Southwest Borderlands Hiring Initiative Call for Proposals
Arizona State University
2008-2009 Southwest Borderlands Hiring Initiative
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Arizona State University announced the Southwest Borderlands initiative in 2001 as a long term faculty appointment plan with two primary objectives: the strengthening of existing ASU scholarly and instructional resources on the Southwest with emphasis on the region along the United States-Mexico border, and enhancing institutional recruitment and retention efforts toward building a faculty fully reflective of the Southwest Borderlands' diversity. Designed with broad-based input as a major ASU faculty hiring plan, the continuing initiative seeks to integrate current ASU strengths in borderlands and transnational regional research with bold innovation in faculty recruitment. The regional needs and shifting demographics of the borderlands of the U.S. Southwest are strategic areas of concern for academic researchers, and they have had an extraordinary impact on multiple communities throughout the region, including business, community development, education, health, housing, law enforcement, sports and entertainment. Through the SWB initiative, ASU builds upon its scholarly, instructional, and related institutional assets to respond to these pressing needs.
The Executive Vice President and Provost of the University is pleased to invite proposals for the award of a limited number of additional positions in areas of strategic interest to colleges/schools. Proposals should be developed to reflect issues affecting the Southwest Borderlands and contribute to the advancement of the college/school strategic direction.
Proposal Process
To facilitate the search process and ensure that departmental and college interests are reflected in all hires that result from this initiative, proposals should be submitted from academic units, through and with the approval of the appropriate college dean.
A.Units/Colleges interested in recruiting faculty through this initiative are encouraged to submit a BRIEF proposal (maximum 2 pages) outlining:
1. Proposed area of hire.
2. Rationale for the importance of the position (to the unit, university, and larger community), including discussion of other steps the unit is taking to support this area of research/scholarship/creative activity.
3. Proposed level of hire and additional funding sources (if necessary).
4. Departments/units supporting the hire (joint proposals are welcome).
5. Contribution to college and university goals and priorities, including ways in which the hire would contribute to building strength in the unit. See the criteria noted below (item C) to assist in outlining this part of the proposal.
6. Likelihood of a successful search (Identification of viable potential candidates for the position is most helpful).
Please append curriculum vitae for potential candidates.
B. Proposals for SWBI positions must be submitted through the appropriate College/School Dean’s office, with a supporting statement from the dean appended to the proposal. College/School support for proposals for SWBI positions is required for eligibility for this competition. If more than one proposal is submitted from a college/school, prioritization from the dean is required.
C. Criteria for evaluating the proposals include: the strength of the rationale; potential for the hire to support the development of ASU strengths in Southwest Borderlands scholarship; the possibility of building on existing strengths within units/colleges and the university; relationship to other unit/college/university strategic goals; the likelihood of a successful hire; and unit and college support for the hire.
D. For 2008-09, the University Provost will pay up to 50% of the salary to a maximum of $40,000 a year for a period of three years. At the end of the third year, the College will assume 100% of the salary costs. Units may upgrade the positions as needed; senior hires are encouraged.
E. If the proposal is approved but a unit is not able to conduct the search and finalize the hire during the 2008-09 academic year, the authorization to recruit on this line will carry into a second year.
F. Proposals should be submitted to Mark Searle, Vice President for Academic Personnel in the Office of the Executive Vice President and University Provost by 5:00 pm Monday, September 15, 2008.
G. Proposals will be reviewed and units notified of decisions by October 15, 2008.