2008-2009 History Job Wiki can be found at http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/History_2008-2009
There's a secessionist movement afoot; someone has started an 08-09 page in the old, easy-to-use format at http://wikihost.org/wikis/academe/programm/gebo.prg?name=u.s._north_america_2008-2009


I understand someone's put (insane amounts of) work into the new page, but it's really cluttered and hard to use. What was wrong with the old format? This new version will force us to search dozens of different categories for, say, US Environmental jobs, plus the entire page is now taken up by info about schools' median SAT scores, etc, all info individuals can easily find out about when they apply. It's going to really make it really hard to spot the discussion, which is the point of the wiki! Thoughts, comments, anyone...?
- I agree. I miss the old wiki (below), which was very user-friendly, and I looked up all of that other info on my own. It's going to be much harder for me to waste time and stress out about the job market now . . . (9/18)

- Ditto. Much too cluttered with info that can be obtained elsewhere. Why not simply list the websites where one could find student-faculty ratios and salaries?

-I agree. Someone is spending a lot of time on the new wiki, but I would prefer to stick with this old format.

newly released AHA guidelines for Job Searches: link http://www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2007/0703/0703aha5.cfm**

- you need to log in as an AHA member to see job postings: link http://www.historians.org/jobs/index.htm

- The AHA is not the only location for job listings; see H-Net at http://www.h-net.org/jobs/ , the Chronicle at http://chronicle.com/jobs/100/500/4000/ , Inside Higher Ed at http://www.insidehighered.com/careers , and for more CC jobs, http://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/search.cfm?JobCat=139

Note for updaters: Please mark a new sub-entry with a dash, and add the date. This keeps entries easy to read & development over time clear. Thanks!

Deleting information: Please do not do this. If you feel information or a post is somehow wrong, contribute your 2cents, but do not censor. As (most) deletions can be retrieved through the "history" function, it is a waste of your time. All previous discussion of this, and the "Whitewater debacle" have been moved to the discussion section, intact in all its glory.

Is this one of us? link http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2007/12/2007121301c/careers.html


Assumption College
- Received e-mail notification for AHA interview (11/9).
- Anyone else hear anything? (11/14)
- I never received ack. from the SC. (11/14)
- I also got the AHA invite on 11/9.
- Rejection letter in snail mail (12/14)
- On-campus invitation (1-17)ha
- Rejection letter received (I'd had an on-campus interview). They've made a hire. (4-1)

Augsburg College (to 1877)
- Received email acknowledgement 1/4; will conduct 10-12 phone interviews mid-January (1/7)
- phone call to schedule phone interview (1/25)
- Email rejection. They received "dozens" of applications (3/31)

California State University, Chico
- E-mail acknowledgment with detailed list of what is present in/missing from my file; AA form in a separate e-mail. (11/29)
- Phone call to schedule AHA interview (12/20)
- On campus interview scheduled (1/21)
- Rejection e-mail received (with the relatively tactless subject heading: [last name] rejection letter). Apparently, they have made an offer. (1/29)
- evidence that visits ongoing (1/31)
- Offer made (2/18) Offer accepted (2/28)
- anybody know who accepted the position? (3/14)

Dalhousie University
- Received an e-mail inquiring about citizenship 10/16.
- Received request for additional materials (writing sample and evidence of teaching performance) (10/26).
- At least one candidate has been to campus as a finalist. (12/5)
- Received rejection letter via snail mail, indicates that offer has been made. Anyone know to whom? (1/31)
- offer made and accepted (2/5)

Fort Lewis College (Early America and Atlantic World)
- Any word here?
- Phone call to schedule telephone interview (12/18)

Guilford College
- Received e-mail with AA survey (10/25).
- I'm thinking this is a search for someone they already have [a person who is already teaching there.] Course list is specific and odd, and the same person is listed as teaching these courses both this year and in their projected course schedule for 0
- Yes! It's a national search. If you have the areas of expertise they are asking for you should absolutely apply! (10/28)
- I have to agree with my colleague's post from 10-27. This seemed like a strange assortment of specialties from the moment it was posted. For Guilford to place Professor Dunn (who teaches this array of specialties) on the 2008-09 schedule is at least b
- I'm 20th century and thus not even remotely interested/qualified, but I was curious and looked at the search specs: applicants need to be able to teach "U.S. history surveys (1500s-1877, 1877-present), Southern history, North Carolina history, Colonia
- There was a huge debate on last year's American Studies wiki about whether or not a job at Middlebury College was an "inside" search. In the end, there's nothing you can do but wait to see who gets hire
- rejection letter via snail mail (12/17)
- What in the world is going on here? They are interviewing at AHA but I never heard anything. Does anyone know?

Indiana University South Bend
- AHA interview scheduled via phone (12/12)
- AHA interview offer via phone (14/12)
- Any word on this, anybody? (1/17)
- At least one campus visit has been arranged; this probably means that the finalists have been selected (1/18)
- Offer received and accepted (2/5)

Ramapo College of New Jersey
- I have never even heard of this school, but I'm wary. Searching their website for "history dept." (which you won't find) pulls up this gem: http://www.ramapo.edu/parents/campuslink/docs/clinknov.doc It's a handout for parents telling them to call the
- Not my field, and not my school, but I found the history dept. pretty quickly on the web site. Dept. chair has Ph.D. from Brown; other faculty are from Rutgers, UNC, etc. Seemed pretty small but not weird (at least from my cursory glance). (11/14)
- Would you (or someone) be willing to past the department's url? I really can't find it.
- http://www.ramapo.edu/catalog_07_08/academicPrograms/AIS/history.html
- Thank you.
- Wow, that "Parent Guide" is a scary document. Seems that we have moved beyond "customer is always right model" to "helicopter parent" model - the suggestion that the little darlings can expect unfair treatment from professors is enough for me to say no thanks - I am skipping this one.
- Deleted info restored. Is the "Parent Guide" related to Guilford or Ramapo? (12/6)
- The "Parent Guide" is for Ramapo College.
- hey, Tony Soprano's kid went here for a few weeks before dropping out. (12/13)
- Job re-advertised on h-net and Chronicle of Higher Ed - indicative of anything? (1/18)
- Phone call to schedule phone interview (2/8)
- On campus scheduled (2/25)
- Notified "not selected for this position" by email (4/16)

Oakland University
- Phone interview scheduled

St. Mary's College of MD
- Anyone know anything about this position/search?
- AHA interview scheduled (11/27)
- On-campus scheduled(1/8)
- Were all the on-campus interviews scheduled, or just one? (1/10)
- offer made (2/13)

San Jose State University (colonial/early republic)
- Ack. of materials received. Stated that AHA interviewees will be notified by e-mail no later than December 20. (12/3)
- E-mail invitation for AHA interview. (12/14)
- Has anybody heard anything? (1/22)
- They just started their semester and sent out invites for on-campuses this week. (1/30)
- Offer made and accepted (3/3)
- I am curious to know who accepted this position (3/5)
- Ruma Chopra, UC Davis (3/6)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Received letter confirming receipt of application materials and requesting ALL academic transcripts (see Providence College discussion below) (11/10).
- Emailed them telling them it was a burden to send official transcripts when I had already sent unofficial ones. They promptly emailed back that unofficial would be fine but I would be expected to send official immediately if offered the job. (11/15)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/26)
- Report of on-campus interview having taken place (2/13)
- Any news here? (3/14)
- Offered to and accepted by William & Mary Ph.D. (3/16)

Syracuse.
- The ad is under American studies, but says they want advanced assistant or associate. Does anyone know what that really means?
- It probably means one of two things: 1. They know exactly who they want already or 2. They don't want a newbie out of grad school(9/30).
- Received request for writing sample (11/6)
- Anybody know what's going on here? It seems they did not interview at the AHA for this position. Any news? (1/9)
- Nothing at all. I'm the writing sample poster on 11/6, but I haven't heard anything in two months. I assume they've moved on. (1/9)
- Does anybody know if they ever filled this position? And if so, by who? (3/5)

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- Letter acknowledging receipt of material and stating that review of applications will begin on 11/15. The letter also states that a court approved settlement requires that they provide the public with a list of all nominees and applicants. (11/15)
- AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/17)
- anyone had an on-campus yet? I am assuming they have chosen, but confirmation would be nice. (1/29)
- Actually, they may be deciding this week. I recall from my AHA interview that they said they were going to be on a delayed schedule - I think they have a January term, and they need to have a departmental vote on on-campus candidates, which could not happen until the spring semester resumes. Of course, I say all this without checking the school calendar, and with only a hazy memory of what they actually told me. But I think it's quite possible that they haven't chosen their on-campus candidates yet. (1/29)
- The spring semester begins Feb 4. I was under the impression that they would not choose finalists until sometime after then. (1/30)
- I can't imagine that they haven't made their invitations at this point (2/11).
- Offer made (2/25)
- Invitation for on-campus interview; presumably the 2/25 offer was declined. If you're reading this, you're presumably hoping that something will turn up late: consider this a ray of hope. (3/11)
- any news here? (4/7)
- canceled search (6-7)

UC Santa Cruz
- I heard they've invited at least two for an on-campus interview. Skipping AHA entirely (11/6)
- They are skipping the AHA, and they have 4 finalists scheduled for campus visits.-all in November. (11/12)
- Received a very gracious rejection e-mail (of course, it would have been more gracious if it had been addressed to the individual applicant...). (11/28)
- Position filled! (12/4)
- Anyone know who the lucky person is? (12/4)
- Offer received and accepted (12/12-prior post referred to department making its decision?)
- I heard it was Greg O'Malley, PhD Hopkins, but that's through the grapevine. (3/11)
- O'Malley is on their Fall 08 schedule, so it's confirmed.(3/30)

University of Toledo
- posted in December
- acknowledgment and AA form (1/22).
-anyone know what's up with this job?
- I asked and SC responded stating that they planned to make invites following their spring break. (2/29)
- for campus visits or phone interviews?
- I read the response as meaning campus interview, but might be mistaken. (3/13)
- Email from SC inquiring about continued interest in job. Resumed search after temporary freeze. (4/3)

Utah State University
- Telephone interviews scheduled (11/12).
- anyone interviewed by phone hear yet?
- no (12/10)
- received a lovely rejection letter: "many fine applicants," etc. (12/10)
- did you have a telephone interview? (12/11)
- no (12/11)
- offer made (2/16)

Western Carolina University (US to 1800)
- Has anyone heard anything here?
- Any word here? (1/25)
- I believe they've had on-campus interviews already. (2/2)

Westfield State
- Late job deadline (2-15), had a few interviews at the AHA for this position.
- Any word on on-campus interviews since?

William and Mary
- It is James Axtell's position. They probably want a big name.
- offer made (2/16)
- offer accepted (2/22)
- any report as to who got the job? (2/29)
- Brett Rushforth (the BYU folks are rejoicing!) (3/5)



American Antiquarian Society Postdoc
- Request for dissertation (11/16)
- First-choice and alternates notified (1/9)
- Offer Accepted (2/13)

Canisius College (colonial through early national)
- The H-Net posting lists no deadline, and the AHA website posting lists a deadline of January 15. Both postings say the SC wants to conduct AHA interviews. Anyone know what's up with the deadline and their interview schedule? (11/15)
- If you're interested in the job, send in your application ASAP. They may be reviewing applications as they come in. Whatever deadline they have in mind, the sooner they get a look at yours the better. (11/15)
- E-mail invitation for AHA interview. (12/12)
- Did anyone who interviewed with them at the AHA get a sense of their timetable for deciding on-campus invites? I forgot to ask. (1/18)
- No. I had such a great time speaking with them that I also forgot to ask. Alas, I think, like you, I now sit and pine and wonder...! (1/22)
- Committee meeting end of week to pick three finalists (1/23)
- Phone call to schedule on-campus interview. (1/25)
- Offer made and accepted (2/22)

Florida International University in Miami (colonial/early national to 1815)
- "Applicants in all subfields are welcome, but those with teaching or research interests in the Atlantic World are especially encouraged to apply."
- received acknowledgment of application via snail mail (11/26)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/8)
- on campus invitation
- offer made and accepted (2/22)
- Who got the job?
- Jenna Gibbs, Ph.D UCLA, 2008

Marymount University
- Collected c.v.s at the AHA.
- On-campus interview scheduled (2/5)

McNeil Center for Early American Studies Postdoc
- Acknowledgment (11/14)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/16)
- Rejection snail mail letter received (12/24)
- Has anyone heard anything? Seems like a long silence for a postdoc. (1/14)
- Have you checked the postdoc wiki? 1/21
- offer made and accepted (2/4)

New Hampshire (1750-1850)
- Received AA survey (10/23).
- Did your ack letter indicate your file was complete? (11/7)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/5)
- Rejection letter says 150 applicants for this position (12/8)
- Did rejection arrive via snail mail or email? (12/10)
- I received mine via snail mail today (12/10).
- On Campus invite (1/12)
- Offer Accepted (2/13)
- Jessica Lepler got it, Phd Brandeis, 2008. (3/30)

Ohio University
- Received email acknowledging receipt of application material (11/8).
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/7)
- same here (12/8)
- on-campus interview scheduled (1/10)
- Were all the on-campus interviews scheduled, or just one? (1/10)
- Offer made and accepted (2/20)
- by whom? Who did they hire?
- Jessica Roney, Johns Hopkins PhD

Oklahoma City University
- AHA interviews scheduled 11/19-ongoing (Chair out for holidays)
- Open until filled; appts at AHA made on receipt of apps if appropriate
- 16 apps as of 11/19; about 19 as of 11/29/07.
- seeking competency in Latin American, willingness to do US surveys and World
- anybody know what they are thinking? My AHA experience was less than cool (1/10)
- FWIW, I thought the AHA experience was "cool" and am excited about the job. What was so awful about your interview? (1/25)
- two on-campus interviews week of Feb. 25, indeterminate number of "semi-finalists" held in reserve in case the top two are not matches (2/22)
-Offer made and accepted (3/19)
- Who got the job? (3/21)
Some guy with a proclivity towards Indian leg-wresting.

University of Hartford (U.S. before 1865)
- I had an AHA interview with them, but they aren't even on this board. Has anyone heard on the progress of this search? (1/22)
- campus interview requested
- anyone know who accepted this job?
- Position was accepted by GW American Studies grad

University of Idaho (Early U.S.)
- Looking for "broad competency in Colonial and Revolutionary America and Early Republic." Expertise in Native American History desirable.
- it's an online application - you upload your materials (I used word documents) to their website. I did so on December 3 and got an automatic email acknowledging my application the same day. (12/3)
- Odd department, watch out
- To the above poster: can you be more specific? To all: any word? Late deadline, so maybe no AHA interviews, but I'm wondering if anyone's heard anything.
- Anything? (1/11)
- They're scheduling phone interviews for Jan. 23 & 25 (1/18)
- offer made and accepted Feb 26

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Early American/Early National)
- "The department welcomes any subfield with particular interest in public, native American, or environmental history."
- Also running a search in 19th century U.S., similar subfields (see below). (11/15)
- Received ack (11/26)
- Anyone heard anything on this one? (12/12)
- I am pretty sure there used to be a note here that AHA invites were already made. Anyone know for certain? (12/12)
- UNCG is running a 19th century search as well with similar subfields (see below). It looks like AHA invites and rejection letters have been received for the 19th century search, but I've seen no news here about the early American one. There are two different SCs, so one may just be going more slowly than the other. Or maybe the folks interviewing for the early American job erroneously reported it under the 19th century listing below. (12/12)
- Early American/Early National (not the 19th century position) AHA interview scheduled by email (12/14).
- Is there any word on the Early America search here? (2/9)
- I heard that two finalists were invited to campus. One has visited already, and the other comes through next week (2/16).
- Hired Greg O'Brian, currently at Univ. of Southern Mississippi. (4/15)

University of Redlands
- AA form and ack. letter (11/15)
- Ack letter that says file is not complete because it lacks transcripts. Transcripts were not requested in job ad. So everyone get them in ASAP. (11/17)
- They'll accept unofficial copies of graduate transcripts. (12/3)
- AHA interview scheduled by phone. (12/13)
- Any word since the AHA? I'm assuming they have moved on, but can someone confirm this? (1/28)
-Offer made last week (2/18)

University of Scranton (colonial/early national)
- Ack. letter says they'll try to come up with a short list for AHA interviews by about December 10. (11/25)
- Email to schedule AHA interview (12/11)
- Anyone heard anything? (1/18)
- They told me at the AHA that they have a long Christmas break and probably would not select campus interviwees before late January/early February. (1/19)
- Heard second hand that interview(s) have been scheduled. Anyone else? (1/24)
- That seems to contradict what I was told at the AHA (as mentioned in my 1/19 comment). According to the school website, the second semester does not even begin until January 30. Of course, plans change and promises made are not always kept, so what they said at the AHA certainly doesn't guarantee that the above report is incorrect. If anyone has reliable first-hand information on the subject, either pro or con, please let us know. At the very least, I would appreciate it if the previous poster could elaborate on the source of his/her second-hand information. (No names, of course, just a hint as how to likely the source is to have reliable information.) (1/24)
- Friend of a friend, not sure how reliable, that's why I asked. Hopefully someone has something a little more concrete. (1/24)
- Thanks for the reply. I guess we have to wait and see. (1/24)
- Rejection letter received. I guess your source was trustworthy. (1/25)
- To the above poster (or anyone else who received this letter), did you interview with them at the AHA? (1/25)
- Yes, I did. The rejection letter came by "snail mail," so if you live relatively far from Scranton, the letter might just be taking a while to arrive. (1/25)
- I've received neither a rejection letter nor an on-campus invite. Anyone else in the same boat? (1/30)
- Four people invited on campus. Interviews should finish up sometime in the next two weeks. (2/1)
- All quiet on the Scranton front? Anything? (2/27)
- offer made (2/29)
- offer accepted (3/3)

University of South Florida - Tampa (EAR/Antebellum)
- Ack. letter says that AHA interviewees will be selected by early December and that every candidate will be notified once that decision is made. (11/25)
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/3)
- Has anyone heard anything? SCC said all AHA interviewees would be notified on Monday. (1/8)
- I received a rejection email today after interviewing at AHA, 3 campus finalists chosen. (1/8)
- Received rejection letter in the mail saying that I did not make the short list. This hardly seems necessary, since I already received a rejection letter last month stating that I did not make the first (AHA) cut. (1/19)
- University declares hiring freeze http://usfweb2.usf.edu/HR/GeneralInfo/WhatsNewinHR.html#FreezeGuidelines (1/23)
- Freeze is not expected to impact the search/hiring (1/23)
- offer made (2/4)
- offer accepted (2/11)

University of Texas-Dallas
- They have narrowed their list to 14 candidates, whom they are calling to gauge interest in the position and to see if they'll be at the AHA (I received one of these calls). Within a couple of weeks, they'll narrow the list to 8-10, whom they'll offer AHA interviews. (11/19)
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/3)
- Campus interviews scheduled via email; two candidates (1/10)
- Offer made and accepted (3/5)

Western Carolina (US to 1800)
- Extremely pleasant email from chair of SC regarding receipt of materials (10/30)

Wilfrid Laurier University
- Received request for letters of rec (ad only requested contact info). (11/7)
- Ditto, and in fact the person who contacted me suggested that they really meant for the letters to be included in the original application, even though the listing suggested otherwise. So get those letters in! (11/13)
- I heard that the SC won't actually start reviewing the files until a few weeks after the deadline (which was 11/2). (11/13)
- January on-campus interview scheduled. (12/11)
- So....anyone know what exactly happened here? (3/27)
- Offer made and accepted [4/1]
- Who got the job? (4/7)
- Dana Weiner, 2007 Northwestern University PhD (4/7)



Armstrong Atlantic University
- AHA interviews scheduled (12-6)
- Campus interview scheduled. 1/11
-Offer made couple weeks ago
- Offer accepted

Bowling Green State University
- anyone have news on this one? rejection letters? anything? (4/21)

California Polytechnic State University, SLO (general U.S./teacher preparation)
- apparently they have scheduled video interviews with a few candidates (11/29)
- decision expected in mid-january (12/12)
- Any news? Did they make an offer? (2/27)

California State University, Northridge (late-19th/early-20th)
- received affirmative action survey form (11/2)
- received email on 12/4 that my application was "not selected for further consideration" (12/6)
- received same email on 12/6
- AHA scheduled (12/7)
- on-campus interviews scheduled for late January (1/10)
- offer made (2/4)
- offer accepted (2/21)to be announced

California University of Pennsylvania (pre-1877)
- E-mail requesting phone interview (11/21)
- Rejection letter received (2/15)

Colorado College (19th century)
- Does anyone know if this is a replacement hire? (10/26)
- Has anyone received notification that their materials were received or an AA card? (11/7)
- Nope, but I'm chalking that up to the fact that we're still a long way from the deadline. (11/7)
- Received notification that materials were received (11/12)
- Received email stating that file is complete. (11/12)
- Anyone got anything? (12/11)
- Nothing (12/11)
- Do people consider this to be a good job? Is it one you really want? Just curious. Had never heard of the place before I applied.
- In the interest of disclosure, I applied for the job but have no prior connection to the school. As far as I'm aware, CC has a reputation of being a top-notch liberal arts college, with great students. If you put any stock in US News Rankings, it is usually in the top tier of national liberal arts colleges (with Kenyon, Oberlin, etc). It is also known for having an unusual, if not unique, academic schedule whereby students take only one course at a time, that lasts for about 4 weeks (I think Cornell College in Iowa has a similar schedule). I've never been to Colorado Springs, although I've heard it is a great town - megachurch scandals and "Fast Food Nation" notwithstanding. I, for one, would be thrilled to get an interview. That's my take, although I suppose others might have different responses. (12/13)
- Coming from a 20th Century person not up for the job, I agree with the above poster. A friend who taught there raves about the block schedule and the consequent ability faculty have to build a good deal of research time into their teaching schedules (rare for such a highly ranked liberal arts school). Also heard good things about their students, though in my experience while Colorado Springs is beautiful, it's a pretty conservative and relatively unattractive town.
- Anybody know if there is an inside candidate? There's someone there teaching these courses, whose been there as a VAP for a couple of years, which makes me wonder. It'd be nice to know!
- If he isn't, he's a darn strong candidate per the job description. At least if he gets it, he appears to be a deserving individual whose academic achievements merit the move. It's far more disheartening to be in a search where the inside candidate is a spousal hire or where some other issue other than merit qualifications drive the search (12/14)
- The VAP is also a "spousal hire" (wife on tenure track at CC), so I'd bet he's a good candidate for the job - yet he is deserving, despite being married - can we hold the spite on spousal hires here? (12/14)
- I too applied for the job, and would LOVE to get an interview at CC, so I am disappointed to hear of this possible inside candidate situation, but I have to agree- he looks very qualified. I suppose one *can* be a good candidate in one's own right, even with a spouse who's also in academia!!
- will somebody please tell me that they have an interview so I can cross this job off my list? (12/17)
- I have heard nothing. Has anybody heard anything at all or is this strictly an inside job? (12/18)
- 1) On good information, not an inside job. The existing guy is really nice, but his work is on borderlands, for which they already have 2 historians. 2) Their current term ends 12/19, so that suggests that they may be waiting until it's over to make decisions. If they do not intend to go to the AHA, this would make sense, too. I'm waiting, anxiously, but we've gotta step down from Defcon 5 here.
- "Defcon 5"! ha! thanks for the info, poster above me! (12/18)
- AHA interview scheduled. FWIW, I have no info on the VAP, but the SCC seemed genuinely interested in my project. (12/18)
- I applied for this job and have yet to hear word, but I just wanted to encourage above poster and anyone else with AHA interviews scheduled - wiki posts are all well and good, but we are all speculating. Even with jobs where there are seemingly obvious "inside hires" lined up, there are many surprises on the way to a hire. I've seen SCs (and been on one) where there was a spousal applicant, but they didn't get the job, because someone else had a better fit. If the SC is interested in your work, kick some ass at the interview! (12/18)
- Rejection letter by postal mail today; position drew 200+ applicants (12/21)
- Any post-AHA campus visits arranged?
- offer made and accepted (2/27)
- Recent UCSB graduate and Faculty spouse David Torres-Rouff got the position.

