A UC Davis Pilot Study in Centrally Co-led Open Searches to Prioritize Academic and Educational Excellence

UC Davis, 2018-2019

Project Principal Investigator

Philip H. Kass

Project Abstract

This project centers on taking proven best practices for a diverse and inclusive recruitment process, and applying them to “open searches” directly by coordinating them through the central Office of Academic Affairs, in collaboration with the deans’ offices of participating schools and colleges. Open searches will be college or school-wide, without specification of a specific discipline or department, provided that an applicant’s area of expertise falls within a discipline embodied in the academic unit. The interventions will strategically utilize college-level or school-level open searches to obtain highly diverse pools of applicants by leveraging diversity hiring incentives and investment through PPFP/CPFP, Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS), and the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program; successful candidates must have demonstrated significant commitments to diversity, equity, and/or inclusion. Other interventions include search committee training; broad advertising; utilization of data-driven recommendations; targeted outreach; a new faculty support program to provide dual career support and family integration resources; a mentoring committee; enrollment in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity; assignment of a faculty peer; and graduate student support. Senior leadership and deans express strong support for the program.

Faculty Affairs and Academic Programs