Do Academic Departments Vote on New Hires?

In the world of academia, hiring new faculty members is a group effort. In primary schools, hiring decisions are made by principals and administrators. In universities, however, individual departments often have wide latitude in deciding who joins the faculty. 

In order to ensure that all faculty member’s voices are heard, votes are often held before final decisions are made. In many ways, the voting process can be quite similar to professional association elections.

Departmental Hiring Processes

The process of seeking out new hires for any academic department begins by identifying the need for a new member. This may be due to retirement, school expansion, or specialized new classes that require an expert in the field. 

The next step is to form a hiring or search committee. These individuals are responsible for crafting the job description, the exact nature of the position, and relevant requirements. They also field applications and seek out potential hires. 

Once they have identified a shortlist of interested candidates, the candidates are typically interviewed by the whole department. This may be done through individual interviews or a single large group interview. 

When interviews are conducted, the faculty of the department will hold discussions on who they believe to be the best candidate or candidates. Next, current department members typically hold a vote on the best candidates. This is crucial, especially in smaller departments where a single addition to a five member team can have a large influence on the direction of the department. 

After a winner has been selected through a vote, they will be offered a position at the institution with the full support of their new peers. These new faculty members can also play a role in who determines academic association members in their respective fields. 

Implications for Academic Associations

The voting practices seen in university departments can have an effect on the wider world of academic associations. With each new hire, new voices enter the field, each with their own ideas and opinions about how a subject should be viewed and taught. 

For example, a new history department member can apply for the American Historical Association. The old guard of an association may hold outdated views that are no longer embraced by newer generations of academic employees. Over time, as older members retire and are replaced by younger ones, the views of the association may take on a different direction. 

Part of this change in the course of an academic association is undertaken when association board elections are held. Even younger voices who reach prominence among their peers can be nominated and elected to the association board. These positions may wield significant power in making recommendations for how history is taught on a national basis. 

This is why it is critical that new hires be evaluated carefully. Furthermore, upholding democratic principles is the foundation of many professional and academic associations. Knowing that the majority of members agree leads to trust in the institution as a whole. 

Association Votes Made Easy

With universities around the country, annual association meetings are often some of the only times members get to voice their opinions. Traveling around the country can be cost-prohibitive, but thanks to online meetings, discussions around policy can now be held in real time. 

When it comes time to vote on new policies and board elections, many associations have turned to online voting. ElectionBuddy offers a convenient online platform where associations can view candidates, hold votes, and announce results. The system is secure and designed with transparency in mind, which helps increase trust in the democratic process and encourage broad participation. 

To learn more about internal elections, check out our post on why supervisors can’t join unions!