Erskine
- Ack letter received early Nov. (dated 10/29). No word since then. (12/7)
- On campus interviews late December, early January
- Offer extended Jan 9 2008
- Offer accepted Jan 26 2008

Georgia State (19th Century, Asst or Assoc)
- Received letter of confirmation from SC Chair stating they will be interviewing people at the AHA. (10/12)
- GSU has a history of not filling positions and of not communicating clearly with candidates. FWIW.
- GSU has filled six positions over the past two years but as I understand has had major staff turnover which undermines clear communication with candidates. (12/04)
- Received an acknowledgment BUT they said they want transcripts. They did not want that in the ad I have. The search chair is different from the ad. (11/9)
- Thanks so much for pointing this out - I got the same letter, but hadn't checked to see that their list of things needed for the final application was the same as what they had originally requested. Has anyone checked to confirm that they really want an official transcript now? I'm out of them, and would have to order more... (11/12)
- Got 2 ack letters, the 2nd arriving a week after the first, yet dated earlier. (11/15)
- AHA interviews scheduled by phone (11/16).
- campus visit scheduled by phone (1/10).
- offer made and accepted (3/13).

Hendrix College (Post-doc/visiting-type position)
- Does anyone have anything here? Also in the VAP dep't., anything from Whitman College? (12/21)
- On the Whitman College one year-side scheduled interview at AHA. They will run through their tenure track search first, then turn to one years.
- I heard from a colleague they (Hendrix) made an offer. (2/18)
- Indeed, Hendrix offer accepted. (2/21)
- Since we're apparently posting info on Whitman here - got an email indicating they have just wrapped up their tenure track search and only now are revitalizing the VAP search. (2/21)

Illinois College
- Any news post AHA? (1/14)
- Not yet, but the committee said they wouldn't be deciding until late Jan/early Feb. See also the discussion thread under 20th century jobs (1/16)
- I thought the committee said they would begin campus visits in late January (running through all of February, since they have two searches). In any case, they just started their new semester this week. (1/16)
- That sounds right. To clarify, when I said "deciding," I meant deciding who to bring to campus (1/16)

Iowa State (19th Century)
- "Preference will be given to candidates with research interests in rural and/or agricultural history, broadly defined."
- They will be looking for someone who will publish but can relate to the students in the classroom. Most importantly, they will be interested in candidates who will stay for more than a year or two. Ames has good schools for kids and is safe and clean, but there isn't much "culture" per se. But this is a GOOD job!
- Applications are arriving but applicants are not relating to their work to rural/ag. Since there is an rural history PhD program this is pretty important (10/12)
- Received email confirming receipt of application materials (10/18)
- I also received email confirmation with link to AA; SC says they will begin screening applications 11/3/07 and will complete the selection process by March (10/18)
- Anyone know if they're interviewing at the AHA? (11/7)
- They are not. (11/11)
- Any updates? (11/26)
- Sorry no...I will post when I hear something. I will because, as a poster noted below, some people might be under-reporting to protect their positions. But the truth is none of us know what the SC wants. If we can just be ourselves and have good information, we might be able to get positions that suit us. (11/27)
- Phone interview scheduled (11/26)
- Any word on progress on this search? (1/12)
- Campus interview scheduled (mid-December)
- As previously noted and mysteriously deleted, I received a rejection letter dated 10 January stating that the committee was proceeding with on-campus interviews after reviewing some 80 applications for this position. As I had not been contacted for a phone interview, I suspected I was out of the running, so I appreciated this confirmation. Please do not delete posts! (1/17)
- The SC has interviews set up for 3 good candidates. (2/3)
- Q for the 2/3 poster: Three more interviews?(In addition to those that occurred over the past couple of weeks?)
- No just three total. They should be making a decision soon as they are working on another search to my knowledge. (2/11)

Lawrence Tech
- Has anyone heard anything from Lawrence Tech? Acknowledgements, interviews, signs of life? (12/6)

Marquette University (1865-1900: Environmental, Native American, Ethnicity)
- SC member confirmed that search is limited to these three fields. (10/11)
- Anybody heard anything? (11/7)
- only crickets (11/19)
- AHA invites (11/28)
- Wow, that was fast; I posted something on the rejection letter and someone deleted it in only 2 hours! Anyway, I still nominate Marquette for snottiest rejection letter ever. If you disagree, say so; if you're from Marquette, I'm not surprised that you're deleting things anonymously from the wiki; if I wrote a letter like that to people who'd applied in good faith, I'd have my head down in embarrassment too!
- I did not find the rejection letter "offensive." Typical "it's not you, it's us" to my mind. The line about how they could have easily selected another half dozen candidates to interview was unnecessary, but didn't make my blood boil. I did not delete your post, nor am I from Marquette. (12/21)
- I got rejected too, and, no, maybe not THE snottiest, but I didn't love either the "we could have invited half a dozen more equally good candidates, but didn't" or the "We've selected our interviewees. As you probably realized by now, you're not one of them." It's just so up front about them not even bothering to notify in any timely way. Ah well, how it goes these days, I guess. 12 22
- On-Campus interviews scheduled (1/11)
- Offer made and accepted (2/11)
- Any word on who the lucky candidate was? (2/20)
- Heard it was Alyson Efford, who will complete her PhD at Ohio State this spring. (2/24)

Mississippi State (Antebellum South)
- This one posted in mid-December and said they'd be doing some interviews at the AHA. I receieved a post-AHA letter saying the committee would be deciding in early February. Anyone else heard anything different?
- Received confirmation letter stating that the SC would begin reviewing applications in early Feb. My understanding was that they were collecting cvs, talking to anyone interested in the job, but not "interviewing," per se, at AHA. (2/6)
- Deadline has been extended. SC broadly conceives thematic boundaries of ag, rural, and environmental history. If interested, e-mail cover letter and cv to dept. head. (2/6)
- full job ad: http://www.oah.org/announce/jobs.html#Anchor-Mississippi-8762 (2/6)
- received email from chair requesting samples of work; my application had been submitted before AHA, but did not meet with anyone there (2/6)
- Snailmail rejection received, stating that position had been filled (3/22)

Murray State (U.S. South)
- This position requires a lot of World Civilization courses. If you aren't interested in teaching World Civ., this may not be the position for you.
- There have been problems in the past with professionalism re: the promotion and tenure process. With new leadership, this may have changed. (10/23)
- Received AAEO form. (10/26)
- Anyone heard from them? (12/2)
- Not a word. This job first posted on H-Net on June 15th. One wonders why they need so long to conduct the search?
- No word since AAEO form. (12/10)
- Here's the letter I received on 12/11: "Dear Dr. , Your application materials were received . . . after the deadline had passed so you cannot be considered as a qualified applicant. We ask, however, that you complete and return the enclosed Affirmative Action Compliance Program information card in the provided envelope within five days of receipt." WTF???
- How strange! Was your application actually late? (12/12)
- No, at least not according to the USPS. (12/12)
- That's outrageous! Why not write an email to the dept./SC and explain that according to the USPS it got there on time (not that it would make a difference in the decision but I really feel they should know this). Asking you to fill out the AAEO card, regardless, is a particular slap in the face.
- I agree with the above poster! The SC chair should know about this mistake and find out what happened. And 12/12 poster, you should get an apology. We put a lot of time and effort into this process. I find this sort of business just outrageous. (12/13)
- Rejection letter arrived today. (12-17)
- I am the 12/12 poster and I received an even more baffling letter. I applied for the tt position in southern history, and here's an excerpt from my new letter: "thank you for the opportunity to review your application for the Lecturer position in the Department of History at Murray State University. . . . we are not able to offer you an interview or a position at this time." You know, in a weird way, I'm glad that my application was "late." (12/20)
- To 12/12 poster: It seems that problems with professionalism remain. Consider yourself lucky to know this now. Some haven't been as fortunate. (12/20)
- Did they stop their search or what? Anybody get anything besides a rejection letter? (1/21)
- Deafening silence here (1/22)
- I read somewhere on the CHE fora that there may be a hiring freeze in Kentucky. I don't know for sure if this is true, so take it with a grain of salt. (1/23)
- A quick google search confirms that all Kentucky schools are facing a 3% budget cut. UK has announced a hiring freeze that does not include faculty lines. No word about Murray State in any of the articles, except to say that they will face a $1.3 million shortfall. Even if this job is not impacted by budget cuts, I'm afraid a number of searches will run into similar problems this year. See the University of South Florida entry above for an example. (1/23)
- KY schools have been told of this cut and warmed about possibility of much more severe cuts, maybe 12%!?! No idea if this affects current searches, but as most universities are already operating on tight academic budgets, these cuts have to come from somewhere, so one suspects hiring freezes in the future, if not already. Would be nice to know what the deal is for this particular search... (1/26)
- Campus interview offer emailed. The SC suggested that I should go online and look for some plane tickets, fly to Nashville (no date specified), rent a car, and drive to Murray. And they would pay me back. Not so excited about that. (2/19)
- Snail mail rejection received. (2/27)
- This department should be black-listed. (5/22)
- Ditto re: KY in general. Not to perpetuate a stereotype, but I've run into one too many "inbred" departments in this state, particularly regarding 19th cent. US history. (5/24)

Nassau Community College (general U.S.)
- From H-Net job posting: "The Department welcomes candidates in all fields, but particularly in the following fields: American Civil War, U.S. Labor History, post-World War II, Cold War or the 20th century." (12/8)
- Did anyone hear anything about this one? (2/13)
- Received this today via email: "We are in the midst of reviewing all applications for the positions as advertised. That will take approximately two weeks and will be followed by letters to those we wish to consider for interviews." (2/19)
- Haven't heard anything since the standard letter sent in early January; have given up. Incredibly rude secretary. (2/29)
- Got rejection letter on 4/24. Position filled.

Ouachita Baptist University
- Has anyone heard from them about on-campus interviews? (1/26)
- via email that they were not proceeding with my application which leads me to believe they have made the decisions regarding whom to invite to campus (2/9)

Pacific Lutheran (West or Pacific Northwest)
- see posting at http://www.historians.org/members/eib/search_listing.cfm?JobAdID=8019
- (10/15) Any idea how "Lutheran" or broadly Christian this institution is? They seem to distance themselves from this affiliation in the job ad. Any thoughts?
- There is a thread on the Chronicle forums addressing this question: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,42453.0.html
- ack. letter (11/1)
- AA form only (11/4)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/5)
- Anyone know if this is an inside situation? They have a VAP who looks like he fits the job description. (12/20)
- on-campus interviews scheduled (1/10)
- anyone know the outcome? (3/6)
- offer has been made and accepted, but I don't know by whom (3/17)

Penn State Greater Allegheny (U.S. 19th or 20th century)
- like everybody else, especially seeking "transnational or comparative perspectives" (11/5)
- Anybody heard anything? (11/14)
- not a thing (12/5)
- Got an email saying I've been identified as a "finalist" and asking if I'm still interested in the position (I'm not). No word on what being a finalist entails. (4/15)
- Offer made and accepted.

Penn State New Kensington (general U.S./World)
- any signs of life? (12/14)
- figuring I have nothing to lose, I called HR to inquire as to the status of the search(and my status therein). According to the HR personnel at New Kensington, the search committee has met, and is (or will be shortly) interviewing/inviting candidates to campus. I was assured that they will send "regret" letters once they have filled the position (3/10)
- Offer Accepted (3/17)
- who accepted this position - anyone know?
-

Princeton (19th century, open rank)
- Anybody have any thoughts on what they're looking for or how this will go down? I'm assuming I don't have a shot in hell, but I'm curious... (11/2)
- Additional materials requested (11/20)
- To whomever was asked for additional materials, do you mind revealing what your status is, ABD, assistant or associate prof?
- Also, can I add, how many people have been asked?
- "very few"
- Received phone call informing me that the SC met this morning, and I would not be asked for an on-campus interview. (12/14)
- Does anyone know the status of this search? It didn't look like they were interviewing at the AHA (i.e., they weren't on the register). Has anyone gotten an official rejection or an interview? (1/8)
- They met in mid-December to decide who to invite to campus from a small group of shortlisted candidates. The SCC called to let me know I didn't make the cut. I think it's likely the final three have already received invites. (1/8)
- I heard two offers were made: one associate and one assistant. (3/15)
- Application never acknowleged until rejection letter called me by the incorrect surname! awesome!
- Did they call you by my surname? 'cause I still haven't gotten any acknowledgment from P. :)

Providence College (19th or 20th century)
- see pet peeve in 20th century listing below
- letter ack application materials rec'd 11/1/07 says they will notify mid-Dec of AHA interview choices.
- see below in 20th century for updates on this job (12/14)

Rice (Early Republic to WWI)
- the circles seem to inform that they want someone that has 20th century AFAM project/interests (9/11/07)
- What's "AFAM"? - That would imply African American related.
- okay, what's a "circle"?
- questions questions, meaning I heard! i am sure we ALL know the academic circles run small and are well connected. Not much more to add. Thanks
- I must be in a different circle. It's my understanding that there will be a second position advertised. If you look at the chronology of this search and then observe what conspicuous fields are *not* represented currently on Rice's faculty (think kepis, funny beards, and hardtack), that should serve as some clue. Then again, maybe both circles are right. It wouldn't be the first time that a department had two circles, both with stong opinions for the type of person the department wants. (9/17)
- Received email confirming receipt of application (10/4)
- When thinking about the fields not represented, what does this mean: "think kepis, funny beards, and hardtack." I'm just not following. (10/26)
- I'm not the OP, but I assume s/he meant Civil War (10/26)
- I received an email from someone on the search committee asking me to apply for the job before I had sent in my application. My specialty is not African American. They are running a second search for assoc./full professor in southern history. 11/14
- I am an African Americanist and I also received an email inviting me to apply.
- Received a request for my writing sample b/c they're updating applicant files. (11/19)
- Email stating my application materials had been received. (11/18)
- This comment could possible go below, but I have to object to the practice of sending select invitations to apply. It creates the impression of cherry-picking a candidate under the guise of conducting a national search. That kind of thing smacks of old-boy club and the old guild. Thoughts? 11/22
- I guess it does smack of the OBC, but I think there are so many variables in a search that an invite does not mean slam dunk. As a grad student, we had a national search that we all thought was a dog and pony show for one candidate who had a well received book in the field of our specialized PHD program. She didn't even get an offer because department members didn't like her next project. Anyway if the dept. is a fossil of the dinosaur era and is full of Good Ole Boys, do you or I really want to work there anyway? Just a thought (11/23).
- My thought is that if the SC emailed only two or three "prestige" departments, then that might smack of OBC-ism. But, advertising at large in this fashion is fairly common and more in the vein of self-promotion than in exclusion. For instance, if you emailed the dozen or so departments known for their strength in the History of Koala Lampur because that is what you want, its less OBC than it is priming the pump. If you emailed only the two best Koala Lampur specialists, then thre's a problem.
- Any actual developments other than gossip? I'm assuming AHA interviews are set by now, just w/ people that don't use the wiki. (12/7)
- I don't have any news, but I don't think it's safe to assume anything until the end of this week. A lot of committees are still working. (12/10)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/11)
- Was the interview set up by phone or email? (12/12)
- by email.
- received email that I have been moved to the "second level of candidacy"; I "remain in the running" but they "will not have the opportunity" to interview me at AHA. (12/14)
- ditto - assuming this is a rejection letter, but it's a little confusing (12/14)
- message x3. I wonder how many of us there are. Is this a case of there being fewer than ten extras who could be interviewed if they added a day of interviews, or a pool of 20 or more who are just there to show how deep the search was. I'm not getting my hopes too high. (12/14)
- make it 4. maybe someone with access to the "circles" can shed some light?
- make it 5. (12/14)
- sounds like everyone except the AHA interviewees is on the "second level of candidacy." What a confusing rejection letter (12/14)
- make it 6. I received something similar from Oregon State. I think they're reserving the right to revisit your application and call you in if all the folks they interview turn out to be duds. (12/14)
- 7. In any case, it was slightly uplifting to receive a communication that wasn't a rejection (12/14).
- 8. I like this type of response from a search committee better than silence.
- 9. Ditto.
- Make it 10. That's a lot of people to "put on hold." Odd.
- 11.
- Make it 12.
- 13.
- 14. Nicest rejection letter by far.
- Has anyone who received the "second level of candidacy" email heard anything more? (12/30)
- Not me (poster #7). Like poster #14, I figure it's a very nice, non-rejection rejection (12/30)
- I haven't heard anything either after receiving this email. I have a theory (could be way off base and only you guys can confirm). They are running a senior search for a southern historian. Perhaps those on hold in the second tier are predominantly southern historians so the SC has somewhere to turn if the senior search falls through. On the other hand, they may be desperate to make a hire for this junior position so they want to keep a second tier in case the AHA interviews or campus visits turn out to be disasters. I've seen search committees turn to the second tier later on in the game. (12/30)
- Good theory. I'm a southern historian (#11). Does anyone have the senior search job ad, or remember what subfields they were interested in? (12/30)
- I, for one, am not a southern historian (#7). The job ad I saw (h-net, posted 7/18) claimed to seek "a tenure-track assistant professor in the history of the United States from the early republic to the first World War, any field." I figure us "second tier" folks fit these parameters, had strong apps and/or complemented the strengths of the department, but not enough to get AHA interviews. I'm doubtful (m)any of us will get calls later on, but that remains to be seen. (12/31)
- Poster #1 here. I'm 99 percent certain that this is a non-rejection rejection letter, based on the fact that everyone who applied seemed to have received one. They are reserving the right to dip back into the pool if the interviews don't go well. Rather than being "nice," I actually find this kind of rejection annoying and confusing, keeping our hopes up long after they have more or less passed on our applications. If there's someone who can pipe in who did NOT make this "second level of candidacy," I might change my mind. (12/31)
- I'm the poster (#10) who had the southern history theory as I am a southern historian. I did find out that one of the people being interviewed already has a book published. (1/2)
- I guess I am #15 who got the best rejection letter ever, but I am neither a southern historian, nor am I am really in the Rice league. I am just taking it a "nice" and not "hopeful" but appreciate the concern for my fragile ego. (1/5)
- On Campus(1/9)
- Same here. On campus visit scheduled. Late January. (1/9/08)
- I received one of those "second level of candidacy" emails, and then got an AHA interview so I don't think they were just rejection letters. (1/11)
- rejection email received; email said offer had been made and accepted. (2/11)
- So, who was the lucky winner? (2/12)

Rockhurst (2 positions)
- Early U.S. and world
- see Modern U.S. and world position below
- Received e-mail to arrange phone interview (for early position) (11/2)
- Received invite to campus. (11/11)

Roger Williams (U.S. open)
- Email acknowledgement 11/30: "Review of applications will begin on or about January 15, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled. You will be updated on the status of your application as the process moves forward." (12/7)
- Contacted for phone interview 1/15; I have the impression they are extending invites as they go through the apps, with interviews next week and the week of the 28th.
- Has anyone heard about on-campus yet? It sounded like they were planning on moving fairly quickly with that. (2/3)
- Not yet, but my impression was the same, and they suggested that they would extend invitations sometime next week and wrap up the entire decision by the end of February. (2/4)
- On-campus invitation, 2/5
- Received request for phone interview, 2/15
- To the poster who got a call for an on-campus interview on 2/5: have you gone already to give the talk? I received an email update from them on 2/15 suggesting that they had not picked the full set of finalists, nor had they received approval from the dean for campus visits, and that they might not until the end of February.
- I was scheduled to give the talk on the 25th but I have withdrawn from the search. They had approval from the dean for my visit, but I had the impression they were getting that approval on a case by case basis. I have no idea whether there were other finalists, how many, or what their onward timeline was. Good luck! (2/20)
- Hey, thanks for the luck and the info, and best wishes to you as well!
- Its March 5, anyone heard since their phone interview?
- Yes, invitation to campus 2/22, and campus visit 3/7. They plan/hope (depending on deans) to have the position filled by the end of March.

Sacred Heart University (19th Century)
- Received email confirming receipt of application (10/2)
- um? (12/11)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/18)
- January campus interviews scheduled (1/18)
- offer made and accepted.

Simon Fraser University (19th Century)
- The dept. sent an email acknowledging receipt of app. (10/9)
- Conducted phone interviews with 8 candidates 11/9, and have selected 3 candidates to bring to campus in late Nov./early Dec. (11/13)
- Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if all of the candidates were Canadian citizens? (11/13)
- No, not all the candidates interviewed were Canadians (though it's possible the 3 who made the cut are). It looks like they've hired a good number of non-Canadians in the last few years, so I doubt nationality is a make-or-break issue for them (perhaps some Canadian institutions take this rule more seriously than others). (11/13)
- As far as I know, the Canadian-hiring preference applies only to public universities, which, if they want to hire a non-C citizen, have to fill out govt. forms justifying their decision (arguing that no qualified C citizen was better suited for the job); it's a req of receiving tax money. SF is private, so it doesn't operate under those restrictions (like McGill, Trent etc.) (11/13)
- there aren't any private universities in Canada, only public ones, which means that Simon Fraser, like McGill or the Univ. of Toronto, hires according to Canadian govt. policies (like hiring civil servants) (11/15)
- it is true that all universities are public. However, most people they hire these days are non-Canadians. This is particularly true at the top schools.
- They've made an offer (1/18)

Smith College (19th Century, all specialties welcome)
- Received a letter from head of SC and the AA form
- Ditto (10/30)
- Ditto plus one (10/31)
- Anyone hear anything more? (12/11)
- I haven't heard anything recently. They did contact me two weeks ago to let me know one of my letters of rec. was missing. (12/13)
- AHA interview request came via email (12/14)
- Any campus invites? I had an AHA interview with them, but neglected to find out their time table for campus invitations. (1/11)
- They told me the end of January because they have a J-term right now. I don't know if that means they will be deciding before then or wait until then to decide. (1/11)
- Thanks for reminding me. They told me that as well. My impression was that the invites would not be extended until the end of January. They also mentioned not having read the writing samples yet. (1/12)
- Spring term started yesterday. Any word? (1/29)
- Nothing yet. I posted the first 1/11 message and I'm still waiting to hear from them (1/30)
- I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I know someone who has an on campus interview there this week. (1/30)
- Thanks for the info. Bad news is better than the painfully slow, tortuous death of false hopes as reality sinks in. Isn't that the one and only reason for this wiki-page? It is for me at least.
- Not a position for which I applied, but, yes, any news is better than not knowing! All readers are encouraged to post what they know. (2/2)
- Rejection letter received. (2/9)
- Offer made and accepted. (2/15)
- Accepted by whom? Feed curious minds! (2/28)
- Elizabeth Pryor, an African-Americanist from UCSB (3/4)

Troy University (late-19th/early-20th)
- AHA scheduled
- 1/29 does anyone remember what their post-aha schedule was going to be?
- 2/6 Any candidates invited on-campus?
- 2/21 Was this search canceled? News?
- 2/21 Campus visits complete, offer made and accepted

University of Alabama-Huntsville (pre-1877)
- Has anyone heard anything from these people? (12/4)
- No. Looks like they are behaving in the same inconsiderate manner as last year.
- I received a perfectly nice ack. letter and AA card 11/10 (12/5)
- Ditto on the polite ack. letter and AA card in prompt response to my application (12/5)
- I recvd the same ack. letter dated 10/10 which stated that they were already reviewing applications. It would be nice if they were more informative about their schedule and plans.(12/5)
- Same method as last year, send ack. and AA, then blow everyone off who did not qualify.
- I did not know they had made their decisions last year until I saw them interviewing at the Southern.
- AHA interview scheduled.(12/5)
- I recieved a AA card and a very nice letter. Interview scheduled. (12/10)
- 1/7 The department will meet on Tuesday, January 8th to select finalists to bring to campus. Once we narrow the list, we have to submit the requisite paperwork to the Administration and await approval. It may be a few days. We know this is an awful process - Hang in there!
- I didn't even apply for this job, but I want to commend the above poster (apparently a member of the SC or the department). This is an excellent use of the wiki and one that I am sure candidates will welcome in the future. (1/9)
- No problem. I'm new and remember all too well what the other side of the wiki felt like. In reference to the comment above: We didn't interview at the Southern last year, just the AHA.
- Thanks for the informative posting from the SC. Very much appreciated. (1/10)
- 1/10 We thought the Provost would give us the green light today, but a tornado warning just closed campus. Friday, perhaps?
- 1/11 We have invited our finalists to campus.
- 4/3 snailmail rejection. Position filled.

