a nice courtesy as most search committees just send a form rejection letter weeks after the fact. | ||
| Mount Royal (Calgary) | Humanities | Everyone I met in the department seemed incredibly nice; the atmosphere was very collegial and friendly. I was sent a very detailed itinerary well before the visit. I emailed the search chair with questions a couple of times before the interview and received comprehensive, helpful answers the same day. At the interview, I was asked several times to submit all my receipts (including those for meals I had eaten on my own while in town) for reimbursement, and I received a cheque in American dollars (I'm in the US) a few weeks later. My job talk was really well attended and I got great questions. After the interview, the search committee chair gave me a timeline for when I would hear back, and emailed me when they couldn't meet this deadline due to unforeseen circumstances, and then called me personally to tell me I did not get the job. I would definitely apply here again! | ||
| NC State | History | 2006/07 | actually got back to candidates after AHA when they said they would, which is rare and always appreciated. Jan. 2006
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| Northern Arizona University | History | 2008 | An absolutely wonderful group of people. Campus interview included lots of coffee breaks, a broad sampling of Flagstaff's restaurants, and even a home-made dinner at the SCC's home! Everyone I met was just so nice: the dean, the department chair, the admin staff, the undergrads who came to my job talk, the whole SC. Not a very wealthy university but they make up for it in other ways. University also has a comprehensive spousal hire program - they're quite proud of it and were happy to discuss it. They didn't offer me the job but it's impossible to be bitter after such treatment.
I agree. I had an interview in Women's Studies on the phone. For a phone interview, they actually wanted to hear what I had to say and I was allowed to give real answers, rather than superficial sound-bites I have found encouraged in other phone interviews. It actually led to a great conversation. Unfortunately, they lost a lot of their funding and had to re-configure the position from a TT to a one year gig. They offered me an interview on campus, but I did not want to waste their $$ given this situation would not work for me. Very unfortunate, because they seem really committed, engaging and kind. I could tell they really cared about teaching and students. This funding crisis is bad.... | |
| Penn State University | Medical Humanities | 2009 | A class act. Sent a gracious email acknowledgement of my (late) couriered application, then an equally gracious (and quick) rejection letter by mail. They know what they want, and they have it together. | |
| Pomona College | English | 2008 | Very organized and thoughtful. Offered to pay hotel and flight costs up front, which was really considerate. Lively, passionate faculty and impressively run search. Kept all of us in the loop throughout. | |
| Portland State University | History | 2007 | Extremely organized, friendly and courteous campus interview. Didn't get the job but the search process was highly professional. | |
| Simmons College (Boston) | History | I took a job at a larger research university but the people on this committee cosigned a personal letter of congratulations wishing me the best. That amount of personal attention was over the top and truly appreciated. | ||
| Saint Vincent College | Theology | 2007 Fall | they were clear about the search timeline and were very prompt about notifying candidates about changes/progress, including rejection. I'm all for rejections that come sooner rather than later. | |
| SUNY Oneonta | English | 2007 Fall | Very friendly department -- cordial during the phone interview, welcoming and professional during the campus interview. Called to let me know where they were in the bureaucratic process; remembered that interviewees can get pretty anxious while they're waiting. And gave me a kind and personal rejection -- called me quickly. I think the "We wish we could have hired two people" spiel was genuine.
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| Towson University | Biology | 2007 Fall | The single most professionally organized interview I've been on - punctual, efficient, thoughtful. I felt refreshed and enthused when I was done! The one on ones were all about the department and science. The faculty are genuinely collegial and proud of it, and both student panels I met with were mature and insightful | |
| University of Alabama | 2008 | fantastic, considerate hosts. I enjoyed the campus interview and felt as if I were actually _valued_ for a change.
Interviewed at History Dept., at UA Tuscaloosa (main campus). It was a very good experience.
