Full-time Faculty Hiring Committee Composition Guidance

Draft Spring 2022

Full-time faculty hiring committees

• Rationale for request: having faculty participants from different areas contribute through distinct perspectives, pedagogies, and experiences through which to evaluate candidates
• Make sure to keep in mind the diversity of the full committee composition (see EEO commitment).
• Requirements of full-time faculty hiring committee composition (AP 3.15.3, Sections 10-15:
  • All faculty hiring committees need to have a majority of faculty participants (so 50% +1 faculty members)
  • In committees for positions that do not have a faculty expert, can draw from sister colleges
  • Should include tenured faculty, can include tenure track faculty in years 2-4 if there is need for discipline expertise
    • If the only discipline expert at the college or district is in year one of the tenure process, they are able to participate on the committee
    • In practice, tenure track faculty in years 1-3 are not generally included on hiring committees unless there are compelling reasons
  • "The appropriate sections of the job announcement (specific position duties and responsibilities; and desirable skills and attributes) will be developed through a collaborative process involving discipline faculty and the appropriate Dean." (pg 2, Section 3)
• If questions are not answered sufficiently, AS may not approve the committee and request additional information
• Need to see the whole committee composition

This is an ideal faculty committee composition:

• 1 content expert for the discipline
• 2nd faculty from same or related discipline
• 3rd faculty from an unrelated discipline or different division
• Classified/other member related to the position
• Division Dean/Administrator

Guidance for non-faculty hiring committees with faculty participants

• Administrative positions will go before the full Academic Senate body
• Non-administrative positions will need to get approval from the Academic Senate president (ASCCC handbook)
• Please give a 1-2 sentence job description of the position
• Please provide the full committee composition
• Please email directly to csmacademicsenate@smccd.edu 

Guidance for adjunct hiring committees (AP 3.15.3):

• These DO NOT need to be approved through Academic Senate
• The Dean will form a Screening Committee comprised of a majority of discipline faculty
• The committee may also include individuals from other divisions or from outside of the College, as appropriate. 
• If other District Colleges have similar adjunct faculty needs, then a single, joint Committee may be established
• Adjunct hiring within 45 days of assignment:The Division administrator, with assistance from available faculty, may select a qualified candidate for the position.

Please contact csmacademicsenate@smccd.edu for any questions or additional information.