University of California-Irvine (Slavery)
- Any word? (12/16)
- Did anyone receive an ack or aaeo form? (12/17)
- Are they doing the AHA? (12/18)
- No AHA interviews, they sent rejection ltr. via e-mail and stated that 3 candidates will interview on campus (12/21)
- Has anyone received the invite to campus? (1/16)
- On-campus interviews being conducted over the next couple of weeks. (1/16)
- Does anyone know if an offer was made or accepted/who it was if so? Been quite some time (2/24)
- I heard an offer was made at the end of last week. (2/26)
- Snail mail rejection a couple of weeks ago. I think they said they hired someone, but I forget (ooops) 4/19

University of Massachusetts Amherst (antebellum U.S. history)
- Deadline is today, Nov. 15. Has anyone received any notice from the committee? (11/15)
- Ack. + AA form. (11/21)
- Any news? (12/7)
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/14)
- Rejection letter (12/26)
- Received post-AHA interview rejection email (Sunday evening). They have three finalists. (1/13)
- Anyone heard anything more about this position? (4/16)
- Any word on who accepted this position?
- According to the online course listing, this position was filled by Barbara Krauthamer, asst. prof. at NYU. (5/1)

University of Mississippi (American History pre 1865/Slavery)
- any news? (12/14)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/16)
- Campus invitation extended (1/15)
- Rejection letter states job accepted by Justin Roberts, ABD at Johns Hopkins

University of New Mexico (19th Century)
- Anyone receive an acknowledgment yet? (10/29)
- Yep, I received a letter on 10/13 (10/29)
- Inside dope: the department has a history of political "issues." Do you your homework and tread lightly if you get an on-campus (11/6).
- I'd just be happy to receive an acknowledgement.
- Rec'd letter that they are "unable to pursue my candidacy further" because my primary research specialty is not 19th c. US history. Apparently degrees in American Studies with a primary research speciality in 19th c. US cultural history is not 19th c. US history. (11/17)
- Ack letter has link to eo form that does not work. (11/17)
- What is meant by political "issues?" Could you elaborate? (11/21)
- Department members do not seem to like each other...and fight about it. That is all I have, but from going to certain meetings, I know that there are some real characters there. (11/23)
- "A deeply dysfunctional group" was the description I got from a former colleague who knows them well.
- To American Studies poster on 11/17: don't feel bad, I'm a historian with a research speciality in 19th-century America and I got the same letter. (11/26)
- Recd same rejection form letter on 11/17, even though I do 19th c. U.S. In my case, I suspect, it was because my project is later-19th c. I went back and looked in the ad, and I noticed that buried in the middle of the text it specifies antebellum/Civil War specialty.
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/3)
- How many individuals scheduled for interview? (12/4)
- I don't know, but most of the interview time slots were still open last night, so they may still be contacting candidates. (12/4)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/5)
- Does anyone know their timeline? I forgot to ask at my AHA interview.(1/13)
- Campus invites will follow department vote on SC recommendations after spring classes resume Jan. 22 (1/14)
- Offer made and accepted (2/27)
- Anyone know who? (2/28)
- I'm still wondering who. (3/10)
- Finally received rejection letter. What a relief! I was beginning to worry that somehow I had been interviewed and hired but didn't remember it :-) (3/22)
- Did the letter say who got the job?

University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- received ack. letter that said "I enclose an applicant data card," but with no card! (10/22)
- do you know when they plan to arrange AHA interviews? (11/7)
- is this the same listing as the early American/early national job at UNCG listed in the early national category? Or are they hiring a specifically 19th century person as well? If the former, let's consolidate the listings (11/14)
- this is an open rank position in 19th-century American history with desirable "sub-specialties" in Native American, American West, Environmental, or Public history and "the ability to teach the U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction." (11/15)
- okay, so they are running two Americanist searches, early and 19th, with roughly the same desired "sub-specialties." Not a bad way to go about it: they get to cast a really wide net and give themselves lots of options to fill their thematic gaps. Much better than running the same searches in separate years. (11/15)
- anybody heard anything here? (11/26)
- just the voices in my head (11/27)
- AHA interview request on 11/30
- rejection letter arrived today, 12/10
- received rejection letter today, 12/11 (in Chicago)
- received post-AHA interview rejection, dated January 16 (1/22)
- hired Mark Elliot of Wagner College (4/15)

University of North Carolina, Pembroke
- They offered this job last year. Does anyone know the politics of this search?
- There was considerable discussion of this job on last year's wiki page. It was/is Steve Berry's old position. IIRC, the university pulled funding for the position. It may have been because of the late posting of the ad (early spring), IMHO, which would have produced a very different pool than a late summer/early fall ad.
- I had heard he was up for a position, but I had not heard that the position had lost its funding. They had a GA/PE position too. I guess that got filled?
- The GA/PE was filled by a recent Ph.D. Berry is now at Georgia.
- 9/20: They did not lose the funding. The pool of candidates kept dwindling as the search dragged into June/July. Because of deadlines for other commitments, at least for this finalist, some had to withdraw. Too few candidates left to complete search. FWIW, This school might be in the middle of nowhere but the department is full of quality people who would make great colleagues.
- Poster above said "The pool of candidates kept dwindling as the search dragged into June/July." My comment: Well, Duh. SC's should take heed: if you wait until ONE MONTH before classes start to make your pick, you've waited too long. 10/19
- Isn't it possible that some things are out of a SC's hands? For instance, does the SC have control over what time of year some dean or other administrative type says, "Go ahead, find your new historian?"
- In that case, SC's response to the dean should be: You have mortally wounded the search by your dawdling. Deans make decisions within budgetary constraints, yes, but SC's must also be able to tell deans: If you do not give authorization by date x, our ability to make a successful hire is decreased by percentage y. My evidence: UNC Pembroke. The offer was made too late; the search failed. Lesson: If you wait too late to make the offer, the search has a high likelihood of failure. This does not seem to be too difficult of a concept to convey to deans . . .
- I don't dispute that such a result comes from that situation. But, I wonder if its really that easy to fix. I mean, if a SC just had to say, "We won't get someone hired if you don't pick up the pace" to fix this problem, the professors across the university would all be making what administrators make because Department Chairs would busily pip up, "We cannot keep the good folks we've hired because we're not paying them what they are worth, so give us all raises!" Again, I don't dispute your logic, I just think its a bit ivory towerish to think a dean would listen and respond effectively to a SC that old him/her how hight they wanted that darn administrator to jump. Now, to keep this from devolving into a exercise where we all just release our frustrations on abstract SC's, I for one will back down and await more news on interview dates for this job.
- I agree with the previous comment: there are lots of things the SC could (and no doubt would like to) say to the dean, and in most cases it's unlikely that saying these things would make a difference. Do you really think that deans are oblivious to the fact that making job offers in July is a bad strategy? Also, I don't know anything about this search, but people may be wrong to assume that no offer was made. In my (limited) experience, when searches drag on interminably, it's because they've made an offer (or even multiple offers) and the candidate takes forever to haggle about terms, partner hires, etc., and ultimately turns them down. It's easy to imagine how a search that got off to a late start to begin with might make an offer during the spring that gets rejected in early summer, leaving them scrambling in June/July. (11/15)
- Has anyone been contacted yet for an interview? (12/4)
- I, for one, have heard nothing. (12/10)
- Ditto (12/11)
- AHA interview request received via email (12/10). SCC gave option of interview on 01/04 between 9AM and 6 PM-I guess SC is only interviewing for one day.
- Do not panic if you did not receive an email, the SC is still looking at candidates. All will be decided by next week. (12/11)
- Is it safe to assume all invites have been extended by now? (12/21)
- rejection letter received, 1st contact (1/23)
- on campus invitations extended. (1/31)
- A bogus and biased search from beginning to end. They hired the candidate who baked the SC cookies and brownies. What a disappointing display. (5/22)
- That is a ridiculous statement and one assumes a frustrated and bitter person would think such a thing. (6/11)
- Fascinating exchange. Who got the job, and what kind of brownies did they bake? (6/17)

University of South Carolina Aiken
- On campus interviews scheduled. (12/17 or so).
- Rejection letter received. (2/8)
- offer extended

University of Texas, El Paso (19th Century)
- I received a letter acknowledging receipt of materials (10/5)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/29)
- next step in search process? (12/4)
- I don't know, but they did request additional material (writing sample and teaching portfolio) when scheduling the interview. (12/4)
- Received fairly nice rejection letter by mail on 12/22
- Anybody know if they have made on-campus invites yet? (1/16)
- on-campus interviews scheduled (1/16)
- offer made and accepted

University of Texas, Pan-American (Reconstruction/Gilded Age)
- any word on this job or any of the half dozen other ones they're advertising? (10/29)
- received confirmation of materials, dated 10/25; says they "will begin reviewing applications soon."(11/2)
- received rejection email (12/12)
- received invitation to campus on 12/6 (12/12)
- any word on this or any of the other jobs here? (2/23)
- offer made and accepted (2/25)

University of Wisconsin-Stout
- Received ack letter dated 11/12 in mid-November. Although I sent copies of my transcripts via Interfolio, the letter said they were missing (also said transcript copies acceptable). I emailed SC chair immediately, but have not gotten a response (12/7).
- Letter dated 12/21: "we regret to inform you that the position has now been filled." That was quick (12/30)

Utah Valley
- AHA interview scheduled (12/6)
- Rejection email after AHA interview; finalists have been selected (1/16)

Utah State University-Brigham City
- phone interview scheduled (2/15)
- on campus interview scheduled on 2/26 (2/28)

West Virginia University (Early Republic to Antebellum)
- Letter confirming receipt of application materials. Said they were reviewing applications as they arrived (11/10).
- Received email invite to AHA interview. (12/7)
- Campus invite (1/10)
- Any more details on those invites? Have all finalists been invited? (1/14)
- Rejection received. It would have been nice had the scc taken 30 seconds to proofread the letter. (2/14)
-Who did they hire?

Washburn University (late-19th/early-20th)
- Has ANYONE rec'd an acknowledgement? I hear this was an inside job- any others hear this? (11/15)
- No and no. (11/19)
- "Preference will be given to candidates with background in women's history and Native American history" Look on their website and see if this fits anyone... Isn't that sort of illegal?
- No. As far as I know, there's nothing illegal about crafting a job description to match the fields of someone you consider a desirable candidate. It would be (potentially) illegal to hire the person you're referring to for, say, a position described as 20th c. US Foreign Relations, but that's different from what's happening here. A couple of things to keep in mind: often, even if a dept has figured out they want to keep a certain person already there, they have to run a national search to fulfill HR requirements. Frustrating for other candidates, but not illegal. Or, the school may not have those HR requirements (i.e. they could hire a "target of opportunity" without a national search), in which case the fact that they're running the search means they're interested in other candidates. Finally, it's worth considering that the current lecturer matches the fields in the current ad because those were the fields the dept had IDed as desirable before they did the temporary hire for that line - they can only now search for the TT position, but it's the same line/fields. I'm not saying the person in question isn't a favored candidate (I know nothing about this position), I'm just saying that even if they are, that's not illegal.
- Not an atty, but SC of my school says it is illegal. Searches are required for all govt jobs and to "fake" a search is against the law. This may or may not be a genuine search- haven't applied but if people are getting acks/invites then it is probably legit.
- ok; I just meant that advertising for the fields of someone who's already on campus isn't the same thing as faking a search. Also, the dept liking the inside candidate isn't the same as faking a search, either. (12/3)
- good luck to her, that's what I say. I hope to be an inside candidate somewhere some day... (12/6)
- any updates on this one? (12/18)
- learned at second-hand (but from an extremely reliable source) that they had 70-80 applicants and only seriously evaluated those who were degree in hand and had either a book contract in hand or in press (1/08)
- Any word on this position (did the inside candidate get the job) (4/23)

Western Illinois
- Warning: I interviewed for a different position two years past. I heard nothing after the (AHA) interview (not even a form letter). Incredibly rude, in my view. Also, it seems like they have a search every year (at least in the last few years).
- A professor in the department where I study described her "escape" from a school she called "Hellhole State."
- Yeah, I had a similar experience in the 05-06 job season; had an AHA interview for a U.S. since '45 job. Was interviewed by Balsamo, Boynton, and Cole, and found them to be fine, no problems there; but then never heard from anyone again. Ever. According to my notes, I never got an email, phone, or letter follow-up, not even announcing their eventual hire. I can't say anything about the actual department, though; still, a bit more information would have been nice. Perhaps that search was just borken, and they're fine otherwise?
- I was encouraged to apply for a visiting position last year, and I was told they were in a hurry. I sent the gobs and gobs of paperwork the chair asked for, and did not get an email or letter. I think for being WIU, they should be nicer. I expect bad treatment from Ivy league and big state schools.
- I sent material in for that VAP job and waited and waited. Two days after I took another one-year, the chair called me for an interview. I don't think the dept. administration is very efficient up there.
- Glad to know it wasn't just me!
- Received e-mail acknowledgment of receipt of application materials. Maybe they've improved their communications with applicants this time around. (11/21)
- Received same, no further contact as of 12/10
- Received email acknowledgment of receipt of application materials (12/12)
- AHA interview request via email on 12/11 (12/12)
- AHA interview request via email, 12/12, several interview time slots still open for Fri/Sat. Quick, enthusiastic response to my reply from SC chair! (12/13)
- On-campus interviews scheduled (1/17)
- Offer accepted (3/3)
- Whatever problems WIU might have had in the past seem to have disappeared. This was a well-handled search, and the faculty seem genuinely collegial.
- Agree 100%. A well-handled search, from my perspective. Congrats to the person who got the offer. (3/5)



Berkeley (US & World)
- received e-mail with AA questionaire (10/18)
- received request for further materials (10/26)
- Is their AHA shortlist finalized?
- This school obviously moved really, really fast through a pool that had to have a high number of applicants. See the "grain of salt" thread in the discussion area below
- I agree it is a bit quick, but maybe they already know who they want. This ad went out really early.
- I'm not sure about finalized AHA interviews, but they did request additional materials (11/1)
- Would you mind specifying which materials? (11/1)
- dissertation, publications, and other work-in-progress (11/1)
- Received email. Interview scheduled for AHA. (12/6)
- Snail mail rejection letter received. (12/11)
- Four candidates invited to campus. Three of four are assistant profs. Fourth is a graduate student. All focus on US diplomatic history. Department wants to replace Diane Clemens, diplomatic historian, who recently retired.
- Received thoughtful and personal rejection email after AHA interview. (1/16)
- who wound up with this position?
- I believe they have an offer out, but no acceptance yet (3/22)
- Any news on whether the person accepted? (4/3)
- Yes it has (4/5)
- Who is the lucky winner?
- Daniel Sargent, Harvard ABD

Boston University (20th Century US political, open rank)
- Ack 10/22
- anyone heard anything further?
- Just a pet peeve about the above posting (and ones like it posted throughout the page). Let's all assume from here on out that this question, "Has anyone heard anything?" is, though unwritten, constantly assumed to have been asked about every position. Isn't this the whole purpose of the wiki? (11/26)
- THIS is your pet peeve? Someone inquiring if there's more info about a position for which the app. deadline was Oct. 1? (and to answer your question: no, we can't assume that).
- agree with poster just above: this page is slightly disappointing in that it is filled with people's various "pet peeves" and (albeit justifiable) anger and anxiety, but I suspect, as others here have noted, that there is under-reporting going on. Can it be that virtually all of the 20th C. jobs are so far behind in the search that no one has selected an AHA shortlist? Seems to me people are holding back, maybe because they think they should not expose themselves (11/27)
- I suspect that the whole dumb "Whitewater" discussion, which included identifying a poster's location and affiliation, has permanently scared people off this wiki (11/27)
- I sincerely doubt it. Remember, this is an open rank search. They might have selected only senior people, who don't post to the wiki, or they might be busy with late semester work. I tend to question why anyone would withhold information about their good fortunes. That seems unlikely for this crowd! (12/4)
- Reject letter received. They have moved to short list. (12/27)
- I received rejection letter as well. Silver Lining: they're actually sending out letters, and promptly too. Thank goodness for small kindnesses.(12/31)
- this was a replacement for Julian Zelizer, right? Did it go to a senior person? (3/5)
- according to their website, they have finished up campus visits and will announce their appointment "as soon as possible". But I guess that isn't much by way of news. (3/23)
- they made two offers back in March/April, both were turned down. So they brought in two more finalists, assistant profs elsewhere with published books, one of whom is a BU PhD. No word on what happened since (6/10)

Central Arkansas (Gilded Age/Progressive Era)
- Received very short acknowledgment letter and AA survey from SC chair (11/29)
- AHA scheduled (12/7)
- 1/29 does anyone remember what their post-aha schedule was going to be?
- campus interviews have been scheduled
- rejection letter received 2/25 notes that school "has now completed its search." (2/25)

The Citadel (20th Century)
- long list of possible specializations; everything but history of the kitchen sink.
- Dammit! history of the kitchen sink is my primary field!
- Sir Yes Sir! The history of the Kitchen Sink is My specialty Sir!
- Got a semi-generic letter from SC back in Sept. saying they saw my ds. title/academic interests on the AHA website and wanted to draw my attention to their search. (I am at a large public research I univ and write on a "diversity" topic.) Also got a letter of ack. on 10/16.
- Got the same letter as well. Am at an ivy, write on culture. (11/7)
- Received email and snail mail acks on 11/30; email directs to employment form website. For now, SC chair ok w/transcript copies (12/5).
- Same here. Guessing it'll be mid-Dec before they make decisions on AHA interviews?
- AHA interview scheduled (12/7)
- Ditto (12/7)
- On campus scheduled (1.9)
- rcd rejection letter by post in midwest (1/18)
- Had AHA interview, no campus invite but also no rejection letter (1/25)
- was told by SC that campus visits will be scheduled end of January. Don't know about the campus invite mentioned by the above poster (1/25)
- me too. aha but no rejection letter and no campus invite. could we hear from 1.9 poster? (1/28)
- me too! SC chair said in interview they would be getting in touch in late Jan. When I saw 1.9 poster I assumed this was code during interview for "We don't want to interview this bird." Whatever.
- Yes, AHA and then nothing. Alas, we'll never get to wear that uniform, friends. (1/29)
- I heard they invited three candidates to campus (1/25)
- Anyone heard anything more about this one? (1/31)
- Had on-campus last week. Decision expected (maybe) next week. (2/2)
- I don't get it. Why would they tell us they would contact us at the end January if they were going to arrange campus visits sooner? And they seemed so nice at the AHA, too. (2/3)
- Any news on this one? (2/15)
- Offer made (2/16)
- and accepted, I hear (2/22)
- Does anyone know who accepted this position? (2/22)
- Joseph Renouard, Emory University (2/26)
- surely that's the hire for the Foreign Relations post (below)??? (2/26)
- I wouldn't know myself. And don't call me Shirley.
- Offer for the 20th century position was accepted by Kerry Taylor, UNC '07.

The Citadel (Foreign Relations)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/7)
- any word here, or are the two Citadel posts effectively combined above? (2/26)

City University of New York CUNY City College (US Foreign Relations and/or Diplomatic)
- Assistant or Associate Professor (12/8)
- Ack. letter and AA card yesterday (12/9)
- are they going to the AHA? (12/10)
- not going to interview at AHA, requests for more will come in Jan. or early Feb. (12/13)
- thanks for the info (12/14)
- Job talk scheduled (1/16)
- Offer made to and accepted by Craig Daigle, George Washington Univ. '08 (4-15)

Denison University (1877-1945)
- must be able to teach classes on women/gender history
- received AA form / confirmation of receipt of application via snail mail (10/22)
- received AA by snail mail (11/1)
- received ack. that my file was now complete (11/13)
- Anybody heard anything? Whispers that they had over 200 apps. Have they waded through that pile yet?
- Contacted by e-mail for AHA interview, 12/12
- Are they really doing AHA interviews? I'm attending, but do not see them listed...
- Yup, at least I had an interview with them; I don't know how many they did, tho'. (1/6)
- Good for you! I just did not see them listed on the Register's screen, so I was wondering (1/7).
- Has anyone heard about on-campus yet? (Go on, put me out of my misery...) 1/15
- received letter of rejection today, dated 1/10/08, noted that they received over 135 applications (1/16)
- rec'd letter of rejection (1/17)
- Any word on campus invites? Put me out of my misery...anybody who interviewed at AHA hear anything? (1/21)
- Greetings, fellow sufferer... nothing here, as of Monday morning 1/21
- I haven't heard a peep either. In the haze of the AHA, I can't remember if they said they'd be notifying people by the end of Jan or flying people out by then. (1/21)
- My memory is hazy as well, but I recall them saying they would notify by the end of January which I took as this week or next. (1/21)
- Here is some inside info: Classes resumed on 1/14. The department met to select the 3 finalists on 1/17. The list was submitted to the provost that afternoon. So now the dept is just waiting for the provost to approve the candidates before they make calls. The dept hopes that will happen within the next few days. (1/21)
- Thank you!! (particularly for the inside info). :)
- Contacted for on-campus interview, 1/21
- Rejection letters went out a few weeks ago, but none for me. Can I assume that I made some abitrary short list (yes, I know the dangers of assuming. . .)?(1/27)
- Offer made and accepted (2/21)
- Any word on who got this one?
- Heard it was Megan Threlkeld, U. of Iowa '08 (2/25)
- Thanks for posting offered and accepted: because this is how Denison let the on-campus finalists find out someone else got the job! How very... classy ???