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| U of Arizona | Human Resources/Search Secretary | incredibly helpful and just plain nice
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| U of British Columbia, Okanagan | Humanities | Ridiculously nice people. The entire SC was lovely, and one of them even lent me a snowsuit so that I could go skiing at a hill nearby after my interview. I don't know yet whether I'll get the job, but everyone was so courteous and downright interesting that I'll think well of the school regardless. Also, though this doesn't apply to my own situation, from talking to other people at the school, it seems that they don't look down on candidates for having spent a few years as a sessional/adjunct and that they'll gladly hire the best person for the job whether they're a sessional or not. I hope to stay in touch with several of the people I met while I was there. Oh, and they paid for flight, hotel and car rental up front and reminded me several times to keep my receipts for everything so that I could be reimbursed. -added 2/27: Same person. Didn't get the job in the end, but this was conveyed in a personal email that was pretty much the nicest rejection letter I've ever received. These people are gems. | ||
| U of Colorado, Denver | Geography | I was short listed there. Didn't get the job, but was a very positive interview experience. They put me up in a really nice hotel, and were very straightforward and honest about how the job search is proceeding, what they are looking for etc. No problems with reimbursements etc. The job talk turned into a good discussion about my research and some of the broader issues it raised. Likewise, the dinners and one-on-one interviews were actually enjoyable conversations. Very nice people, no big egos. I never felt like anyone was trying to sandbag me. Even the rejection email was nice. | ||
| UC, Davis | English | I liked everyone I met there. Friendly faculty and grad students. Chair (now retired) was very transparent about the whole search process. Everyone was very courteous. I didn't get the job, but I liked the visit so much. I'm still in touch with one of the search committee members, and we hang out whenever we see each other at conferences. | ||
| UCLA | English | didn't make the cut after the conference interview, but the interview itself was very collegial and professionally conducted. The SCC contacted me personally to let me know I was no longer in the running, and gave me genuine encouragement and some pertinent info regarding why I didn't make the cut. It wasn't all hot air, either. They did what they could to make the whole job seeking process less miserable than it can sometimes be. | ||
| U Houston-Clear Lake | Literature | 2007/8 search | MLA interview went well. Didn't get a campus visit, but chair sent a personal email explaining why. Said she could have hired me (and 4 others) on the spot but I was the only ABD. Went into detail about my strengths during the interview. Pretty cool of her to give me that level of feedback. | |
| U IL Springfield | Biology | young faculty, nice people, highly recommend, very professional interview process. | ||
| U IL, Urbana-Champaign | 2006/07 search | campus interview run with military precision, making up for the long pre-pre-interview process. Every accommodation was made for me. | ||
| University of Memphis | Art History | 2008 | The best campus interview I have ever had - congenial faculty, well-organized, with 30-45 minutes of down time between interviews, no need to ask for reimbursements, wonderful dinners and the greatest hotel I have ever stayed in. A real class act. (Now if they will just hire me!) 4/2008 | |
| University of Michigan | English | 2008 | The most amazingly detailed and clear acknowledgment of an application I have ever seen. It was clearly just a form email, but it outlined the steps they'd go through, an approximate timeline, and included other useful information. Further, it was a completely professional and polite tone--if I'm ever a search committee chair, I'm patterning my acknowledgments after theirs. No idea if I'll even make the shortlist, but if I do, they've already impressed me. 11/2008 (Update 1/2009: I didn't get to the conference interview round, but it remains among the clearest and most humane contacts I've ever had with a hiring committee.) | |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Biology | 2009 | The chair of this search committee (Gary Pace) was easily the most professional and nicest person I have met on an interview in years. The overall experience was so positive I cannot describe it. The start up appeared low and the student graduate stipends were very low, but I would still have taken the job because everyone I met was so nice. Even at the motel! | |
| University of Northern Colorado | English | I couldn't have asked for a better interview experience; it really was the most positive and well-organized out of all my interviews, most of which were also smoothly organized. The folks in the department were exceedingly supportive and inviting; my schedule was delivered to me well in advance and plenty of down-time was included to keep me from being run ragged, the expectations for the teaching demo were spelled out well in advance, I was given comprehensive travel information well in advance, and I was reimbursed very quickly. In short, I couldn't have asked for a more profession or inviting interview experience.
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| U of North Carolina, Greensboro | Romance Languages | The SC was great during my MLA interview. Kept me posted during the process very professional and warm. Of all my campus visits the best one, the most organized and professional. I really felt they understood what it feels to be a candidate. | ||
| University of San Francisco | Environmental Science | 2009 | Absolutely the nicest people ever during my phone interview. They asked good questions and asked for clarification when necessary, plus seemed happy to be working at USF. I received a job offer at another institution before USF invited candidates for on campus interviews, and when I told the SC that I was taking the other job, he sent me a very nice email in return. | |
| University of the South (Sewanee) | History | 2007 | one-year job, great interview (they wined and dined me, paid for my travel, no need to hassle w/reimbursement), good communication (actually made the offer the day after my on-campus visit), great place to work (amazing salary, lots o' resources, great students, and interested and interesting colleagues who treat me like a member of the dept, not just an adjunct); another bonus - one-year faculty have full access to conference and research funding
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| University of South Florida | History | 2009 | A wonderful department. They are engaged scholars doing great work. They communicated everything very clearly, were collegial and interested, and offer a great work environment -- you teach just in your own field, whatever inspires you. (This is rare and surprising for my field -- I'm an Asianist). They are also good people. A real gem. | |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Arts and Humanities | 2008 | Perhaps the most collegial faculty I have ever dealt with. The search committee was straight forward and really went out of their way to make the experience as painless as possible.