Drew University (20th Century US and World)
- Just posted via AHA on 11/9, I believe.
- "The teaching load is 3/2 and the successful applicant will teach introductory survey courses in American history, electives in political history and her/his areas of interest, and graduate courses in the university's masters and doctoral programs." (11/9)
- are they doing AHA? (12/10)
- I gather they are meeting later this week to select and invite candidates for AHA interviews (12/11)
- AHA interview request via telephone (12/14)
- I heard they have made on-campus invites. (2/4)
- Have they made an offer? (3/6)
-Email rejection said offered and accepted. Any word on who got this? (4/30)

Eastern Connecticut State (US Foreign Relations)
- I would be careful with this one - someone in my dept. was interviewed for this one last year,got an email about a campus visit and then never heard from them again - they discontinued the search (funding?) but nver informed the candidates.
- I went for an on-campus here last year and was surprised to learn that the Department did not select the candidate. The Search Committee was allowed to put forward a number of unranked candidates, but the final decision was made by a dean. (10/24)
- I don't think that you should be too surprised about that; it's a fairly common practice, insulating the department from blame in the case of an unpopular hire, and putting ultimate veto power in the hands of administrators. One version of this has the department submitting a list of "unranked" candidates to the administration officially, but somehow unofficially communicating their preference (winkwinknudgenudge) or, in extreme cases, submitting an unranked list of one candidate and one candidate only. This produces a legal "cut-out", as it were, absolving the department. (10/25)
- I think you are overstating the search committee's powers. Provosts and deans like the power they have. I have seen searches at the school from which I am trying to leave where a list of "unranked candidates" was sent. The reason the dean wanted the unranked was so they could make the hire they wanted, for reasons that they wantedaffirmative action, diversity, or whateverIn the search I am describing, we had to offer the job to the candidates who left us unimpressed after the visit.
- Okay, but my point was that the "submit unranked list to administration for final choice" model is a common one, and that previous poster chould not be "surprised" by it; whether the unranked list model gives some leeway for departments was not my point. In fact, I did clearly say that this model left "ultimate veto power" in the hands of administration. But, your point is well taken too. (11/3)
- I also applied for this job last year, and I did receive a letter saying they'd had to cancel the search. (11/8)
- On campus interviews week of 12/10
- I heard from reliable source that offer was made several weeks ago and accepted by an Emory PhD who does US/Mideast Relations (2/9)

Flagler College
- Received snail mail ack in early/mid-November (dated 11/9), saying "screening process has already begun"; any word on interviews? (12/5)
- Received phone interview request on 12/3. (12/5)
- Offer made to and accepted according to rejection letter dated 2/21 (2/25)

Florida Atlantic
- Received AHA interview request (12/13)
- Any word? (1/31)
- on-campus interviews scheduled (2/1)
- offer made and accepted (for U.S./Florida history position) (2/6)

Furman University (VAP)

George Mason, JNG Finley Postdoc in 20th C
- Emailed for interview, on "short list" (3/26)
- Offer had been accepted (4/29)

Georgetown (Culture & Politics)
- any info yet? (12/22)
- what is this? could someone post a link? (12/22)
- http://www.h-net.org/jobs/display_job.php?jobID=34667
- as the deadline was mid-Oct, I had given it up as a lost cause. no word. (12/27)
- any news?? (2/3)

Georgetown VAP, 1-yr, late 19th & full 20th
-Has anyone been contacted for this? (3/17)
-FWIW, I haven't heard anything yet either. (3/18)
-I heard that they made up the shortlist the week of March 3
- rejection letter received (4/14)

Georgia (Lecturer)
-Job listed as 4/4 teaching load, 2 of which must be large surveys
- contacted for phone interview via email (3/7)
- They must not have heard of the 13th Amendment at UGA (3/11)
- Buy me, Georgia, buy me!!!! 4/4 or a 4th year on the job market? No contest...
- Although the ad cannot state so for official purposes, this position is effectively permanently renewable. The salary is also very competitive (better than many t-t jobs out there, some of which also have very high teaching loads). Of course, teaching 4-4 essentially nips an active research agenda in the bud, but it also pays the bills.
- Invitation for on-campus interview (3/28)
- Is that for the lecturer position or the Teaching Fellow? I know they said all applicants for the former would be considered for the latter & was wondering. (4/5)
- My question was: if you are the best person in the search, do you get the crappy 4/4 lectureship or do you get one of the Franklin fellows? If the grand prize winner got a 4/4 and the fellows got reduced teaching loads and more time to actively seek a tenure track job with a more humane teaching load, I would be a might bit upset. (4/8)
- The on-campus interviews are for the lectureship position (4/10)
- Lectureship job offered; acceptance pending formal offer letter (4/24)
- Does anyone know who got this position? (6/23)

Harvard, Kennedy School of Government (US Foreign relations)
- acknowledgment email + AA form (10/30)
- are they looking for historians or people in political science/IR?
- Job talks scheduled mid-December (11/28)
- Have they made an offer yet? Classes at Harvard have resumed. (2/4)
- Any word on who got the job? (2/26)
- Reportedly, offer made in late February and accepted this week (3/11)
- Moshik Temkin, Columbia PhD 2007

John Carroll University (Post-1945 U. S. Social History)
- received email confirming application complete and stating that they will begin to contact interviewees after 11/1 (10/19)
- phone interview 11/21
- to the above poster: phone interview scheduled, or phone interview conducted? (11/23)
- sorry for being vague. I meant phone interview conducted.
- on-campus scheduled for jan. I'm assuming they are not going to the AHA. (12/8)
- when I was on-campus they said they wanted to finish their search by the end of January. Since I have not heard anything I am wondering if anyone else has? (2/2)
- I was told the end of this coming week would be when they would make an offer. Best of luck to you. (2/3)
- offer made and accepted

Illinois-Chicago (physical/land use planning)
- any news? (12/21)

Illinois College
- ack. letter (11/20)
- Hullo? KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK Anybody in there? Hey, is this thing on?
- No, seriously, has anyone heard anything from this school; anything at all? Are they alive?
- Contacted search chair in late November to see if they were still taking apps (I overlooked the ad earlier in the year); chair said they were "just beginning the process" of working through apps
- AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/17)
- Any news on this? I think I've given up, but I'd like some closure, people. On campus? Offers? (1/21)
- Still far too early for offers, as they said they would be bringing people on campus from end of Jan. through Feb. (two searches - see other thread above). Like you, if I don't hear anything in the next day or two I'm giving up hope
- I still haven't heard anything, and I feel the same way as the above poster. One thing to remember is that this SC moved relatively late in scheduling AHA interviews. Unless no one who got/gets an on-campus is posting to the wiki, I expect to hear/see something by the end of this week (1/22)
- Campus visit scheduled last week (1/22)
- what happened with this search? (3/6)
- job offered and accepted (2/27)
- offer made to Jenny Barker-Devine from Iowa State (3/30)

Indiana University, Kokomo (U.S. Open)
- due 1/2/08 (12/8)
- Any news? My god it IS February. (2/11)
- I was wondering about this myself. I guess it's only been a little over a month since the due date, but still. (2/13)
- Received email on 2/8 requesting additional materials. Candidate pool has been narrowed to 5, but no further information offered by SCC. (2/14)
- Received snail mail 3/29 noting that the position is filled, no other details provided (3/30)

Keuka College (U.S. Open)
- ack & AA form received by mail 12/20
- ditto (12/29)
- Has anyone heard anything other than the acknowledgment? Interviews, requests for more info? (2/11)
- Heard nothing from them for months. I assume the job is still open, though; is listed on their website. (2/29)
- I contacted the department yesterday (4/7) regarding the status of the search, but got no response. Job filled? Cancelled search? Your guess is as good as mine.

LaGrange College
- Received letter confirming materials were received. AHA interviews will be scheduled by December 1. (10/26)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/29)
- Creative way to reject candidates - send them a letter on 11/26 (arriving around 11/28) saying that you will schedule AHA interviews by 12/1. I felt like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive (12/7).
- AHA interview scheduled. (12/11)
- Phone interview scheduled (1/7)
- Me too.. Can we just agree that they are about the nicest SC ever? I've been really impressed. (1/8)
- Offer made (3/3)

Loyola Marymount (Civil Rights/Social Justice)
- ack. postcard (11/20)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/29)

Mary Washington (20th century)
- Nov. 30 deadline
- no ack. (after online application), but SC chair confirmed that they will notify AHA interviewees in mid-Dec (12/6)
- AHA interview request, 12/13
- Hired Jess Rigelhaupt, UMich PhD, teaching at UC-Santa Cruz

Miami University (United States Foreign Relations)
- received ack. email with AA
- also received ack. email with AA on 11/5
- received request for book/dissertation
- AHA interview requested (11/28)
- Notification that I wasn't on short list, which was stated to be about a dozen. Some interesting reversals with this one. There was some interest in a phone interview at the beginning of November, but this was then postponed. Not sure if this was just in my case, or if this happened more broadly. (11/29)
- Received same notification, though the possibility of a phone interview was never raised in my case. Disappointing, but I do appreciate the effort to keep candidates informed. (11/29)
- Also received notification that I was not in the short list. Very disappointed as I thought I fitted the profile they were looking for (11/29)
- List drawn up quickly right after AHA. Notifications by email (1/21)
- Apparently State of Ohio has imposed budget restrictions on universities. Would be surprised if this one went to more than a graduate student. Salary likely to be low. (1/21)
- Received snail mail rejection noting that Amanda McVety has accepted the position (2/16).
- McVety was the one-year appointment made last year after the search failed, and was the in-house favorite. (2/16)

Middlebury (politics and foreign relations)
- December 3 deadline
- they made a one-year appointment for this position last year.
- snail mail ack. (11/26)
- anyone heard anything? are they doing AHA? (12/17)
- Yes, they are attending AHA.
- Did anyone get an invite yet? (12/18)
- AHA interview set up (12/18)
- relatively friendly snail mail rej. (1/14)
- I heard they were looking for a 20th c person. Why didn't they say so in their damn call for applicants, then? Wasted my time. (1/20)
- anyone get an on campus interview? (2/5)
-I heard this was an inside search? (2/18)
- Offer made to and accepted by Joyce Mao (2/27)
- UC Berkeley PhD, 2007

Middle Tennessee State University (8 positions - U.S. Survey)
- Ridiculously insane 5/5 teaching load with 35 students per section. Hiring 8 positions with identical teaching loads. This might be the ultimate devaluation of a history PhD. (4/8)
- Unbelievable. they really have 50 sections of each half of the survey listed on their course page. Good to see that Tennessee education lottery money isn't going to waste.

Monmouth College (general U.S.)
- On-campus interview first week of April. Has an offer been made? (4/29)

Montclair State (20th century)
- got an acknowledgment letter saying they would notify about interviews in mid-December.
- ditto, rcvd 10/22
- Any new info on this search? (12/14)
-invitations for phone interviews made last week (2.18)
-anyone actually HAVE a phone interview? Got the invite last month, but no follow-through (3/24)
- grapevine says on-campus interviews start mid-April, no decision until at least the end of the month (4/4)
- rejection received via mail (4/28)
-anyone know what happened with this? Without going into detail, I was exceptionally unimpressed by the lack of professionalism in their handling (or lack thereof) of interviews. (6/27)

Murray State (U.S. South)

New Jersey City University
- rcvd affirmative action/acknowledgment, 11/18
- Why is someone deleting information here? Several of us had posted about requests for phone interviews.

Newman University (Generalist: US History)
- Be warned!!! This place hires and fires tt faculty as if they were one year appointments. I am a former faculty member who made the mistake of taking this job - that they are now hiring. The university has terrible finances and is run by a bunch of clueless administrators. "Tenure track" means nothing - you are on a year-to-year contract and the administration sheds faculty to balance its budget. This place is an absolute nightmare!!!!!
- Can anyone elaborate on this? Is this enough information to turn down an interview? (1/14)

New Jersey Institute of Tech/Rutgers-Newark (Cultural History of Media)
- Any info? (12/22)

Northwestern
- 2 openings: 1 TT assistant, 1 early assoc., open specialization but 1 hire will be US & World
- candidate fishing email sent to top schools (8.1)
- Not only 'top schools' - I got an email soliciting an application, though I am at a large second-tier state school.
- YOU got an email (for you, or do you have students?), or your advisor got an email? Prof. in my dept. (ivy) got email requesting nominations.
- Also hiring a "Borderlands" person; see entry below
- Anyone get an acknowledgment letter on this one? (10/16)
- nothing yet (11/7)
- Nothing here, either. Not exactly holding my breath. (11/7)
- after inquiring with department staff, email confirmation of receipt (11/12)
- Anyone heard anything? Any AA/EEO cards, formal acknowledgments? Or just the sound of silence? (11-20)
- The sound of silence. Nothing at all, not even AA cards (11/20)
- I got an AA card in the mail from them yesterday, but nothing else. They did not even include a letter (11/20)
- apparently they have no intention of going to the AHA.
- Do you know this for sure or are you guessing based on the fact that they haven't responded to anyone? (11/26)
- The dep. doesn't do AHA. (11/26)
- any news on this? 12-9
- request for materials via e-mail (12/14)
- were you contacted for assistant or associate position? US and the world or general US? just curious how they decided to play this one out. (12/15)
- I just received the AA/EEO form today, 12/18, postmarked 12/14. But no other contact.
- Dept. had indicated they are still sifting through hundreds of applications and will get in touch with people in January. Have asked for more material from people as they come up in their sifting. (12/20)
- Which applications are they still sifting? US & World, Borderlands, or both? (12/20)
- not Borderlands. This is for the ad that specified two positions, one in US and one in US&World. borderllands was a different ad, and that SC has made campus invite/s (12/20)
- Just received AA card, nothing else (12/26).
- HA HA, did anyone catch the "Insider's Guide to the Job Market" panel where the search committee guy from Northwestern sat there nodding as they droned on about timely notification and transparency as essential elements of the job search? Anyone else think about heckling him? It takes a lot of nerve, or is it complete obliviousness?? (1/6)
- Request for more materials: They want everything, syllabi, teaching evals, full manuscript, other writings, etc. This is my first contact from the committee, so they're on a delayed timeline. (1/10/08)
- Can I ask, are you a US & the world specialist? (1/11).
- I fall into both categories; not sure what box they're putting me in. (1/13)
- Received rejection by mail today (for general 20th c. job), dated 1/4/08 (1/16)
- Same: rejection letter by mail for US & the World job (1/16)
- Job talk scheduled late February (general US 20th century).
- They made an offer to their top candidate, who turned them down for another position; don't know what the status is now (4/11)
- Any news on this one? (4/28)
- Judging from the department website seems the appointment went to Geraldo Cadava, Yale PhD 2008. (7/15)
- No, I'd guess Cadava is the borderlands hire (see below). This search seems to have failed! (7/11)

Nova Southeastern University (Politics, includes Admin component)
- I have no inside info, but I would hazard to guess that this is a straight-up inside job. Job only requires an M.A. Institution has a person already teaching this post and holding the admin job already.

Otterbein College (post-1877)
- Ack letter w/contact release form, AA form, and "position vacancy announcement" received circa Thanksgiving (but dated 10/9). The position announcement, somewhat annoyingly, was different from the AHA website ad, and claimed to require items (like a writing sample) not included in the AHA post. Has anyone heard anything regarding interviews?
- AHA interview arranged (12/8)
- Has anyone heard about campus visits? (1/16)
- Yes, on-campus arranged for January (1/17)
- Grapevine says offer made and accepted (late february sometime)
- Job went to William & Mary PhD who is visiting at south Florida (3/13)

Pitzer College (US-VAP)
- Deadline March 10, 2008 http://www.h-net.org/jobs/display_job.php?jobID=36027
- Has anybody gotten a response?
- Nothing yet. I heard that they weren't actually going to review applications until March 17 (3/24)
- Just heard from one of my references that they contacted her today about my app (4/3)
- Ditto. Anyone have a sense of how many people have moved on to this stage? (4/9)
- Just heard this morning for phone interview on Monday; three slots were available. (4/11)
- They told me there were six interviewees. Also said decision would hopefully be this afternoon, but I haven't heard anything from them. Anyone hear yet? (4/18)
- Nothing here either. That makes two of us (4/19).
- Three now, but this is late on Monday; has someone been offered this job by now, d'you think? (4/21)
- Heard they offered the job to someone (not me!) Friday, and offer was being considered. Looks like they aren't officially telling us no until they have confirmed. (4/22)
- Thanks for the information (it wasn't myself either!). Another one that goes away! [poster of 4/19] 4/22
- Was the job offer accepted? (4/29)
- rejection to "dear applicant" received, 5/14; you know, when you do the extra prep for the phone interview stage, i wish they'd do you the courtesy of using your damn name. i need to get over expecting courtesy, tho'...
- rejection letter received (5/14)

Princeton (US & World)
- The ad says: "Fields of specialization are open (political, intellectual, urban, labor, social, environmental, presidential would be possible areas)."
- Which officious Princeton (?) asshole deleted the discussion here?
- requested dissertation (11/13)
- on-campus interviews (12/5)
- Q: when were the invitations made?
- Q2: When do visits take place?
- A: pre-Christmas break
- Q3: Any offers made? (12/21)
- apparently they're planning to bring in more people (1/7)
- does anybody know where they stand on this? (1/14)
- Offered position to Bradley Simpson, ass. prof at U of Maryland, Baltimore county.

Providence College (19th or 20th century)
- okay, pet peeve time: this ad asks for official grad and undergrad transcripts. Total cost: $15. My response: Bite me. You can have unofficial transcripts until you offer me an interview, and then and only then I'll send you official. Got it?
- I sent them Xeroxes of my own copy and said I would request "official" copies to be sent to them. This, in the past, has always worked fine. School calls for an interview, I "trigger" the official transcript requests (my case? 28.00 since I got three degrees from three different schools). I'm in a tt and had 3 other offers that year, no one cared that I didn't send the officials up front in any interview. They assumed the school was slow or never even asked.
- that's a brilliant way to make the system work for you. Excellent. (10/12)
- I've been told that last time PCollege did a search they asked their finalists for a personal statement of faith before making the decision. Has anyone else heard anything like this? My source (my advisor) isn't that reliable.
- I had to do something like that at Baylor a while back. It was after the AHA interview. They must have liked me, but then they asked me for a statement of faith. I was honest, and never heard from them again.
- anyone get an acknowledgment? or are we just supposed to take it on faith that they got the materials?
- no, and yes (I guess) (11/2)
- ack received, requesting official transcripts. I SENT THEM ALREADY ONCE, and now I have to waste another set on you people???? (11/3)
- could contact them to confirm what's in your file before sending again (11/4)
- okay, I'm the person who posted first on this pet peeve at Providence, and I haven't posted since; but I just got a letter from Providence College insisting I send official grad and undergrad transcripts or my application could not be considered. I'm so angry right now, and I know it's because A. I'm powerless in this situation and B. this is all so unnecessary. An SC insisting on official transcripts merely to be entered into consideration is putting an unnecessary expense upon the shoulders of those who can least afford it. Imagine 80 applicants @ $10 each, both exceptionally conservative estimates. That's $800 extracted from the pockets of grad students, adjuncts, and junior faculty, and transferred to institutions. Now imagine that the same SC accepted unofficial transcripts until the shortlist of 10 applicants came out; 10 @ $10 is $100. So this SC at Providence is extracting an excess $700 from those least able to pay it, and for no reason. Who will stop the madness? There is no need for this; simply state applicants should submit unofficial transcripts until the interview stage, when official transcripts will be required. This makes certain that no unqualified applicants apply while minimizing community cost. (11/5)
- My grad school doesn't give grades, just pass/fail. And what on EARTH do they hope to learn from my undergrad transcript??? That I took Astronomy? What use is this to anybody??? (11/7)
- I agree that asking for official transcripts (let alone undergrad ones) with the initial application is ridiculous, but my guess is that this is beyond the SC's control: they're probably dealing with an institution-wide hiring policy that requires official transcripts up front. (11/15)
- Here's the thing: Personally, I don't accept "It's policy" as an adequate defense of a stupid policy. Policy are not handed down from the mountain; they are made by humans, for specific goals, and can be changed by humans when they are not working or working at cross-purposes. I'm aware that I am quite powerless on the job market. About the only powers over the job market I have are reasoned debate and my relative valuation of institutions. I'll state my case here, and hope that schools with stupid policy respect my opinion of their institutions enough to change stupid, wasteful, and destructive policy. Who's with me?(11/16)
- Amen Sister or Brother! (11/21)
- Just remember that we can be one of those forces of change once we are FT TT. We can't forget this inane, expensive, and sometimes demoralizing process! (11/23)
- I'm going to follow the lead of the poster under Whitewater and if no one objects, in a couple of days I'll move this down to its own section in the discussion part. These rants over transcripts take up a lot of room and it might be nice to be able to see at a glance if PC has extended AHA invites, for those who applied.
- Called for AHA interview (12/12)
- Received post-AHA rejection letter (2/4)
- Rejection letter dated 3/15 says there were 238 applications and position is now "filled" (3/21)
- Okay, let's just take stock here - Providence College required official transcripts from all candidates. There were 238 candidates. Now, at minimum (at minimum) let's estimate $10 for each and every one of those candidates to send official transcripts. That's $2,380 at minimum that Providence College extracted from the pockets of those who can least afford it, transferred to their degree institutions - and to what end? When will the madness stop? It certainly won't stop if Providence can continue to receive 238 applicants - but perhaps it may stop if someone chooses to shame the committees who choose this approach.
- I am one of the 238 rejectees. I ignored their demand for official transcripts and sent them unofficial. There was no way I was going to shell out money for Providence College. I mean, it's PROVIDENCE COLLEGE. Whether or not I got rejected because I didn't send official transcripts I don't know. In any case, I got a t-t job elsewhere, at a better place, so I thumb my nose at providence college. So make that $2370 instead of $2380. (4/4)
- I also sent unofficial transcripts, via interfolio. (Unlike some posters, I actually wanted this job very much.) In any case, in my experience a school will contact you if your application is incomplete and they are interested in you. (4/08)
- I am actually an alumnus of Providence College and needed PC transcripts for some of the jobs to which I applied. They were free. Perhaps someone in the PC administration is very naive and thinks that they are free everywhere. (5/15)

Queens University (Ontario) (U.S., post-1920)
- AA last week (11/20)
- has anyone heard anything on this one? (12/18)
- campus visit scheduled for January (12/19)
- has an offer been made yet? (2/9)
- an offer was made. not sure if it's been accepted.

Rockhurst (2 postings - Modern U.S. and World)
- see Early U.S. and World position above
- Has anyone heard who applied for the modern position? Postings above indicate the early U.S. and the world search has progressed to on-campus invitations. (11/14)
- I haven't heard a thing from this school. (12/5)
- Request for phone interview next week (12/6)

Rutgers
- the ad says "a rank-open position in 20th-century U.S. political history, broadly defined." Well, that's clear as mud.
- I think this description of political is meant to stretch the term (as the "new" political history in general has sought to do) outside the boundaries of institutional politics. Thus, an array of informal or formal labor, class, sex, or race-based organizations stand as fully "political."
- Acknowledgment letter received (10/22)
- hey, where'd their ad (which only appeared on the AHA site to begin with) disappear to?
- That is odd. But maybe the deadline was Nov. 1? (11/1)
- Deadline is Nov. 30
- My guess (and it's only a GUESS, people) is that they've been receiving too many applications to handle.
- The ad is back up on the AHA site. Its disappearance was probably just a mistake. (11/6)
- ack. letter (dated 11/2) warns that "it will be several weeks before we get back to you".
- For those who received ack's, how soon after you submitted did you get them? (12/1)
- I got an e-mailed ack. (with the language mentioned above, i.e. "it will be several weeks...") two days after I mailed the application via Priority Mail. (12/2)
- I sent my application the 30th (Friday) and got an email the 4th (Tuesday). I sent it regular mail, but I live 45 mins. away. (12/4)
- Will they be at AHA? Or are they looking for senior people? (12/10)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/19)
- I guess they got my application cuz I got an AHA interview, but I never got any kind of ack.
- I got an ack. letter but no interview request, but I'm grateful for small victories (12/20)
- Initial job talks have been scheduled. (1/18)
- what happened here in the end? (3/5)
- Job talks still ongoing (4/8)

San Francisco State University (post Civil War Cultural and Intellectual)
- ack. letter and AA Form (10/25)
- they promise to decide on AHA shortlist by mid-December.
- received request for AHA interview (12/5)
- rejection letter via mail (12/15)
- ditto in midwest (12/17)
- campus visits scheduled by email (1/10)
- offer has been made (2/22)
- has it been accepted? who's the lucky candidate? (2/26)

San Francisco State (Post-1974 Political)
- Acknowledgment letter and AA form received. Will inform those they wish to interview at AHA by mid-Dec. (11/6)
- any interview requests here given that they seem to be calling ppl. for AHA on the position above this one? (12/5)
- Received rejection letter via snail mail (12/10)
- received an AHA interview request last week (12/12)
- snail mail rejection letter on East Coast (12/12)
- hmm, no AHA scheduled, no rejection ltr either, where's that leave me? anyone else? (12/18)
- any news? (2/26)

Southern Oregon University
- received letter from SC saying it will begin reviewing application materials 10/15/2007 and anticipates completion of initial review by 11/15/2007 (10/13)
- received same as above (10/15)
- this position is to replace Jay Mullen, now emeritus (11/19)
- Called to say they want to interview me at the AHA; details about when and where to follow. (12/3)
- On campus interview scheduled by phone (1/16)

Stanford, Freeman Spogli Institute (US International relations)
- confirmation, anyone?
- nothing. nothing at all.
- AHA interviews scheduled (12/7)
- email request for gender and ethnicity information (12/20)
- sure, Stanford. I have so much spare time that i'll be happy to fill out your dumb EE form two weeks after learning from the wiki that I'm not on your short list. (12/22)
- email rejection; "nearly 100 applicants" (1/14)
- job talk scheduled (1/16)
- any word on how many talks scheduled and who's giving them (assistant profs, graduate students)?
- what was the result of this search? (3/6)
- top candidate received and declined offer (5/10)
- job has been relisted on AHA website (7/15)

SUNY Albany (20th / Public Policy History)
- Does anyone know who this is replacing? It is difficult to tell what they might be looking for. Thanks.
- I'm not certain, but am guessing that this is an ill-conceived rehash of their 2006/07 search for a public historian. I learned from one of the SC members that the public history search tanked because half of the committee decided that public history wasn't a legit field. My guess is they hammered out a new compromise position in public POLICY which, most likely, won't satisfy either camp. (10/12)
- this is a dept. with a looooong history of interdepartmental scuffling. make sure you do some due diligence if you get on campus.
- As far as I know, this is actually a replacement for Charlotte Brooks, who was hired at Baruch/CUNY last year. (10/13)
- Rec'd letter 10/15 acknowledging receipt of materials. Letter also noted that they will not be interviewing at AHA.
- To the person above who noted that the department has a "history of interdepartment scuffling." Could you elaborate a bit? Is the dept. a hideous hellhole where TT folks hide in their offices?
- re:above. all i'm comfortable saying is that some of the (now) older faculty have a history of being contentious and lean toward factionalism. I would not call it a "hideous hellhole," but on campus interviewees should try to suss out the vibe amongst the younger faculty.
- Public history search last year did not tank - David Hochfelder was hired. This is an entirely new search and, as far as I know, is to replace Brooks, as noted above. (11/28)
- Got a phone call identifying me as a "person of interest," then silence... (12/6)
- Dept moved to new building in late November (brilliant decision by U admin) so things were/are chaotic. Call or email to ask about schedule? (1/2)
- I heard through the grapevine that an offer was made last week (2/18)
- The offer has been accepted. (2/23)
- rejection letter received in the mid-west, noted receipt of over 200 applications [this is starting to get ridiculous, grad departments need to scale back admissions for a few years unless they want us all to starve fighting over $2000/class adjunct jobs] (3/10)

Texas A&M University at Kingsville
- I received a phone interview on 11/19. I was told they will work fast to decide (11/21)
- Any word on the on-campus yet? (11/30)

Touro College (U.S. Open)
- A lot of news here. Serioulsy, has anyone heard anything? (2/13)
- I inquired as today as to the status of the search. Received following reply via email: "We recieved over 150 applications and are still reviewing them. The committee should be calling people in the near future for interviews." (2/14)
- I met with one person at AHA. I was scheduled for a phone interview in January, but the committee never called and I have never heard anything else. I think you can assume this place is badly organized and rude. The job is not tenure track.

Tufts University (US and the World)
- Email sent to departments soliciting candidates.
- Email acknowledgment that application was received. (10/15)
- This is one of a number of positions this year where they are soliciting for a full-time tt position a year after making a one-year temporary appointment. (10/24)
- Campus interviews are taking place the week of Nov. 12; short-list of interviewees not yet public (11/7)
- huh??
- the close date for this ad was 11.1. It's one thing to skip AHA, but to be at campus interviews THAT fast? Can anyone confirm? I also wonder, for US & World jobs, how much, if any, overlap there will be with the PolySci/IR crowd. Their process is MUCH earlier. But that's if they want Gov or Security Studies people, not historians. See here: http://irrumormill.blogspot.com/2007/09/fall-rumor-thread-second.html
- This is what's going on- no phone interviews, even; they've gone right to campus interviews. My best information says they're going for policy-oriented historians; that's all I know for the moment. I'll follow up as I can. (11.7)
- All three finalists are diplomatic historians: one is associate level, the other two are assistant level, 4-5 years out of getting their Ph.D.s, both working on modernization & foreign policy. The associate-level prof has worked on Vietnam & FP in the Global South more broadly. (11.10)
- I know someone who received a request for materials from this SC within the last few days, and who does not fit the description of any of these "finalists."
- I wish that person luck; nonetheless, there are three applicants giving talks and meeting faculty and deans and having dinner with the department this week. I daresay that qualifies them as finalists, no quotation marks required. My best guess is that your friend is in a reserve pool (I've been in such a position in the past) in case none of the three finalists work out. (11.12)
- The department will most likely bring in a fourth candidate to interview in the very near future. (11/16)
- I'm curious who these finalists are. Is it considered against the norms of this forum to name names? (11/21)
- Yes, we have not in past until an offer made. Please don't. As a non-tenured jr. faculty member discreetly on the market, naming names could make life really awful.
- Just to make sure: if one had that information, is the ettiquette to post a name when an offer is made, or when an offer is accepted?
- Names only when offer is accepted/search is complete.
- I agree: names are only appropriate when an offer is accepted. (11/28)
- Offer made to and accepted by David Ekbladh. Search is complete; rejection letters are being prepared. (12/12)
- rejection letters "are being prepared"? Woo hoo! I, for one, can't wait (12/13)
- I still haven't received said rejection. Maybe they're preparing it special for us (12-20)
- email rejection says I was on some kind of a short list (I'd had no previous word). Anyone else get this? (12/22)
- I didn't think it was possible to get upset twice about the same job, but the new knowledge that I didn't even get the better of the two rejection letters makes me feel lousy all over again. Long live the wiki! (12/22)
- I see no advantage to being rejected one way or the other. The result is exactly the same: back to square one. (12/26)

Tulane University (Political and Diplomatic)
- Anyone have a take on the AAUP censure? Should we not apply?
- I have no desire to be employed by a place that treats their faculty as such. Plus as a Women's College undergrad I loathe their dismantling of Newcombe. Rest of ya'll can have this one.
- Link to the AAUP report: http://www.aaup.org/NR/rdonlyres/98041E72-D445-42F7-92E4-D2D4325E08CE/0/KatTulane.pdf
- This is easy for me to say, since I got a tt last year, but.... the only way AAUP censure is ever going to have any teeth is if people refuse to apply to censured schools. I also suggest we should avoid applying to the "permanent non-tenure track" type teaching jobs. Again, easy for me to say. But still...
- To add to what already looks like a stellar institutional environment from the AAUP report, there's this I ran across on hnn http://hnn.us/articles/37021.html. Any takes? (10/22)
- Here's my take: tt jobs don't grow on trees; concerning AAUP and Katrina, yes this school sucks but is no different from what the great majority of universities in corporate america would have done; fights within history departments are nothing new, though it's true that this one seemed to get out of hand.
- The history dept. was one of the few depts. to keep their graduate program after Katrina. So dismissals of faculty are unlikely even a few years after Katrina. There is a big rift in the dept that can make it unpleasant for junior faculty. Some older faculty have tried to sabotage third year reviews, tenure cases, and promotions. It can be stressful for the untenured. By the way, the charges of racism in the HNN had merit.
- Any word on whether or not this is a replacement hire? I know they lost some history faculty last year, but I didn't think they lost anyone in this field.
- Anyone received an acknowledgement or anything? (12/7)
- Douglas Brinkley left Tulane for Rice. He was only at Tulane for a short time. So maybe this is his replacement? 12/7
- I haven't heard anything. Do they plan to be at AHA?
- I assumed they would be. I haven't heard anything, either. 12/7
- Just got a phone call offering an AHA interview (12/11)
- Position is not a Brinkley replacement, but rather for a longtime visitor who did WWII and Vietnam. Actually, technically, it's to replace someone who did sexual politics (gay rights), but who left before Katrina. But that doesn't seem to have any bearing. (12/12)
- Any updates on this search? (1/25)
- First candidate visited last Friday already (1/31)
- Someone deleted my post asking why the previous post, about a dean supposedly rejecting the SC's candidates, had been deleted. What is the deal? (2/15)
- Yes, could one of those who helped fix the Whitewater discussion restore the deleted Tulane posts? (2/15)
- I can't fix the post, but I can tell you that the person who deleted it did so from a U of Southern Cal computer. (2/15)
- Thanks for the responses! Folks: let's play nice, alright? We're all in the same boat. (2/15)
- So, who is the unlucky winner? (3/1)

University of California, San Diego (U.S. and the World)
- This is the third year in a row they are advertising this position - anybody know what is going on here?
- I think its probably a combination of things. I know they interviewed a few candidates last year on campus, but I'm not sure if they offered anyone anything. One factor might be the cost of living in the area. San Diego is great, but really really expensive. And I don't think Assistant Professors make a huge amount there. So they might have made an offer and been turned down.
- Oh, come on. The average home price in San Diego is over $500,000, and anywhere near UCSD (say, within a thirty minute drive), it'll be at least $800,000. (That "average" price includes the entire county, which spans a three hour drive.) San Diego is beautiful, but be honest about how far $55,000 will go there. Young professionals struggle in that market, and as a result UCSD has problems with retention, as do many of the UC's. It's not fair to start talking about a housing "slump" when that slump only means that prices have slid from $600000 to $590000.
- Anyone heard from them?
- Yes, email acknowledgment with supplemental form to return. Email was sent about one week after I sent my application from the East Coast. (11/1)
- news? The other UCSD SCs seem to be making more progress (12/5)
- SCC called to request dissertation/publications a few weeks ago, no news since (12/5)
- thanks for the update (12/6)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/13)
- Reportedly, AHA interviews were conducted by ONE person (1/7)
- Can anyone say, failed search - again? (1/14)
- Three candidates will give campus job talks this week and next (1/15)
- Maybe this year they finally know what they want, but buyer beware: this search has failed two years in a row, and last year they had four campus visits. if you are one of the three, good luck, and make sure to get reimbursed! (1/18)
- I believe this search was extremely contentious, as most of these US in the World searches seem to be. (Should they hire a traditional diplomatic historian or "something different"?) They did offer this job to someone last year, but there were complications and the candidate ended up not taking the job.
- The pay scale is posted on the UCSD website. It's in the ballpark of $55K. Can you believe that??
- No, there was a full committee interviewing at the AHA.
- Three candidates gave job talks on campus last week. (2/2)
- Has an offer been made at this point? (2/14)
- An offer has been made; partner hire negotiations ongoing (2/15)
- has the offer been accepted?? (3/6)
- I heard the search failed, yet again (4/12)
- Can anyone confirm this? (4/28)
- It's been relisted on University website. (7/15)

University of California, San Diego (U.S. Urban History)
- Received ack. email back on 10/31 (11/12)
- Request for writing samples 11/16
- Going on job talk in mid-Feb. (2/2)
- Any more news, anyone? (3/1)
- An offer has been made (3/8)
- Offer was accepted (5/6)
- Nancy Kwak, Polytechnic U.

University of Cincinnati (US and the World)
- new link: http://www.artsci.uc.edu/history/openpositions.html
- review starts on Nov. 26, ends on Dec. 16. Will interview at AHA. (11/15)
- email confirmation from SCC that application is complete (11/26)
- AHA interview requested via phone.
- Email rejection (The subject heading, which could be read as either a typo or an ironic statement of sorts, was "you application", 12/18)
- Official word given that four candidates have been invited for on-campus interviews. (1/10)
- Email rejection: "selected a candidate who appears to more closely meet our job match." (1/31)
- Does anyone know who the accepted this position? (2/18)
- still waiting, assumed offer had been made but hadn't heard any more (2/18)
- Candidates have been on campus. If an offer has been made, no official word has been given. I know from other sources that one of the on-campus candidates accepted an offer elsewhere, but any comment I might make on how that has affected the search would be speculative. I will post when I know something more definitive. (2/28)
- Any further information here? (3/6)
- Got a nice email from SC last week saying the position has been filled (3/11)
- Does anyone know who accepted this position? (5/2)
- Stephen R. Porter, University of Chicago

University of Indianapolis (visiting asst. prof., U.S. and the World)
- is this position just waiting for tenure line approval? i ask b/c they wanted a letter of application, c.v., transcripts, teaching portfolio, teaching evaluations, and three letters of recommendation. also interviewing at AHA. All of this for a one-year adjunct position??? (12/8)
- AHA scheduled by email yesterday (12/18)
- Also received via email AHA interview request. (12-18)
- Offer made and accepted (4-10)

UMass Boston (American Public Policy History, 1877 to the Present)
- snail mail ack. of application and "Voluntary Release to Contact References" form (11/06)
- did others receive a Voluntary Release form? (11/07)
- yes, also via snail mail. (11/7)
- received an email to schedule an AHA interview (11/20)
- I also rec'd an email scheduling AHA interview (11/20)
- AHA, huh? I never even got an ack. (11/21)
- I received the ack and "Voluntary Release" today (12/15); not subtle
- I also received the ack and Voluntary Release form today (12/15)
- received this letter 12/17; dumb question: why "not subtle"? (12/18)
- contacted for on campus on 1/11
- any news on this one??
- emailed search chair two weeks ago to inquire as to status of search, no reply as of today. There is a lesson here for all of us when we get into positions of authority, treat your applicants with the courtesy you didn't receive when you were on the market (3/09)
- Hey, I'm still waiting for an acknowledgment that they received my application (3/10)
- heard that the position is filled (3/14)

University of Miami (US & World)
- ack received (11/3)
- received email request for further materials: dissertation, peer-reviewed publications (11/12).
- apparently have made their AHA invites (12/12)
- do you mind saying if this is first hand information? (12/12)
- Received invite for AHA via phone late last week (12/12)
- seems like very few AHA invites were made (1/7)
- If I may ask, how many people were invited to the AHA? (1/13/2008)
- as far as I can tell, no more than 4-5 (1/14)
- what did they decide to do in the end? (2/3)
- received letter stating that department "decided not to hire this year" (2/11)
- received same, after interviewing on campus. Tacky. (2/14)

University of Nevada, Reno (US & the World)
- email ack. of receipt (11/9)
- one of those annoying searches where they want part of the material uploaded online, part of it sent to their office, and the ad doesn't make clear which is which.
- Anyon heard anything lately? (12/7)
- I am ANYON. I heard nothing (12/10)
- Ha. (12/10)
- AHA interview request by phone (12/10)
- Job talks this week (2/5)
- Job talks complete; offer to be made this week (2/11)
- They just posted a VAP with similar job description - failed search? (3/17)
- Yes, that's what I heard from someone in the department. And fyi, this is a 4-4 job. (3/19)
- To be clear, the original t-t job was not a 4-4. It was 2.5-2 (2-2 plus leading a discussion section for the Core class or doing extra advising, etc.). (3/21)
- a new standard for rejection-letter creativity: they convey their gratitude for your interest, tell you how highly they think of your scholarship, say that it would have been a pleasure to work with you, and so on, but never actually reject you...amusing. (4/12)
- Conducting phone interviews for VAP next week. (4/22)

University of North Florida (US and the World)
- I haven't heard anything from them. They were supposed to start screening candidates in early October. Has anybody received a response so far?
- Haven't heard anything myself either and I sent my application also on october 1st (11/15).
- Ditto (11/20)
- AHA interview request by phone
- Haven't heard from them. Have they already scheduled job talks? (1/18)
- Job talks taking place weeks of January 21 and January 28 (1/28)
- Any further news here? (2/15)
- Has any offer been made? (3/23)
- Position filled (4/8)
- Hired Gregory Domber, George Washington PhD, on fellowship at Spogli Institute at Stanford. (4/8)

University of Ottawa
- email of from SC chair asking about French language skills and citizenship status then a few days later a snail mail letter of ack. received (10/29)
- They have moved to on-campus visits; got a phone reject. (1/4/08)
- Does anyone have any news about this? (2/11)

University of Rhode Island
- Any news? (12/17)
- Phone interview conducted this week (1/19)
- Offer made and accepted in early March (3/17)

University of Southern Indiana (2 positions)
- The job ad says "a U.S. social historian, specialization in history of communal societies/utopias desirable, and a U.S. historian, any specialization since the Civil War.
- 10/1 is an early deadline
- recevied a prompt and pleasant (shocker!) letter confirming receipt of materials 10/2
- I wonder how many U.S. social historians specializing in the history of "communal societies/utopias" there are on the market? When I read this description, I imagined some guy who wrote his dissertation on Fourierism seeing the ad and going "YES!" Hope you like southern Indiana.
- "Good luck with your Fourierism!"
- This is pure speculation, but the early app date and the level of specificity makes me think that there's an inside candidate for the soc hist job
- I received an early October ack. letter via snail mail that mentioned a November 15 deadline. This was puzzling, since it was not mentioned in the ad.
- I have restored this information, which someone deleted. PLEASE STOP DELETING THINGS!
- I too had heard this was an inside hire, but I also know of at least two candidates who have either had more materials requested or has an interview scheduled, that latter being a scholar who studies communal societies. (11/23)
- It sounds like they have moved ahead with the 19th c. communal societies job, but is this also the case with the post-Civil War job? (12/14)
- Received rejection letter today (applied for the "any specializations" position) Letter noted that they had made an offer to another candidate who has accepted." (1/09)
- Received rejection letter yesterday (Feb. 2 applied for US social historian). Same information as 1/09 post. (2/3)

University of Waterloo
- Received ack. email. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted sometime in December. (11/12)
- has anyone heard anything? (12/18)
- on-campus interview scheduled. (12/19)
- any news about where the search stands? (2/11)
- Campus visits in progress. (2/12)
- offer made and accepted (2/27)
- Do you know who accepted? (2/28)
- John Sbardellati from UCSB (3/4)

University of Wisconsin, La Crosse (post-1877)
- received ack. letter and AA form from SCC (10/19)
- received request for AHA interview for Jan 4 (11/27)
- rcvd email request for on-campus (1/10)
- offer made (3/1)

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater (post-1945)
- It wasn't in the ad, but can we assume that this is a 4/4 teaching load? (10/18)
- No response from SC on basic app. question. Might just be a function of mid-semester overwork? (10/28)
- No, you cannot assume it is a 4/4 load. But if that's a bad thing, why apply? (10/31)
- I've heard there is flexibility on course load: some faculty teach 4/4, some teach 3/3. The department supports a variety of teaching forums, like team-teaching, online teaching and hybrid teaching, all of which can reduce the teaching load. (11/2)
- As requested on 12/8, I've moved the entire, intact "Whitewater Debacle" discussion to the bottom of the page. Let's see if we can get some actual information about the search here.. (12/16)
- AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/17)
- any news on this one??? (1/31)
- Nothing at all. I really hope they didn't lose the funding as this was my favorite AHA interview. (2/13)
- I emailed the SCC about the status of my application when I got another offer a few weeks back. She wrote back to say I was not on their short list (and did not mention anything about the funding of their serach)(2/20)
- Wonder who got this? For me personally, this is the prize position of the year, taking the title from last year's U of Maine at Farmington post. (3/11)
- snail mail rejection letter, 3/20
- Hired Mark Boulton, Tennessee PhD, visiting instructor at Alabama

University of Wyoming, One-Year VAP position
- received confirmation of completed application, will contact potential candidates by the end of March and conduct phone interviews in early April (3/19)
- phone interview scheduled (3/28)
- so... they give their interviewees a week to come up with two complete syllabi, and then in the phone interview they tell us one of those two actually has to be centered on the Wyoming Constitution and therefore the course you just busted your butt getting out in a week is... unteachable in the form you wrote it in. I know, I know, I'm a job candidate and my time has no value. But how disheartening. And strange.
- That is terrible. Did that mean an automatic disqualification, or did the interview continue? At some point, job candidates need to openly revolt against poor treatment like that.
- no disqual, since all the applicants were in the same boat (I hope they asked for two courses from all of us!), and they were very up-front about having asked for a course that couldn't be taught there in the form they had asked for. Someone calmer and more cogent than I might have said something, but I was pretty much struck speechless. Ergo: post on the wiki later!
- Did they end up making an offer?
- offer made and accepted (5/5)

Wabash College (United States in Global Perspective)
- any word on this one? (12/8)
- AHA interview scheduled yesterday (12/8)
- On-campus scheduled (1/9)
- Ha, they sent me a rejection letter, then another letter dated a week later asking for further materials. I'm taking that as a no, but it's a little nutty. (1/20)

Washington State University
- ack. letter (11/20)
- About a month ago, I posted a question here asking if this was a replacement position (since they seem to have people who cover all of the fields asked for in the ad), but it has been deleted in the last couple of days. I don't think it was a particularly objectionable question, so I don't know why it would be deleted. However, the dairy program at the school makes excellent cheese, so maybe someone wants to keep it all to his/herself. But does anyone know the answer to my question? (11/27)
- I have no answer to your question, but I strongly second your endorsement of their cheese, that stuff is amazing (11/28)
- Hard to say with WSU jobs. They have some people shifting to their other campuses, creating openings in Pullman. Of course, this may be part of the general trend. Students seem to gravitate more and more to 20thC US, so it could easily be an addition. (12/4)
- I, too, am a big fan of the cheese and would like to know more about these WSU searches. I asked if the women's history position was a replacement (below). The question wasn't deleted, but there has been no response.(12/6)
- Email request for AHA interview. (12/14)
- received rejection letter dated 12/20 (12/29) [WSU is to be commended for actually attending to this small courtesy - of 33 applications this is only the 2nd such letter I have received]
- rcvd rejection letter stating they had "almost two hundred applicants"
- Anyone hear about on-campus interviews? (1/21)
- Post-AHA rejection letter received (1/28)
- On-campus invites have been made (but not to me) (2/4)
- Received rejection letter via snail mail; had interviewed at AHA (3/13)

Williams (Political)
- ack. postcard and EE form (11/2).
- SC chair seems like class act.
- agreed, chair seems great; narrowing to 20-25 apps by 11/21; notifying AHA ppl betw. 12/12 and 12/15 (11/13)
- has anyone been asked for a writing sample?
- not me (12/6)
- it is 12/12. Have any AHA people heard?
- AHA interview request by phone (12/12)
- are they done making their AHA invites? (12/14)
- Yes; they've invited their candidates for both positions (12/15)
- Job talk scheduled (1/10)
- Any updates on this search? (2/2)
- Offer accepted (2/19)
- Accepted by whom? (2/19)
- Accepted by Jessica Chapman who is at UCSB (2/22)
- I thought this was a political job? Doesn't she do diplomatic? (3/11)

Worcester State (19th/20th)
- rcvd AA form, employment app, and request for official transcripts 11/5
- ditto re AA form & app, received 10/29 (11/5)
- Anyone hear anything further? (12/11)
- Any news lately? Just tumbleweed? (12/27)
- Hallooooooo, out there! Have they abandoned the search for us? (1/21)
- It seems that way, unless it's an inside hire. Did they interview at AHA? I kept seeing a WSC guy at the computers near the job register, so I assumed he was there interviewing people, but I could be wrong (1/22)
- I too saw a WSC guy at the AHA, but he was there for his own interviews. I'm nosey, so sue me. (2/3)
- Excellent sleuthing! I am still curious about the status of this search, though . . . (2/3)
- Don't know about this search, but they are just now beginning to conduct phone interviews for their Modern Europe search. (2/28)
- Received invitation for phone interview (3/3)
- Received rejection letter (3/28)


Arizona State University (Slavery position)
- Still twiddling thumbs waiting on acknowledgment letter. Considering that interested applicants were expected to send a MASSIVE application packet by Oct 1st (!) the least they could do is send a note. (10/18)
- I received an acknowledgment letter dated 10/3, so you might want to inquire if still "twiddling."
- Thanks for the update...Its going on November so perhaps I will take note from your earlier letter and not expect too much from here on. Thanks (10/27).
- No one has heard anything? Considering the early deadline and massive application package expected I would imagine something would have been heard. (12/4)
- Can they possibly still have done nothing?! And they made us get all that stuff together by Oct. 1! Now they'll probably invite candidates to campus and tell them to show up the next day. (12/12)

Boston College (African & African Diaspora 2 Open Rank Positions)
- Received letter, all documents are in (10/18)
- Received duplicate letter verifying documents were in and added AAEO card. (10/27)
- Any word on this? Is the search even still on going!?!?! (1/11)
- Received rejection letter yesterday. The letter said they had over 700 applicants! (1/23)
- Ditto (2/13)

Cal State Fresno (African American Women's History)
- No longer a joint appointment with Africana Studies, strictly History (11/10)
- I think your information might be faulty. There are some serious politics about this search, and they are looking for something quite specific (11/14).
- Serious politics in a search?! Say it ain't so! I think the information is not faulty, but I suppose it would depend on which horse's mouth one is listening to.(12/3)
- Oh, you are funny. But we all know that some searches are victims of politics more so than others. And I wouldn't have posted this if I didn't have a good source. (12/5)
- i did a phone interview for this position several weeks ago. Has anyone heard anything (1/19)
- Offer made and accepted.