I absolutely second the previous comment. I loved meeting with this faculty!
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| University of Texas Pan American | Biology | 2009 | The experience was great, the faculty were all wonderful. I have no doubt that if another vacancy occurred here I would jump to apply. I really liked everything. | |
| University of Toronto | DEPARTMENT? | 2005/06 | Interviewed in wheelchair. Perfect interview for disabled candidate. I never experienced this before. Driver who picked me up knew what to do. Hotel was on main street downtown so I could go out. (As opposed to hotels where you are captive in your room as you can only access parking lot) Room was easy to navigate with enough space to get in bathroom, move around bed, desk. Department made my "accessibility" a non-issue by planning. Lectern for job talk was already at perfect height. Lunch and dinner were easy to get to and wheelchair friendly. Department already knew where accessible toilets were. (The worst is when you ask and they say: Oh, gee, I guess we´ll have to find "one of those" for you!) All around class act. And no, I didn't get the job.
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| University of West Georgia | English | 2006-07 search | Really nice, friendly department. Faculty deported themselves very professionally during MLA interview and campus visit. Underfunded university, but otherwise seemed like a great place to work. Great support staff, quick reimbursement. (No, I didn't get the job.) Don't believe everything you see over on the black list | |
| University of Winnipeg | Rhetoric | 2007-08 |
No upfront expenses as the university buys your plane ticket. Generous breaks between interviews. It was the only school (among several campus visits) where the interview included a session with the faculty association (= union) that provided tips and resources on how to negotiate the contract. | |
| Utah State University | History | Outstanding department and very friendly. Excellent mix of research and teaching. Surprisingly liberal for Utah, inclusive department, non-mormons are the majority. | ||
| Washington University St. Louis | Theatre | I got a call from the search chair letting me know that my letters of recommendation had not arrived. I am impressed that this call was made at all -- given the number of schools that utterly fail to contact candidates at any point. The entire tone of the call was both warm and professional. | ||
| Western Kentucky University | Art History | Really, really nice bunch of people. Everyone was very friendly and professional-- had an absolutely packed crowd for my job talk, a couple of very collegial dinners, and a wine reception at a SC member's house. They put a lot of time and effort into their visiting candidates. (so nice and positive, in fact, that I was shocked to not be offered the job, but they were very nice about that, too) | ||
| Western Kentucky University | Biology | Follows the Art History description above to a tee. The department was not in "pristine brand new" condition, but the faculty were very nice and impressive. I was drooling over taking a spot there. | ||
| Wheaton College | Theology | 2007 Fall | I didn't even get an interview, but have corresponded several times with the search committee chair over email. He was very nice, helpful, forthcoming about what they were looking for, willing to listen to concerns, and provided some helpful feedback.
- Ditto! I interviewed in Spring, 2008 with another department. They contacted me when they said they would, promptly refunded my travel expenses, and conducted the campus interview with great professionalism and courtesy. An excellent place to interview! | |
| Whitworth University | Human Resources | 2007 | Very helpful and friendly. I was stunned (in a good way).
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| Whitman College | English (Visiting) | From the first phone call, my experience was great. When I arrived, the administration (including a newly hired Dean) knew my name, my file, and my research. Both faculty and students were candid (and accurate)in their descriptions of the job and campus life. They payed hotel and air up-front, and then double-checked to make sure I had not incurred any additional expenses. I can't think of a better "first job" experience. | ||
| Wofford | While I didn't get the job, the SC was pleasant, prepared, and obviously interested in finding the best candidate for the job. What really impressed me, however, was the fact that they notified the non-campus visit MLA interviews once the campus visits had been confirmed. I find this to be rare (and prefer it to the indefinite, "maybe our first 4 choices won't work out" approach. | |||
| Xavier University of New Orleans | History | The students, faculty and administration here are endearing folks who have obviously triumphed after Hurricane Katrina. The history department was great--very open and honest after what has been a difficult time. Paid for everything up-front (always appreciated) and were very gracious. |
U. Delaware- Women's Studies - 2009. Quite possibly the most organized campus visit I've ever been on. The faculty member who picked me up at the airport the day before my talk was my guide for my whole visit. She escorted me to every appointment, gave me a tour of campus, and even carved out 30 mins so I could go back to my hotel and have a brief nap between my talk and dinner. The talk was well-publicized and both faculty and students attended. I left with the sense that they are a warm, kind, intellectually engaged, highly organized, politically and intellectually committed department.