University of Mass Amherst (Afro-Amer Studies)
- Received ack. letter (11/13)
- Any news? (12/7)
- I would imagine its still a bit early since the deadline just now came this past Monday. (12/7)
- Received email alerting me that I have proceeded to the next round in app process; asked to submit written work. (1/9)
- R'cvd rejection ltr. via snail mail (1/18)

Univ of Mass Amherst (AFAM & Civil Rights History)
- AHA interview scheduled by phone. (12/20)
- AHA interview request by email (12/20)
- Invited for on campus interview. (1/18)
- Informed that the search failed. Will be re-advertising the job in late summer. (5/1)

Carnegie Mellon University (AFAM Women's History)
- This is for the position previously held by Tera Hunter. From the looks of the job ad, CMU would now like to hire someone with similar interests as she holds.
- There is some debate about whether they want a 19th or 20th century person to fill the spot.
- Hey, that's not fair; someone edited my comment above, in which I emphasized the irony that CMU was advertising for the EXACT specifications of the person who had just left. I still think it was funnier my way. If you want to add stuff, fine, just don't rewrite my text; I meant what I said.
- I agree. Your original text was clever and funny.
- So far, VERY small pool of applicants (like around 20), but deadline not until Dec. 15. (11/12)
- got email last week saying the got the app and will be reviewing in next few weeks. (1/15)
- Campus visit scheduled.
- Got a rejection letter in the mail last week saying they had made a hire. (4/19)

Central Michigan University
- They've indicated desired subfields as African Diaspora or another field in US history.
- They have also (perhaps more inhouse) been trying to get this position fill permanently for like 3 years. Could be retention issues, the use of one year assistantships, or lack of interest in the area.
- Well, the previous occupant left to take a "dream job" in Africana Studies in a larger city. Before that it was a couple of failed searches. Location has a lot to do with it, I think.
- I'm not quite sure of that; the large city in question was, after all, Detroit, and not everyone would think living there would = "dream job." I think it's more an issue of the market; AfAm scholars are in high demand, compared to a lot of history fields at the moment, and CMU is competing against bigger places for this position. (11/13)
- I don't disagree with anything you've said, except to say that my reference to a "dream job" was a personal reference to the person who left, not a comment on the status/desirability of the job at Wayne State. The person who left was a Detroit native, hence he ultimately wanted to be closer to Detroit. (11/13)
- Phone interview scheduled yesterday (12/12)
- got rejection letter today that said Lane Demas of UC Irvine accepted the position. (3/10)

Fairfield University
- This is for a 19c AFAMist. Also this I believe this is to replace Kevin Dawson now at UNLV (9-10-07)
- Received acknowledgment letter (10/27)
- yeah, Kevin D. left, and good for him. This is not an easy department (Af-Am) to work in.
- I thought that KD was in History and affiliated with the AFAM program? (11/13)
- Kevin is at UNLV now (11/14).
- Is the Fairfield History Department or AFAM Department a difficult place to work? (11/14)
- Emailed received to schedule AHA interview (11/21).
- Since no one answered the penultimate poster's question, I will throw in my 2 cents. I don't know much about the university except that it there are many rich young people who go there. I lived in nearby Westport and found the overbundance of wealth and consumption in both towns to be...well disgusting. I am not sure if one can afford a nice house in the area because it is one of the wealthiest (and therefore expensive) areas in the country, let alone the Northeast. But you will find good supermarkets, Trader Joe's, and more SUVs than you thought possible. (12/13)
- Call came in for campus invite (1/8)
- Anyone else heard back after interviews?
- Contacted by search committee, campus visits have been scheduled [none for me] but are keeping files of other AHA interviewees open (1/11)
- Anyone know who landed this job? (3/16)

Florida Atlantic University
- any aha interviewees heard? (1/15)
- on campus underway (2/27)

Furman University (1 Year VAP)
- any news? (4/15)

Grand Valley State
- Phone interviews scheduled, (12/1)
- On-campus interview scheduled (12/19)
- Rejection letter received (3/4)

Hunter College
- Got a rather generic letter (without name, address and no signature) letting me know my file was complete. Has anyone else noticed that they say the search ends Oct 15th and then on anotehr search they deadline is January '08. I have the feeling this will be a horribly run search demonstrated in their interaction with this position in the public thus far. Horrible indeed! (10/18)
- I am confused. You think it's going to be horrible because of the quality of the acknowledgment letter? (10-21)
- This department is monumentally disorganized and doesn't know how to run a search. In general, they don't go to the AHA and just bring a couple of finalists to campus. If you're not on the short list, don't expect any kind of acknowledgment (including a rejection letter in my experience). 10.22
- As I mentioned above it is more than the letter ,it is everything connected with the search thus far that has required any interaction with the public audience. At this point all I can say is we will see happens, but I certainly won't lose any sleep if I don't hear from them. (10/23)
- I'll second the comment about this department's disorganization. Last year, I had an on-campus interview for a position in the department, in Feb. (mind you, they spread out their on-campus interviews from early Dec. to late Feb.). Non-departmental sources let me know within ten days that someone else had been hired, but as of today, I still have not received a rejection letter, even with that on-campus interview. (11/6)
- I'll third that. I also had an on-campus interview (perhaps for the same job, also in February) and never actually received word of rejection. It also took them a couple months to reimburse me for the flight AND hotel, for which they did not prepay. They're more than a little disorganized. A couple of them also knitted/needlepointed through my job talk; I kid you not.
- request for materials
- ditto, looking to move fast to narrow down "medium list" of candidates (1/30)
- invited for campus interview

Johns Hopkins (20th Century)
- Writing sample requested (12/1)
- AHA interview scheduled 12/13
- Received snail mail rejection, 2/9
- Heard a campus rumor that an offer was made.
- Offer made to a Michigan U. graduate student.

Iowa State University
- Received letter that application was complete
- Any news on this one? (11/27)
- Call from dean last week, asking where letters of recommendation were - drew to his attention that the dept had requested references instead; apparently several other candidates did likewise (12/12)

Louisiana State University
- Got a detailed letter explaining all documents that came in (10/6)
- AHA interview via e-mail (12/6)
- Also received offer for AHA interview (12/6)
- Another brilliant university move. Send the AA requests after interviews have been offered (except to me). (12/10)
- By far this was the worst interview, one of the members decided to get on his pulpit and go off on me for a discussion offered in my dissertation for like 10 mins. On top of that, I was further disappointed to learn an average AFAM History survey pulls in 175 students of which a faculty member will get "1" TA. They added too which I am hoping they were playing and forgot to smile (to add that it was a joke!) that yes they exploit their TAs, which they (meaning teaching assistants) appreciate. Go figure (1/7)
- Campus visit scheduled (1/18)
- Received rejection letter on 3/3 (3/4)

Marquette University
- online app several weeks ago. Still awaiting note indicating file complete.
- I think it's par for the course. I've applied for another position there (in another, related field) and I'm still waiting for acknowledgment. (10/22)
- Received email to schedule AHA interview and submit writing samples (11/28)
- Received call/email to offer on campus invite (1/7)
- Anyone else heard back after interviews?
- According to my post-AHA decline email, There are 4 people left in the race. Good luck to you! (1/12/08)
- Had my interview - very collegial/very very nice. (1/20)

Mississippi State University
- They tried to fill a position here last year. So it should be interesting for this year.
- They actually had two Af-Am positions they were trying to fill. They made one appointment, but the other fell through; hence, the reposting.
- Rejection letter stating hire has been made (12/7).

Morgan State University (African-American Women)
- Their department is undergoing a few changes with the recent young hires in the past two years.
- Could you elaborate?
- has anyone heard anything since the AHA? or know anything? (1/19)
- On campus interviews schedule (2/13)

New York University
- Wasn't there a job listed in American Studies looking for an African-Americanist? I think it was assistant or assisant/associate rank. But the job announcement has disappeared from ASA, HNET, OAH, Chronicle. Anybody know anything?
- I do remember this same job but it might have been early to mid Sept when I did see it. Is it not the one listed on AHA? (10/28)
- looks like a replacement for Adam Green, off to Chicago.
- Any developments? (12/7)
- Short list decided on 12/17, candidates to be contacted shortly.
- Job talks set.

Rowan University
- Received letter verifying all documents were received
- Got an email today confirming that I am among one of 14 candidates to proceed to phone interview with the Search Committee. (10/18)
- Finalized phone interview last week. Be leery of actual teaching load. Told 3-3 (if on an "active" research agenda) and 4-4 if not. In discussion with another candidate learned that they were told it was 2-2 and (alleged) max would be 3-3. All to conclude, they are definitely a teaching school. (10/27)
- Notified that there is a shorter list of 8 candidates now. They'll have 3 to visit the school for a campus interview by at December some time. (11/8)
- Still yet to hear from them after phone interview (conducted in Oct)...did hear that others made it to the short list. Looking rather tacky I must say considering that I am yet to get a "sorry you didn't make the cut" email/or a one line snail mail letter. (11/21)
- Just got AA form via e-mail, with all our e-mails (and some of our names) listed in the "To:"! (12/12)
- Ditto. Insane.
- Rejection letter sent via e-mail & the candidate has been selected. (12/22)

Saint Louis University
- Letter of acknowledgment received (11/15)
- AHA interview offered (11/29)
- On campus interview offered (1/17)
- Anyone heard from SLU? Any offers made? (2/13)
- I've heard that they will be extending offers for this and the borderlands position this week. They may have already done so. (2/13)
- I was informed the first offer would go out now two weeks ago, guess it wasn't me. (2/19)

St. John's University
- Anything received by anyone on the list? Maybe they will acknowledge once all are in. (12/4)
- Replied to my email inquiry today - said they "have begun a series of meetings to decide on candidates for AHA interviews" and will let me know "as soon as we decide on final candidates." (12/7)
- Deadline was last Saturday right? (12/7)
- Received email requesting AHA interview (12/7)
- NOTE: this or a similar position has been interviewed for at the past 3 AHAs
- Received rejection email stating that 70 apps came in, they chose 10 for AHA interviews and should anything change after deciding on the finalists they will keep me apprised. Gee thanks. (12/18)
- Campus visit set up.
- offer accepted

Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas (specialization open)
- Listed on H-Net
- Offer made/accepted

SUNY Oneonta
- Rejection letter received, states committee is no longer accepting applications so candidacy will not be considered. Job announcement contained no deadline. Anyone else planning to apply, I would suggest you call them first. (11/16)
- Had phone interview in Dec. Haven't heard anything yet... (1/23)
- i believe they have completed their on campus visits (2/22)
- rcvd ltr, declared a failed search (3/20)

Syracuse University (Dept Af Am Studies)
- Phone interview requested (via AHA job registry) (1/5)

University of California, San Diego
- This might be the position that Stephanie Smallwood formerly had who left for U of Washington (10-8).
- Received email confirming receipt of application (10/8)
- This is indeed the position once held by Stephanie Smallwood, but the field of specialization is open.
- Email sent inviting submission of available dissertation chapters (11/29)
- Received call to schedule AHA interview (12/2)
- The interviewers seemed very collegial. It was perhaps one of the more laid back interviews. I could only chuckle that they posed the question, "What did you think of Stephanie Smallwood's book" who we all know used to hold this same job. Wonder what would've happened if I said oh it sucked so in my dissertation...LOL(1/7)
- Now that was a very tacky question to ask given Smallwood held this position and got denied tenure. (1/10)
- I see that the other UCSD search has moved to on campus invites; presumably AFAM will/has started already? (1/18)
- Three candidates gave job talks on campus over the last week and a half (2/2)
- no one hired this year (2/22)

University of Michigan
- Additional writing samples requested including entire dissertation. (11/16)
- AHA interview scheduled 12-10 (12-12)
- Campus interviews were conducted in mid-Feb. 2-28.
- Any news on this position? (4/19)

University of Montana-Missoula
- where is this position posted? Have not seen on AHA, H-Net, Chronicle, etc...thanks (9-10-07)
- This position is not a history position. This is a position in Black Studies with a joint appointment in a home department. So it could be history, but it could be something else. An old ad is posted on the U. of Montana HR web page, but the dean told me that a new ad should be posted soon. (9/12)
- Please disregard my post from 9/12. The job has been posted on H-Net and apparently it has been revised because now it is explicitly African-American history. The search is now through the history department, not the dean. (9-26)
- Received e-mail confirming that application was complete. Also informed that semi-finalists will be contacted in early December (11/20).
- Received invite for AHA interview (12/5)
- In my AHA I think I remember the SCC saying they would not be contacting people for visits to their campus until Feb. 2. Is this correct? (1/22)
- At my AHA interview they said that they'd be contacting finalists at the end of January because classes didn't resume until Jan. 22. But I don't remember anything about Feb. 2. (1/23)
- They've invited their three finalists. (2/5)
- offer made and accepted Northwestern ABD 3-9

University of New Orleans
- Just posted 2/21. Tenure-track assistant professor to start August 2008. Maybe somebody just resigned? Will be interviewing at the OAH. (2/24)
- Three finalists have been invited to campus (4/15)

University of North Texas
- AHA interview scheduled via e-mail. (12/5)
- Campus invite scheduled (1/16)

University of Oregon
- Martin Summers had this position at U. of O. This is a very collegial department in my experience. (10/6)
- Got a letter verifying receipt of application (10/2)
- Received e-mail to schedule AHA interview. (12/6)
- Received post-AHA rejection e-mail saying that all on campus visits have been scheduled. Nice e-mail, but a heck of a way to start the semester. (1/15)

University of Oregon (Ethnic Studies)
- Received an email to schedule phone interview (10/18)
- Did anyone else see the email noting the use of video conference? (10/18)
- Had conf with SC. Everyone seemed collegial. (11/1)
- I guess the sound of crickets persist (12/7)
- Rejection received. (12/23)
- Apparently offer extended to candidate already (1/10)

University of San Francisco
- received letter confirming receipt of application and AA form (10/12)
- I had a phone interview for this position back in Nov.
- Did anyone get invited to campus for this one? (1/11).
- Heard through grapevine offer extended/accepted. Not sure if same position or not (1/20)
- Received rejection letter indicating that position has been filled. Anyone know who the lucky person is? (2/1)
- Candace Harrison (Emory University '08) (2/17)

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
- letter confirming receipt of app received
- Received invite for AHA interview. (12/5)
- Call came in this afternoon for an AHA invite (12/6)
- Campus invite scheduled (1/14)
- Very polite rejection letter via snail mail 3/10/08 (3/15)

University of Texas at Arlington
- Letter confirming materials are in. (10/13)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/8)
- Did anybody who interviewed with UTA at the AHA get a timeline for when they will pick their on campus interviews?
- Campus visit scheduled. (1/18)

University of Texas-Pan American
- They appear to be doing a major initiative hiring.(10-8)
- Any word on this one? Who got it? (2-25)
- I haven't heard anything from them. I hear that the administration imposed a deadline for them to make a hire and it passed several weeks ago so I'm just waiting for the rejection letter. Does anyone know about the outcome of this search. (3/5)

Univ of Texas - San Antonio
- Received an email verification that documents were in and word document of AAEO (10/25)
- I heard they were doing phone interviews?
- Hmm an email sent at all?
- Phone interviews two weeks ago, any word on campus invites? 1/18
- never heard back from them (2/28)
- May I vent? I just got a rejection letter from the SCC explaining all the fabulous applicants they had, that they are excited about their hire, but it's tinged with regret about how the great applicants. I'm venting because I had a phone interview in early January and I cannot believe they didn't have the courtesy to inform me that I was not being invited to campus. Is this normal? Do most people not hear anything after a phone or AHA interview unless they ARE called for a campus interview? 4-19.


University of Washington (Ethnic Studies/African-American Studies)
- Received letter confirming receipt of application. (11/7)
- Additional materials, including entire dissertation, requested. (11/16)
- Posts such as this (above, 11/16) suggest that some search committees jump in as applications come in and may even establish short lists before the official deadline. This job was listed on H-NET with a Nov 27 deadline (and that, stated as "review of complete applications will begin" on that date). If this is true about early reviewing, anyone have any good advice about how to determine when to submit applications? If we're setting our own earlier deadlines, what's the best strategy? (11/28)
- Regarding the above post, the due date listed on H-Net is a typo (it actually says Nov. 27, 2006). I first saw the ad on the Chronicle of Higher Ed, which listed the deadline as Nov. 1, 2007. The University of Washington web site also lists the deadline as Nov. 1. So the department did jump right into their stack of applications, but they didn't act before the deadline. (11/28)
- Rejection letter received. (2/21)

Valdosta State University
- Posted in Chronicle and on H-Net
- 19c OR 20c; subfield open
- Invited for phone interview (11/19)
- Campus visit scheduled (1/8)

Virginia Tech (Africana Studies)
- online app no letter sent letting me know that files were received.
- Not advertised too much. Only heard by word of mouth to look on insidehighered.com (10/27)
- Anyone hear anything on this or from them at all?
- Nothing here. The closing date was the 12th. Maybe we will hear something soon.(11/27)
- Received rejection email. (12/6)
- Any info on where they are in process? I haven't received anything from them. (12/11)
- Not a word on this end. Still not even an acknowledgment to say we are reviewing apps. (12/11)

Washington University (Slavery in the Americas - Open Rank Position)
- Letter came in verifying file complete. (9/27)
- In speaking with a friend I have learned that despite Oct 1st deadline they are still fishing to encourage people to apply. Should be a rather interesting search to say the least. (10/18)
- Made the short list. If I make the second round of review, I'll be interviewed by the SC at the AHA on 1/4/08. (11/5)
- Also made short list, invited to submit parts of dissertation/manuscript (11/5)
- Received email for AHA interview (12/7)
- Rather difficult interview, but knowing it was open rank I did the best I could (1/7)
- Received invite for a campus visit (1/7)
- Position offered and accepted (2/18)

Williams (20th C.)
- They kindly sent a letter notifying me that my app submission had been received (9-27)
- AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/13)
- They've held on campus interviews. (2/5)
- Received rejection letter. Not the kind of letter I'd hoped to get on Valentine's Day. (2/14)
- Does anyone know who accepted the position? (2/14)
- According to the Williams catalog, it was accepted by Leslie Brown, asst. prof. at Washington University

Williams (Africana Studies)
- They also have an Africana Studies position that is open field/open rank that may be of interest to people (9-10-07)
- Anyone contacted at all!?!? (1/11)
- Position offered and accepted (1/17)



Brown University (open rank)
- received ack. letter 10/31
- anyone ever hear anything else about this one? (2/16)
-not a peep, and I've been wondering, too (2/18)
-Four finalists have been invited to campus. They are all mid-career to senior scholars with multiple books. (2/27)

Cal State Fresno (see Af Am above)

Central Michigan University
- Dept debating/voting on shortlist this week. (12/3)
- anybody hear anything yet? (12/8)
- Secondhand: planning AHA interviews, calling shortlist soon (12/10)
- AHA interview scheduled via phone call (12/10)
- any updates on campus interviews? (1/24)
- On-campus scheduled (1/24)
- on-campus scheduled (3/11)
- rejection letter received; letter states position accepted by Tara McCarthy of Canisus College (4/28)

Denison University (see 20th century, above)

Hollins University (open rank, pref. to non-U.S.)
- Interviewed at AHA
- Any signs of life here post-AHA?

Louisiana State University
- Received letter of confirmation from SC Chair stating they were looking to interview at people at the AHA.(10-9)
- Confirmation letter from SC chair stated that they will interview approximately ten people at the AHA. (11/4)
- req for writing sample 11/21
- AHA invite (12/4)
- Had gotten request for manuscript earlier - 15 made this initial cut - 6 will be interviewed at AHA. SC sent lovely rejection letter. (12/14)
- To the above poster, thanks so much!! This is great info. Best of luck on your job search. (12/14)
- offer made and accepted.

Morgan State University (see Af Am above)

Ohio State University (tenure-eligible assistant or associate)
- req for writing sample 11/21
- any word on AHA interviews?
- AHA invite 12/9
- Three campus visits scheduled(1/20)

SUNY Binghamton (open rank, 19th or 20th centuries)
- Does anyone know about this one??? What are they looking for? (10/28)
- The AHA site said SUNY B was on the AAUP list of censured institutions, but when I looked on AAUP's site, I could not find anything about this school. Does anyone have any more information about this? (11/5)
- In re AAUP censure: I looked this up on the AAUP's website when the job was first posted, and it seems to be a censure from the late 1970s. AFAIK, the SUNY administration hit some financial hard times and laid off tenured profs. I don't think it's a current ongoing issue, but I could be wrong. If you Google it, you should be able to pull up the AAUP report. (11/6)
- Is this to replace Kathyrn Sklar? Didn't they fail a search last year? Why? (11/7)
- It appears from the website that Kitty Sklar is still at Binghamton. (11/8)
- My one degree of separation info says it is to replace Sklar who will retire? at the end of the year (11/11)
- AHA interview request made by email on 12/5. (12/6)
- rejection received via email (12/11)
- post AHA-interview rejection email received on 1/14. Oddly worded, but that's what you get when academics do HR duties under a time crunch. (1/18)

University of Connecticut (advanced assistant or higher)
- Campus Interviews Scheduled (11/4)
- is this for the WS/history (post/colonial, joint-appointed) job or the women's history job? (11/7)
- is there any more information about the status of this search? According to the women's studies wiki, the joint WS/Hist search ended without anyone being hired. Does anyone know about the status of the open rank U.S. women's/gender history search? (12/14)
- just received rejection letter in the mail, dated 12/20. Says they have chosen interviewees (12/26).

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- does anybody have any scoop here? (12/8)

University of Memphis (Gender, Family and Childhood)
- This job is to replace Joseph Hawes, right?
- Email to arrange AHA interview (11/30)
- Any word on on-campus? (1/21)
- on-campus invite received (1/23)
- Reply to original question: Yes, this is to replace Hawes; he retired in Dec. 2007. On campus visits were held about two weeks ago, with the top three candidates invited. (2/29)
- offer accepted (3/4)

Washington State (18th or 19th)
- Does anyone know if they are looking for someone with a western focus or not? (10/15)
- Received letter acknowledging application with AA form. (10/23)
- Does anyone know if this is a replacement position? (11/19)
- AHA invite (12/8)
- AHA interview. Anyone heard about on-campus interviews?
- Nothing yet. (1/11)
- Campus invite. (1/14)
- Has anyone received a rejection letter or email? I've heard nothing. (1/17)
- Nothing since the AHA. Am I wrong to assume the worst? (1/17)
- Don't know. Anyone else with an invite or a rejection yet? (1/17)
- I am also in the interviewed, but have heard nothing pile. (1/17)
- me too. but will likely email them this week for an upate on my status. (1/21)
- how many of us are there who interviewed at the AHA and have not heard back? I'll be #1 (1/21)
- I am #2. I am wondering if invites have gone out to the top three, but they are holding on to the rest of us just in case those don't work out. Or have the campus invites actually gone out? With the way this wiki has worked lately, I'm just not sure. (1/21)
- I am #3 (1/24)
- I am #4 (1/24)
- I am #5 (1/25)
- Finalists have been selected and they are in the process of campus visits (1/26)
- Any word if the same has been done for the Post-1920 search (see above)? (1/26)
- Any word if they intend to notify the rest of us that they have moved on? I, for one, would
appreciate a rejection notice. (1/31)
- Given the comically disorganized way they ran the interview process at AHA (not scheduling enough time for their own trips to the toilet, and the amusingly different professional dress standards of the interviewers) I'm not holding my breath for these clowns to let us know what the status of the search is (2/13)
- Personally, I found it strange that a WSU graduate student attended the interview but didn't ask questions. It was as if she was using the experience to prepare for her own AHA interview one day. Didn't seem very professional to me. I've stopped expecting professionalism and am seriously considering not participating in this process again. I have an Ivy League MA, a Ph.D. from a top school in my field, an article published, and a book contract. (2/15)
- Who ended up taking this position? Just curious. (3/8)
- Did anyone here get a campus interview with WSU? Just curious if they did, indeed make campus invites or if the search derailed. (3/13)
- Yes, campus interviews did take place. An offer was made. Don't know if it was accepted. (3/22)
- Did anyone ever get a rejection letter after the AHA? I never have. Just rude. (5/2)
- No, and I agree that it is rude, but these things are often more of a f-up than a f-off (5/3)


Fairfield University (Env. / (environmental economics, policy, history, or sociology and anthropology))
- This is a position for a senior scholar.

Fitchburg State (cultural geography / env.)
- Had phone interview on April 30

Fordham (North American Env./ 2-year)
- Hired Steven Stoll

Colorado State University (Env. / Non-U.S.)
- wow, anyone noticing a non-u.s. theme this year?
- why is it that these non-U.S. positions are posted on the U.S. wiki?
- good question (10/24)
- Yes, that is a good point. I think it stems from the fact that there are a bunch of US enviros looking for jobs, but the only jobs this season are non-US. So these jobs are posted here rather . . . wistfully. Plus, there's the phenomenon that many of these SC's are asking for non-US, but there are mostly US enviro candidates available, so a few of these SC are most likely going to have to settle for a US enviro candidate.
- That they might hire an Americanist seems like wishful thinking (especially in this case - since they have a full cohort of US enviros). They are looking to broaden their offerings, so I would guess that they won't be "settling" unless someone who has world or comparative projects/experience is "settling." Three (and perhaps 1/2 with Yale) does not make a trend, but it is disheartening to see how few Envir jobs there are this year. (12/4)
- On-campus interview scheduled (1/22)

Georgetown University (Env. / Non U.S.)
- received ack. letter from search committee (letter dated 11/13)

Gettysburg College (Enviro Humanities)
-Did anyone hear anything from this school? Even a rejection? (2/12)
- rejected via snail mail, 3/17

Hamilton College (Env Politics)
- email ack. (12/8)
- I'm going to go ahead and offer a hypothesis that this search failed; here's the original ad http://www.h-net.msu.edu/jobs/display_job.php?jobID=35049 , and then here's a new ad for a one-year position with a more-or-less identical description posted Feb 15 with a March 7 deadline: http://www.hamilton.edu/college/personnel/jobs.html?mode=Details&ID=613
- anyone know for certain if this search did fail?

Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs College (History of Life Sciences)
- http://www.lymanbriggs.msu.edu/employment/hps-life-sciences.html

Mississippi State University (antebellum US w/ environmental, rural, or ag)
- deadline has been extended.
- SC broadly conceives thematic boundaries of ag, rural, and environmental history.
- if interested, send cover letter and cv to dept. head.
- full job ad: http://www.oah.org/announce/jobs.html#Anchor-Mississippi-8762 (2/6)
- Offer extended (and accepted)

Nipissing University, Canada (Canadian Environmental History)
- http://www.nipissingu.ca/hr/hr_employment_faculty.asp

Northland College, WI (environmental history)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/19)
- Got an interview while at the AHA. Really nice people. (1/5)
- Anyone hear about campus interviews yet? (1/9)
- Email from human resources informing me of "semi-finalist" status; must fax back form allowing them to contact my references. (2/1)
- Me too. Does "semi-finalist" mean short list or not-so-long list or??? (2/3)
- No idea! If you ask or find out, please post! (2/4)
- I wish those of you with campus interviews the very best of luck. I must admit, I wish it were me. Sounds like the program is moving in a very exciting direction. Go show them what env. historians can DO! Make this corner of the world a little better.
- Does anyone HAVE campus interviews? I too got the "semifinalist" email, faxed the stuff back... have heard nothing...??? (2/11)
- I have a feeling they may be checking references first, then doing on-campus interviews (?). Also found out that their HR person has been on vacation Feb 2-11; they're probably not thinking about starting anything up again until today. (2/11)
- I randomly spoke to one of my references yesterday, and thought about the above poster's comment. My reference said he had not heard anything. Oh, well. Please post news! (2/13)
- One of my references was called yesterday (2/13). My reference thought they would be making a decision as to campus interviews in the next couple days. (2/14)
- I have still heard nothing, nor, as far as I know, have my references. Anyone have any new info? I am the "semifinalist" who posted on 2/11. (2/21)
- Contacted for on-campus interview (2/21)
- Me too (2/21)
- Job offered by phone (3/27). Will accept when I receive hard copy of offer. Female American Studies grad, University of Iowa '08.

Northwestern University (Borderlands)
- also hiring 2 20th-century positions; see above
- So here we are, approaching a month after the deadline. Has anyone heard anything on this position or the other 2 listed under 20th century? (10/29)
- nope (10/29)
- Northwestern generally does not do AHA interviews [just bring a few in for on-campus], so their timing may be different than other schools. (11/8)
- I know of one applicant who received a request for additional materials. I've also heard unsubstantiated gossip that even though the listing is rather broad, they are mainly interested in the southwest and US/Mexico borderlands.
- Campus visit scheduled for January (12/5)
- Job offered (1/24)
- and accepted

Oberlin College (transnational enviro history)
- this looks like an inside search (12/12)
- Last minute AHA interviews were conducted (1/3)
- Hired Sam White- Columbia Univ. PhD

Oregon State University
- 2 positions: Endowed Chair in History of Science; and American West
- Received letter from dept. acknowledging receipt of materials (Am West position) (10/5)
- Can you tell us how soon your acknowledgement came after you sent your app? (10/22)
- I mailed it 9/18/07 (10/22)
- Thanks!! (10/22)
- Additional materials requested 11/16 (11/17)
- received AHA interview request via email (12/5)
- AHA request is for Science or West position? Thanks! (12/6)
- sorry; American West. (12/6)
- I didn't get ANY acknowledgement... anyone else the same? Are they just ignoring me? (12/11)
- I received NO acknowledgment as well. You're not alone. (12/11)
- snail-mail rejection received; hey, I guess they DID get my application after all! (12-22)
- on-campus interviews scheduled (1/11)
- offer made and accepted (2/29)
- can you tell us who? I'm assuming this is Am. West position? (3/1)
- According to the Oregon State online schedule of courses, Steven Shay is teaching history of the American West in the fall. Since Shay is currently an adjunct there, does this mean that it was an inside hire all along? (4/14)
- No, not an inside hire. The American West job went to Stacey Smith, Univ. of Wisconsin Ph.D., 2008. They probably haven't updated the course schedule yet. (4/14)

St. Louis University (Borderlands/Trans-Mississsippi West)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/27)
- This is a Jesuit university, right? Do you have to be a priest or at least Catholic? (12/3)
- Of course not. This can't be a serious question; what's the agenda here? Would you ask this question about Creighton, Spring Hill, Loyola?
- I think it's legitimate (I'm not the orig. poster); certainly Spring Hill, Loyola, etc. tend to hire grads of other Catholic U's, Providence College requires a statement of faith before hiring, Notre Dame grilled a friend of mine for 20 min. about his religion... and what's wrong with asking?
- I did my grad work at Washington University in St. Louis for a few years, plus some course-work at SLU, and I wouldn't worry. For what it's worth, I have a friend in the department who's an Episcopalian.
- On-campus interview scheduled (1/16)
- offer has been made (2/19)

Texas A&M (American Southwest)
- received ack. letter from SCC (10/19)
- received ack. letter: "Early in November our search committee will meet and I will inform you of your status as soon as possible thereafter." (11.15)
- AHA interview scheduled (11/29)
- received rejection letter (12/3)
- Completely hostile AHA interview. Faculty member whose work I most closely border became more defensive and hostile throughout the interview. Good luck to whoever wants to be that guy's colleague.(1/15)
- offer made and accepted (2/8)

UC Davis (Non-US Enviro)
- received ack. letter from search committee (letter dated 11/16)
- AHA interview scheduled (12/10)
- On-campus scheduled for mid February.

UC Santa Barbara (Enviro Studies)
- 12/3 deadline, email only "to reduce carbon"
- email rejection 2/4, "150 candidates"

University of North Texas (U.S. West / Environmental)
- received ack. letter; the SC will begin reviewing aps "toward the end of November" to decide on AHA interviewees. (11/26)
- AHA interview scheduled via email (12/7)
- Had AHA interview. They were very nice, but unprepared and bordering on unprofessional. It looked as if they were just going through the motions. Any one else get a sense here?
- I agree with above poster that the interview seemed overly casual and not serious (1/9)
- Had a different AHA experience. Interviewers were engaged and interested in what I could bring to the table. (1/15)
- So, what's the status here? I assume on-campus interviews are already underway. I too, had a surprisingly casual and somewhat un-serious AHA interview - inside candidate? (1/31)
- I don't think there is an inside candidate, but one faculty member (not on this search) mentioned that the dept. uses humor to get through tense situations, which they seem to have regularly. Now someone might mock me for that statement, but I don't have any tense situations in my dept. (2/3)
- So, are we all done here? Any word at all...from anyone?
- According to the SC, they flew only two candidates out for interviews. Anyone accept a position out there? (2/12)
- An offer was made an accepted (2/17) FYI, there was no inside candidate.

Williams College (enviro studies)

Yale University (environ history "broadly construed)
- anyone heard anything from here? (11/11)
- received ack 10/8
- does anyone know if they're doing AHA... hell, are there any signs of life???? (12/10)
- there were no AHA interviews and no invitations to campus have been made yet (1/9)
- campus interview scheduled (1/18)
- hey, i just e-e'd the dept sec about somethin' else and she mentioned that this search was still open, up and running. Anyone know anything about this? (3/4)
- pretty sure i received a rejection letter. there have been so many, it's hard to keep up. (3/5)

Indiana University
- received ack. letter from SCC (10/19)
- received request for writing sample (10/31)
- wow, that's fast (the deadline was yesterday) - schools seem to be going through materials early this year (11/2)
- they scheduled AHA last month (12/5)

North Carolina State University (Native American/Public)
- received email from SC acknowledging receipt of materials (10/16)
- received email requesting writing sample and syllabi (11/9)
- received email requesting writing sample and syllabi as well (11/9)
- interview at AHA scheduled (11/27)
- received rejection letter (12/3)
- offered accepted (2/13)

Portland State University



Arizona State (Chicana/o Southwest Borderlands)
- tenured assoc
- "a senior appointment of an outstanding, nationally known scholar"

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- joint with Latino Studies
- I heard that invitation had already gone out. Can anyone verify? (12/1)
- Yes, campus visit scheduled for January (12/3)

University of Texas - San Antonio
- rec'd email re. status of application (I was missing a letter of rec!) (12/3)

University of Massachusetts Boston
- applications due 3/1/08 for 9/1/08 appointment



College of the Holy Cross
- Dept. chair responded relatively quickly to a query regarding submission of rec. letters. (10/11)
- ack. letter (11/1)
- No ack. for me, and I sent in my stuff in early Oct. Gotta follow up, I suppose. (11/7)
- Still no ack. (12/1)
- Dept. chair responded with an acknowledgement letter. mid Nov.
- Anyone hear anything? (12/10)
- I was about to ask you the same question. (12/11)
- Rejection letter in snail mail (12/14)
- Ditto. Wonder what kind of people made the cut? (12/14)
- that's strange: I have received neither rejection letter nor contact regarding an interview. I'm assuming they have contacted the interviewees by now and that my rejection letter is on the way. (12/14)
- I'm in the same boat as the above poster, but since I live in the Midwest, I'm assuming that my rejection letter is still in transit and that those who already received them live closer to Worcester. But it is strange that we've heard from no one who has been contacted for an interview or more material or something. I realize it's probably not a huge applicant pool, and maybe the more successful applicants just happen not to be using this wiki, but no one? (12/14)
- Rejection letter arrived in midwest (12/17) good luck to those left standing....
- mine still hasn't arrived, not sure what to think. Did they mail it to your home or department? (12/17)
- Still waiting to hear - has anyone heard anything positive yet? (12/19)
- Still no word, positive or negative. (12/19)
- After some conversations at the AHA, I got the sense that there were some fairly senior, but non-tenured applicants (people with at least a book contract + several other publications) (1/5)
- I was told that invitations for an on-campus interview (and, presumably, rejections for the less fortunate) would be sent some time around January 15, but I have heard nothing so far. Has anyone received any word, positive or negative? (1/19)
- Still no word from anyone? (1/25)
- Offer accepted (3/2008)



Harvard Business School
- AHA Interview last week (12/14)
- On Campus (1/7)

Baruch College, CUNY
- AHA interview (12/13)
- On Campus (1/7)
- Offer made and accepted (2/22)
- who got this job?
- yes, many people want to know (3/3)
- Brian Murphy, PhD UVA 2008

Princeton
-Deadline May 2.
-Renewable VAP post/s
-'Field of specialization open but with a preference for candidates in U.S. history and for candidates who can teach and advise in both American and non-American fields.
- Has anyone heard anything about this? 5/22
- Not a peep 6/6

Saint Joseph College, CT
- rejection letter arrived in Mid-West dated 2/14 (2/19)

SUNY Plattsburgh (VAP/Lectureship)
- acknowledgment of receipt of application materials (12/1)
- called HR to inquire as to status of search, informed that no decision has been made and search is still active (3/19)

Washburn University (Visiting Lecturer)
- Deadline April 1
- Any news on this job? (5/21)
- Received rejection email stating that position offered and accepted. (6/24)

Can we start the bitching yet?

I'm all for early bitching, but I also wanted to propose something. Last year we talked a lot here about how to get search committees to be more responsive to the situation we (broke, unemployed grads) face, and someone mentioned we are the largest voting block in the AHA. I've been thinking: one of the biggest financial challenges any of us faces is paying for the plane tix to the AHA (esp. folks on the 'wrong' side of the country in a given year) when we often get stuck buying them last minute. What if we asked for a resolution that all s.c.s interviewing at the AHA must notify interviewees by some set date, say, December 10th? This would be reasonable as a request, since all it would mean is that the handful of s.c.s that don't get their act in gear will have to move faster, but might give interviewees time to buy cheaper tix, as well as all of us a better idea, sooner, of whether or not we have interviews by a set date. What does everyone think?

I was the person who suggested this at the AHA Grad Student "meeting" and I proposed it on here. I am all for doing that and would gladly do whatever it took to get that resolution on the table. I imagine a good number of faculty would support it, as it would give them a reason to fight against their institution's policies (if they believe that they are lacking). Anyone interested in this, e-mail to AHAGradResolution@gmail.com
- Well, looks like no one else cares as no one has sent an e-mail. Look for the resolution in January in DC and come to the business meeting to vote.

The problem is that too many search committees are at the mercy of college administrations that fail to grant approval to interview, or spend their time micromanaging the issue of which candidates are on the list. I have seen plenty of cases where the committe would love to have called its dozen or so interviewees, only to have a dean or provost sit on the list for a month and quibble with the committee's choices.

Even still, it seems that a SC could notify those who didn't make the cut and those who will be interviewed (pending approval from the administration).

Do you think that having a resolution come down from the AHA might give those committees some leverage with their administrations? It would be something they could point to that they had to meet.
I am not sure to many administrators would really care. They are under pressure to hire affirmative action candidates, and that pressure is greater than any that could come from the AHA. I'm not actually sure what affirmative action candidates have to do with a Dec. 10th notification deadline. ?? This is perhaps a different axe to grind?

Can I bitch about something else? I think that I'd like to work on the mechanics of the site while everyone else talks about the politics of the site. I think that one thing that annoyed me about last years' site was the difficulty of conveying the message that the speaker had changed. Last year's solution was to change font in between postings to indicate that the person on the other end of the keyboard had changed. I felt that this was les than optimal, resulting in some really confused font changes. I'd be interested in exploring other options; for example, in this section, we seem to have adopted the convention of changing speakers every paragraph, unless I'm confused. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Options (such as adopting a common symbol ! @ # $ % ^ & * in between sentences to indicate a change in speaker.) New speaker: Something half way between a wiki and a blog with nested comments would be ideal. I.e., a wiki that allows "comments" formatting, with indents etc. Anyone know if such a thing exists?

At what point will smaller schools realize that there are so few historians of "pre-modern China" and "Islam in Early America" coming out of grad school that they will never be able to fill all of these lines? The Chronicle "Job Bomb" that came out on 9/3/07 is disturbing. At least half of these lines will be converted to one-year lectureships in US History or they will go back to the Dean.

I agree that the mechanics of this page need to be updated. Ideally there could be a system that indicated new postings and had a date/time stamp. Perhaps this could work like the comment function on blogs. Otherwise I'd accept the system of common symbols. Is there anyone technologically proficient to implement this? Or is it impossible under this current website? In the latter case, maybe this page should be moved.

How about we at least divide up this comment section into... (9/18)

Is it just me or is applying for jobs, postdocs, etc and virtually trying to get a hold of an academic career EXPENSIVE? I can't believe that in order to avoid the "what if" fear that perhaps my apps got lost in the mail the cost incurred thus far. I paid for priority/deliv confirmation on all of my job packages. So that is 5 at minimum a pop and then using an online dossier system to mail recommendations is another 5 dollars PER mailing. Lest we forget those schools who feel the need to require transcripts and having gone to two diff grad schools that is 9 PER transcript for one school and 5 for another. This doling of money before the AHA could really be its own section!!! Argh (10-1)

- I agree it is expensive. But if you are using Interfolio, send an official transcript to them. You can send it with your package and only pay once. Be sure to title the document "Official Transcript."

Note, though, that transcripts from Interfolio are still not considered "official." It notes that in the FAQ section. It is only official if it comes from the registrar, so you may have the same issues with committees anyway.

- How many times a day do you refresh this page? I think I'm up to 10+. I'm even having dreams about search committees. (12/11)
- I dare not even consider how many times I go for a "quick peek." I find pathetic for me is when last night I go to check the page (for the upteenth time) and found the whole darn wiki job search site GONE. You would think the world had come to an end! Interesting state to be in when academic news has become more important than local/world news. (12/11)
- oh dear - I'm afraid I'm the same way as well.(12/11)
- I too have become a job wiki addict. Have been on the hunt for a few years now and must say that, although the wiki can be misleading and sometimes downright wrong, it does somehow make me feel better about this remarkably frustrating process. It's good to move among a community of similarly frustrated/angry/hopeful folks now and again; it makes the hunt less lonely. And, really, where can you find a more honest representation of the personalities assembled in first-life academe (including the assholes who keep deleting list portions)? More sincerity (unwitting though it may be) here I'd say than in any "improve your chances of getting a job" conference panel I've ever attended. In fact, I'd advise my first-year grad students to sign on just to sample what they're in for-who knows, might thin out the competition... (12/11)
- I am very pathetic. I've also started trying to second guess what is going on on the jobs where I have not been called for an interview, others have, and some others have received rejection letters and I have not. I guess that is either a trick of the mail or means I'm on some sort of second-string list. But it keeps me checking regularly! (12/12)
- How likely do you think it is that anyone else will receive an interview request a substantial length of time after the first candidates have been contacted. I had assumed that it was very unlikely, and have been crossing all of the postings where someone has reported getting an interview off my list, but the other day a friend of mine who was on a job committee last year said that they called people in two groups over a week apart. Is that just a bizarre anomaly, or does it happen regularly? (12/12)
- Wow. I didn't know Search Committees ever operated that way - but then I've not yet been on a Search Committee. I've always thought of myself as fairly grounded but this waiting game is... difficult to say the least.
- I hadn't thought the SC would go to those lengths as well. At this point, those that I know I have sent apps in months ago with no response at all I have discounted them in my waiting game. I suppose part of it is to keep some semblance of sanity so I won't stress that I have not heard from a certain school. This page has saved me in a lot ways if anything to keep me informed but also to give me quick splash of reality to get back into gear with finishing! (12/13)
- I was contacted by a search committee for an interview almost 2 weeks after someone had posted they received and interview request. (12/13)
- As an insider on a committee I wouldn't read too much into this. It's the end of the semester for the committees too, and things are nuts. Here's a scenario: The department meets right after Thanksgiving to pick folks for the AHA. They settle on most, but not all of the short list, and decide to finish things up the following Tuesday. Tuesday morning the SC chair gets in a bike accident, and is in the ER that day. So let's try next Tuesday. Wait, that's finals week. Along the way you have to decide whether to notify the first group or not, and it's hard to come up with a good reason not to.

-What do you all think is an average number of AHA interviews? Obviously there is variance among specialties, but I wonder what you personally consider a "good year" for your field? And oh yes, what is your field?

- Okay, I was wondering the same thing. I have six (early US). (12/18)
- I have 0, down from three last year. Modern US (12/18)
-I have 4 (early US). Vita-wise, my PhD is from a large public university. I have a lot of teaching experience and a few conference presentations. I consider this a good year. Incidentally, congrats to the first poster (early US with 6 interviews). I would dance the jig if I were you considering the low number of early American jobs this round. (12/18)
- I have 2, both slightly outside my fields (20th C US and US and the World). I think the market is worse than ever, and I'd like the AHA to stop publishing nonsense about how the market is improving. It is not. (12/18)
- I have two, though one is for a visiting position; approx. 50 applications sent thus far
- I have 1, and consider myself lucky (I'm 20th-cen US), altho' with hotel/flight costs it is the most expensive job interview ever. I think fondly of those schools that have switched to phone interviews...
- Hooray, I have zero! (19c US) That means I don't have to go to the trouble or expense to prepare for an interview and travel to Washington. I'm so lucky! I feel sorry for the rest of you who have interviews. (12/19)
- I have 2 (modern U.S.), and completely concur with the above poster regarding the AHA's ridiculous claims about the market being great. (12/19)
- I have 7 (19c US) and sent 42 applications
- I have 4 (20c US/race) and sent out 35-ish AHA-able apps
- I have 6 interviews (also 20c US/race) I sent out an insane number of aps. In some ways I feel that I was very lucky be on the market when it was so good for my field. When I walk around the AHA I will be thinking of all of my wiki friends ..since all I do is write & research and have no others ;)
- I have 10 interviews (19thc US), and a few non-AHA interviews out of 34 apps.
- I have 9 AHA interviews (19th c US) and some phone interviews
- Another all nighter tryin' to get it done, barely make it home with the morning sun, baby mother thinking that you on some other shit: Oh what a job this is. (12/21)

- I was wondering, to make this section a little useful, if people would not mind adding the basics of their vita (#/type of pubs, teaching exp., etc.) along with the number of interviews they received? (12/22)
- I have 2 (19c US), top 25 grad school, couple crappy pubs, lots o' teaching exp.
- I have 7 (AFAM), at university somewhere in the top 50 (whatever that means), ency/book reviews/article under review, and only TA experience. Applied for close to 20 jobs.

- I have 3 (AFAM), Top 25 Program, book under contract, five peer-reviewed articles, and teaching experience at several schools. I do not fit the criteria for an opportunity hire.

- I had 0, down from 2 last year. I thought it would be a good year for post Civil War, West, and Women because there were a lot of early postings, but in the end I applied for about 10 fewer jobs than last year! I agree with poster about AHA inflated claims about job market. (1/12)

- I had 4, plus one phone, for a total of 5 (early America, top 5 grad program). OK, joke's over, can I please have the last 10 years of my life back so I can go to medical school instead? (1/13)
- I had 4, plus one phone, and one at ASA, for a total of 6 (20th-c. U.S. (not race), no book contract, one article). (1/13)

- Okay, here's another pet peeve. I think we have all grown accustomed to general neglect and lack of transparency from SCs. But it really bugs me that SCs that request writing samples, sometimes entire dissertations, in making a short list, don't bother to let candidates know that they won't be interviewing them at the AHA. You would think that it's easier so write a rejection note to four-five people, as opposed to 100-200. I shouldn't have to find out from the wiki that my presence won't be required at the AHA. (12/26)

- Second. Here's my proposal to SC's: An SC Blog. You don't like the wiki? Well, we wouldn't have to have a wiki if you kept your applicants informed. Do it at no cost with an official SC blog. Post answers to queries about the job ad, post dates of SC meetings, post dates that AHA interview requests were made, yadda yadda. It's simple. (12/28)

- Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. (Not that SCs are the devil.) Doing such a thing is not altogether simple since many state universities have to abide by very specific hiring instructions. Beyond that, why should SCs take up limited time relaying information to people they don't want to hire? Besides that, don't SCs have the right to keep their cards close to the vest? This is my fourth time around on the job market and I know it is painful not knowing, but such is life. (12/28)

- Okay, let's assume that your devil's advocate argument stands: That SC's hands are tied, and it is not in their best interest to provide information. Given that position by SCs, there is absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing, that SC's can say in criticism of the wiki. Nothing. Not a word. You say the SC's must take their position; I'm saying that by taking that position, they are inviting the informal information-sharing of the wiki. So, the next time a tenured senior prof complains about those disrespectful younguns on the intertubes, tell them that the SCs created the wiki by their failure to share information. (12/29)

-Regarding the idea of a SC blog, note that someone from the University of Alabama-Huntsville took what I think is an even better (and more simple) approach: posting an update on this wiki. Basically, "We have met and selected finalists." This seems like a GREAT idea to me, if only because department-based comments have a certainty (unless forged, but let's have a modicum of optimism here) that can clarify the process. (1/9)

- The problem with that concept (and I agree completely with the sentiment) is that it could be forged. For an SC blog to work it would need to have a registration function with log-ins, etc. to be viable in my opinion.
- Remember a few weeks ago when someone figured out that the grad students/job seekers were the largest constituency in the AHA? We really should flood their business meeting and vote down any motions or legislation they put forward and continue to do this until the AHA uses its authority to at least try to fix some of the problems with the interview process. Just a thought. Either that or we should have an anonymous wiki meet-up at the bar at the Hilton. Just make it after 6 on Friday so I have time to get back from the LOC.
- yes, but "anonymous wiki meet-up at the bar at the Hilton" just sounds so wrong.


- Yesterday, a poster named "historian" commented on the Chronicle of Higher Learning boards that these type of wiki pages might be manipulated by the unscrupulous: "...sometimes, some people posting lie about having been contacted - why? to psych out other interviewees. I found that out from a grad school friend who had a recently hired colleague confess to that. Tight field and he wanted his 'competition' to think they were 'after thoughts.' People aren't always honest." So, first, beware what you read on this page! Second, what a shitty thing to do. Third, it kinda makes you wonder why we should look at this page at all if it's completely unreliable and being utilized this way?!? (10/26)

-Search Committees might ask for interviews in fits and starts. They can consist of a few people who are not always on the same page about their top choices. I really think if you are asked for an interview a week after someone else it should not necessarily be a bad sign.

- Our tribe is full of folks with issues. I would hope that we can all be honest. This profession is to f-ed up as it is to be using subterfuge on a wiki site. (10/28)

- I don't understand what the person "historian" mentioned was trying to accomplish. If you post a false message that you had an interview/notification/offer how does that psyche the rest of us out? We either didn't advance in the pool/get the position, or we did. Does a fake post on a wiki mean that we will resist all communication with the SC going forward? Seems like a counter-productive ploy to me, but whatever makes the person sleep at night I guess. (10/29)

- I guess the thinking is that if he posts that he got an AHA interview on 12/1 and I get contacted for one on 12/7, I might think that I barely made the cut and will therefore feel discouraged about getting the job? Seems pretty ridiculous. Plus, this ploy assumes that he will get an interview - what if he doesn't? He has "psyched" people out for no benefit for himself? (10/30)

- Five years of job searching and I never thought of such an underhanded ploy. I feel deficient. And, to one of the above posters, yes, our profession is f$$$ed up, but find me one that isn't. There are bad (and really weird) apples in every walk of life. Suprising? Hardly. (10/31)

- What's mindblowing is that this guy admitted it. Can you imagine having a colleague tell you he'd pulled this? Would you ever turn your back on him again, esp. if you were both tenure-track? I doubt it actually affected anyone he was competing with, but at least it'll give his current colleagues a heads-up about who they're dealing with!

- I've begun thinking about the opposite possible problem: strategic UNDER-reporting. In other words, you find out some info or get called for an interview and choose not to update the wiki so as to heighten the worries of the general pool. I would guess that there are tons of permanent lurkers on this site - people who check the page but refuse to post for one reason or another (can't be bothered to figure out how to do it, feel better about themselves if they can consider themselves non-participants, etc.). Anyway, welcome back from the long weekend everyone - this week is when things should start to heat up. (11/25)

- Sticking to mere job postings and responses to applicants may cut down on the subterfuge. The incivility which, dare I say, dominates this wiki on some days might prompt someone to post erroneous information as a means of retribution. I don't think academia has any more "bad apples" in it than any other profession, but anonymous on-line communication between competitors for jobs taking swipes at one another might lead one bad academic apple to shake the whole tree down with him/her. For that matter, I know of quite a few people who have not posted job information on this wiki, because they are turned off by the (their words, not mine) paranoia and childishness exhibited in the posts.

- I want to say thanks to everyone who has posted info on AHA interviews and other updates. This page (while addictive in its own way) has made this process a lot less stressful. It is strangely calming to be able to cross jobs off my list; at least now I can stop wondering. (12/12)

- I echo the same sentiments of post above. In fact, perhaps more schools need to be enlightened of the enhanced process (not so idiots can delete pages) but really so they can be aware of their ill-treatment of interested candidates who took time to sit and their computers and create seemingly viable app packages and in many cases paid more than a few dollars for it make in on time. Guess that is something we all need to be mindful of when we are on a SC many moons ahead. (12/13)


- I'm wondering how widespread the usage of Interfolio or other credentials services is? Also, what is the quality of the product that they (mainly Interfolio here) send to SCs? I have to use them in order to distribute one of my letters of rec, but I'm hesitant to scan in my cover letters and have the SCs receive them as some sort of poor-quality photocopy. Send the cover letters and CV separately and everything else through Interfolio?

- I'm using Interfolio only for my letters of rec, my transcripts, and my "teaching portfolio," basically, the things I don't have digital versions of. Everything else I print and send from home. In terms of quality, Interfolio lets you look at .pdfs of the non-confidential materials you send them, so you can see for yourself how things look before you send them out. I noticed that my transcripts look a little dark because of the background color of the original paper. (10/20)

- I am uploading the basic package: cover letter, c.v., letters of rec., transcripts. Everything else I send snail mail. I have no idea if this will help or hurt me. But last year, one of my letter writers failed to get all the letters out. At least this way, i know schools will have the entire package. (10/28)

- I've gotten two tenure track positions using Interfolio. The service isn't perfect. Make sure, for example, that your recommenders send in hard copies on letterhead and with a signature. If an SC likes you, I don't think the asthetic qualities of your materials matter all that much.

- I use Interfolio for all my materials. They sent out an 88-page dossier for me the other day...I think it is a lot easier than printing so much stuff and running to the post office every other day. Plus, I have known that all my letters of rec arrived safely and on time. (11/8)

- I've also used Interfolio for almost all my materials (with the exception of one that I needed to rush to beat a deadline). I've had a number of minor problems with them (especially in the uploading process for reference writers) and my sense is they still have various kinks to work out. One key detail is that their guarantee of next business day shipping only applies if you order the delivery before 11:59 p.m. eastern time. If you order it in the wee hours of Friday morning, it won't go out until Monday (or Tuesday if there is a holiday). The complete lack of customer support outside of M-F 9-5 business hours is also annoying. That said, not having to deal with the copying, packaging, and mailing is frankly wonderful. As far as quality goes, I have no doubt that whatever printers they use are much better than my beat up inkjet. Using a digital signature is weird at first, and probably doesn't look great, but I really doubt I'll miss out on an interview because of how my signature looks. I have no idea why anyone would scan in a cover letter rather than simply uploading the original file (with the digital signature pasted in). So all in all, they've still got kinks to work out, but nonetheless I've found it to be a worthwhile service. (11/13)


- I'm curious what folks think of the dominance of US and/in the World searches this year? I mean this in a non-"snarky" way. Trendiness? Needed field? Random occurance? It seems to have become the search du jour, especially in 20th century. Is this healthy? Problematic? Thoughts? (10/8/07)

- I think it's a combination of factors. Trendiness of "empire" and "transnational" and "globalization" and "atlantic studies" and now "pacific studies" all come to mind. Plus depts get to hire people with multiple competencies: that's more field coverage for a cheaper price. The trendy topics will die down, I suspect, but the grueling market pressures will grind us (we sensitive scholars) forever. Didja see Andrew Delbanco's smart short essay in NYTimes Education section a few weeks on the university qua corporation. Yep!

- It is trendy right now, but U.S. and the World may also be here to stay. People who work in the field argue that it's a needed corrective to the American exceptionalism that's dominated work on U.S. history. They would argue that the transnational aspects of U.S. history have long been overlooked by historians, but need to be taken more seriously as a category of analysis. It's a situation not unlike that of historians of race and gender 25 years ago; searches in gender and AfAm now have their own entries on this page. I think the argument would be that, like race and gender, the transnational needs to be considered in any work on U.S. history. So while it's trendy now, there may also be a push toward adding transnational issues to the race/class/gender trifecta.

- I'm all for complaining about the market; it's my one hobby. But I think using the pejorative "trendy" does a disservice here, not to mention the hyperbolic use of "hegemony". Can't we observe that there are trends in the market, without deriding the decisionmaking that contributes to those trends? Or is employment too touchy of a subject to remain objective about?

- I don't think any of the comments or words above are meant to be complaints or pejorative, though of course tone often doesn't come through well online. Mostly they seem like efforts to reflect on trends and patterns with job searches. Okay, hegemony seems to have been meant tongue-in-cheek. But after all, it is a word often invoked to critique nationalistic, "exceptionalist" US history. The irony with this year's job market is that a field that frequently stakes its claim by invoking its own marginality is emerging as one of the most dominant fields for new positions. Nothing wrong with that, in fact it strikes me there's lots good with that. But it is interesting. What kind of job searches are losing out to US and/in the World and why? What's the difference between US and/in the World and older Diplomatic/Foreign Affairs type specialties (there do seem to be differences, but not always in the way the search announcements are phrased)? These aren't complaints, they're meant as sincere questions. (10/12/07)

- I'm worried about the US/World though - it seems to be a vastly underdefined field. At my university, which is hosting one of the searches, most of the smaller subfields all think that they have a chance to fill a faculty position with this search, thinking that if they have someone studying, say U.S.-Vietnam relations, from the Vietnamese perspective, that will fulfil the criteria. I can't see the US faculty going for this, so I worry that this will be a bloody search.

- As someone who actually works in US/World, let me offer the following. If you study US/Vietnam relations from the Vietnamese perspective, and you know little to nothing about US history, then you are a Vietnamese historian, and are probably not getting a US/World post. Many of these worries (not all, as some responses are well-articulated, reasonable reactions) read as 20th c. people who are just annoyed that there are a lot of jobs that they suddenly can't get in on.

- As one who has a tenure-track job in this subfield, I must admit that I only checked the job listings a few days ago. Still, when I did I don't have any problem telling you that I was absolutely stunned. I've been keeping an eye on the market over the last 8 years, and the number of US in the World jobs this year is incredibly freakish. It's like every other one. I'm at a loss to explain it, although it is curious how many of these "US in the World" jobs go to people whom we would normally regard as regular diplomatic historians, albeit with a greater emphasis on international research. I'll be very interested to see who ends up getting these jobs that span the spectrum of colleges out there (Ivy Leagues to small schools). Best of luck to you all!

- I've wondered about this lately as well. I'm wondering what will happen with less-elite schools that "prefer" US & World. Will they find the talent pool too shallow and turn to other specializations? Or will they punt? (11/5)

- Now that we are a few weeks after AHA, I think the trend is clear. By "US and the World" search committees are just using a vaguer term to describe good old fashioned Diplomatic history - preferably with an "American empire" or third-world twist. Look at the people getting shortlisted, invited and then hired, and you will see for yourselves (1/18)

- This is clear to me too. I do transnational women's and economic history, that includes the United States and several other countries. I've published 5 articles that are comparative or transnational. But nothing from any of the "US and the world" jobs, despite several other interviews. (2/1/08)

- You may very well do what is in your mind a "U.S. and the world" topic, but if you have no experience teaching foreign relations or international history (not just diplomatic) and are not a member of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, then most schools will cast the application aside. It isn't "diplomatic history" they want, but "foreign relations" or "international history" these days, which is something very different. At the same time, just studying reception of American jazz in France, for example, doesn't do a whole lot for those looking for "U.S. and the World"

- The above post strikes me as a lot of hooey, and represents a lot of what is wrong with the profession nowadays. First, the house journal of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations is called DIPLOMATIC HISTORY, if I'm not mistaken, so pray explain how "foreign relations" and "diplomatic history" are "very different" things. And you have a serious problem if you fail to see how the reception of American music in France, to use your example, can be an integral part of America's relationship with the rest of the world. If SCs that put out ads for "US in the World" are just looking for traditional foreign relations people, they should say so. There are already ads for "US Foreign relations" and it is clearer what they want. If "US in the World" means the same thing as "foreign relations", it should disappear as a separate category. Maybe that's why so many of these US in the World searches are failing (2/3)

- The above post indicates that the author is not a member of SHAFR, is not familiar with what is in "Diplomatic History" and does not understand the field. Diplomatic history is seen as state-to-state relations. Foreign relations are the nation-to-nation relations, and can include the cultural interactions (see Akira Iriye). International history situates the nation into the larger world, and is predicated on the scholar having a technical or linguistic expertise that is relevant. Jazz in France is itself interesting and useful. Jazz in France does not explain why the United States is a global hegemon. Students are interested in the latter, not the former, and in the absence of such courses in the history department the poli-sci departments have stepped into the breach (badly).

- To the above poster: what a strange attempt to split hairs: The journal "Diplomatic History" contains all sorts of things, but the field "Diplomatic History" is state-to-state interaction. "Foreign Relations" means nation-to-nation interaction (whatever that means) and includes cultural interactions, yet American music in France does not explain why the US is a hegemon. You are as confused and contradictory as the worst of search committees (and I am currently serving on a search committee!). If you had a degree of sophistication in "understanding the field", as you put it, you would intuit that the popularity of jazz (or hip hop, or rock & roll) in France is precisely an example of the US as a hegemon, and can be integral to studying how American world power works. And the fact that you assume that students are interested only in the US as a "hegemon", and not, for example in comparing the US with other nations, or with understanding how the US has fit into the world historically, shows that while you may be a member of SHAFR, your own understanding of the field is quite meager indeed.
- For splitting hairs, I see you understand the difference between "Diplomatic History" and diplomatic history. As for cultural hegemony, I write this while watching David Beckham highlights, listening to the Beatles and eating Pad Thai. What +is+ cultural hegemony, anyway? Old-school diplo is what one clerk said to another and does not go over well anymore. My students want to know why the Cold War happened and why we're at war now, and anyone teaching "U.S. In the World" gets tasked with answering those questions.

- Having recently returned from an on-campus interview for a US in the World position, I can report that some search committees are in fact interested in scholars who work on the cultural history of non-state actors (i.e. people who study "jazz in France," among other things). (2/5)

- Not to get into the debate above, but I recently gave a job talk for an international/US history job (it went very well, thanks for asking). I am not a member of SHAFR and work on political culture. But it is my impression, too, that the "US in the World" jobs really mean foreign relations, rather narrowly defined. (2/6)

- Two cents on the above discussion: I don't think "diplomatic history," "foreign relations," and "U.S. and the world" are mutually exclusive categories, but evidence of the efforts shafr member-types have made to redefine and revitalize their subfield over the past many years. I do think it is correct to conclude that search committees are, by and large, looking for historians that are trained in that evolving subfield, understand well where it has been and where it is going, and, most importantly, are at the forefront of leading it in one or more of the various new directions in which it is moving. (2/9) ===Ongoing commentary on the AHA
-Is anyone as irate as I am about the AHA registration fees? I am a visiting and just getting by. Why isn't there a special fee for adjuncts and VAPs? I get paid $9,000-10,000 less than my colleagues and teach more classes. Can't we get a break? (11/8)

- Hell, how about a special rate for PhD-and-totally-unemployed? I'm with you on this one! Also, and off the topic a bit, Johns Hopkins just sent all its recent grads a fundraising letter from the dept. saying that their students aren't competitive because they aren't being funded to go to conferences etc. and so could we send in some cash? Yes, I know they aren't competitive; I'm one and I can't find a job, like half the graduates of the *&)^) program! I wonder if they're sending this letter to the professors as well... I wish this damn PROFESSION as a whole would take some notice of those of us who got spat out and now are just scrabbling to survive.

- Well, the university that I am a VAP for sent me a fundraising letter. I have been their, what 3 months, and they are asking me for money, and I have no idea if I will be employed next year. I really wish university administrators and SC would think about what we go through. I know that I am, in part, whining, but I also would like to think that this generation will remember this hell and institute some changes when we have the power to do so (11/11).

- Let's face it, academics are financial hypocrites. AHA fees are a bad value. The socialized windowdressing that is the AHA fee scale is particularly ironic. The AHA is about protecting the power of our profession's gatekeepers. At some level, our membership and registration fees get transferred to those elect who are eligible for AHA prizes and fellowships. It does absolutely nothing for those of us who struggle to find purchase.
(11/12)

- Point well made, but that doesn't make me feel any better. What kind of professional organization maintains virtual hegemony regarding the job interviewing process yet creates an elite/cliquish atmosphere regarding scholarship, does little to maintain professional standards/etiquette/ethics in the hiring process and academia in general? I wouldn't mind paying that kind of money, if there was something to gain by it. That is why I don't go the AHA except for job interviews. (apologies for general disgruntlement, but still). (11/14)

NEWS FLASH: AHA Admits torturing jobseekers!! I was busy making my AHA hotel reservations today and saw the logo for this year's conference. I know that the rational and unimaginitive will say that this is an abstraction of an interstate interchange (itself, artistically compelling) but in reality it is the image of an AHA job register participant BEING CRUCIFIED!!! hehehehe. (12/12) See for yourself here: http://www.historians.org/annual/2008/index.cfm#standard

- heh heh, it's like The Scream, but for job-hunters... thanks for pointing it out! 12/12

- F'n hilarious! (12/13)

- I have a question about housing at the AHA. I reserved a room at the Marriott, but its a little steep on my grad student income. I don't know anyone else going who needs to share a room. Are there any message boards or places where I could find a roommate to split the cost? (12/17)

- Try posting a message to H-Grad (which, if you're not already aware of it, is one of the H-Net lists). (12-17)


- I just got an email from Texas Tech that I did not get the position. This seems pretty ridiculous because 1. I met the candidate who got the job, and 2. it's Oct. 08 people, and this position was posted last year! Now this isn't just regular bitching. It is a bit demoralizing to be constantly reminded of all the jobs I didn't get when it is already pretty clear. Does anyone else feel this, or am I being overly sensitive? (10/26)

- Yes, that sucks. No, you are not being overly sensitive. From what I hear, you actually dodged a bullet as the department is rumored to be imploding. (10/28)

- been imploding for 20 years or more. A close friend landed there and got out. He's pretty happy NOW.

- It's interesting to me the different treatment that goes on with searches( I will say that I have learned now in one week's time!). Perhaps for some the fact that a SC would tell you one thing with the expected teaching load and then a lower or even higher number to another candidate may not be a big deal. Yet for me that raises several serious questions. In addition, to be virtually berated by a SC member who assumes that as an upcoming graduate one would be "unable to handle themselves in a classroom" is a bit much. Does TA work not count for anything? More importantly, don't we have th rest of our careers to really and truly LEARN how to teach effectively?(10/29)

- Reply to post directly above: I feel your pain. No, seriously, think of it this way: TA work does indeed count for something, but like all other credentials and qualifications, it's all relative. No classroom experience is trumped by TA work is trumped by adjunct work is trumped by full load is trumped by years of experience with full load, service and research. So, if you were part of a pool of candidates, none of whom had taught under a full load, your TA work would put you in the head of the pack. But if you're being compared to an experienced freeway flyer or Asst Prof., you're in the back of the pack. As for the thing about hearing different numbers from the SC based on their preference for who gets the job, I hadn't heard that one, but frankly, nothing surprises me. I've heard of SC's giving little or no time to make a decision when they offer the job to someone the Admin is forcing them to offer it to, in the hopes that that candidate will decline the offer and they can get their preferred candidate the job. If this happens to you, you might remember that you win by losing; who would want to work with colleagues who didn't want you? (11/2)

- SCs just find a reason to dismiss someone from the pool. In one on-campus, I was pitted against an inside candidate there on a VAP. That person was observed in their class for their interview while I was told to give a teaching demonstration that was far afield from anything I had ever taught before and had nothing to do with my dissertation. I nailed the lecture, only to have the SC fall back on the excuse that "the teaching load is too great here to do any research" in an effort to discourage me. When that didn't work they picked the VAP anyway.

- What are people's thoughts on submitting writing samples as apart of the process of moving to the next round? Can it hinder a candidate that much? What about if they are asked to submit along with being offered an AHA interview. Has there ever been a time where a committee canceled an interview b/c of a writing sample? (12/5)

- If they ask you to submit a writing sample, they are not going to cancel your interview (barring bizarre cases like the one mentioned below). They'll use the writing sample as the basis for a more substantive discussion of your work during the interview, and likely as part of the vetting process to make the next cut. (12/5)

- This is about a friend applying for British History position at Creighton U., but it deserves to be shared with Americanists, to raise proper indignation. He received an email about setting up an interview at the AHA, only to be told five minutes later that never mind, there was an error. At that point, is it not the decent thing to do to simply add one more AHA interview on? Add another cow to the stockades, is it such a big deal? Sigh. (12/5)

- I feel for your friend, but it's not that simple. They may not have the time slots available. Besides, it's pretty clear they didn't want him from the application, etc., so why put everyone through the hoops if it's unlikely (unless he knocks their socks off) that he'd progress further. (12/5)

- There was a legendary case from the 1980s where, at the AHA job register site, a big name historian (now deceased) informed a candidate that his interview would not be taking place because the SC went 15 minutes over time with the previous interview. The candidate shouted some choice words at this professor and prompted a fight between the professor and the candidate's dissertation chair that made it into Perspectives.

- i can't imagine my dissertation advisor getting in a fight with someone over me ... or raising his voice ... or braking if he saw me crossing the street in front of his car... (12/7)

- or recognizing me on the street... or actually reading my dissertation! (12/8)

- might want to find another advisor.
- GREAT suggestion! Why didn't I think of that?? I'll grab one next time I'm at Walmart...


- Can we put all of the comments from the poster who felt led to curse so much in the earlier Princeton discussion? He/she/it has evidently already lost their sanity.

- Do you really think that using one "curse" word ("fucking," as in "fucking paranoid") means that the poster has "lost their sanity"? I'd argue that deliberately posting comments under the heading "funny / snarky comments" suggests something far more disturbing.

- PLEASE REPOST MY MESSAGE ABOUT THE RUDENESS ON THIS PAGE. I SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE SOME NEED TO CREATE THEIR OWN WIKI FOR VENTING. UNBELIEVABLE! WHY ERASE IT? I ASSUME THE POSTER ABOVE THIS ONE ERASED IT, AS THE POST WAS NOT THERE WHEN I MADE MY SUGGESTION. (9/19)

- I'M THE AUTHOR OF THE SECOND POST. I DIDN'T DELETE YOUR POST; IN FACT, I NEVER SAW IT.

- THANK YOU. IS THIS MODERATED? THE POST WAS THERE; I SAW IT TWICE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BACK. (9/20)

- Okay, three responses to the writer above. First, NO ONE WRITES IN ALL CAPS; IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF SCREAMING ALL THE TIME! AAAAGH! Second, this discussion is not moderated, it's a wiki, and inherently a bit of a free-for-all. Third, I too am annoyed when posters delete my previous text; I think it's a cowardly choice not to engage the content of my comments but to erase them all together. But, I've gone back over the revision history (click the "History" button at the top of the page, select two versions that you would like to compare, click "Diff" to see the difference) and I don't see your post on creating a new wiki in there. So this might be due to a technical glitch, not a conspiracy. Or . . . perhaps that's what they want you to think!

- I've edited to keep text organized, never deleting comments, regardless of their content. That said, people are being jerks. Act like adults. God forbid I wind up with some of you as my colleagues.

- Why the strike-throughs?

- fixed.

- Okay, Pet Peeve time: Pacific Lutheran posts a many-positions-needed ad in the Chronicle 9/3. There's a "History" listing there. http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000519627-01&pg=s&cc= That's all it says, "History". Yet, when you go to the PLU HR website fo rmore information, there is no posting - just a note that more info is coming soon. http://www.plu.edu/~humr/jobs/assistant-professor-10.html So, it's been a month now since the Chronicle ad - is this an actual position, or not, and Assistant Professor of History of WHAT exactly? I'm calling HR on Monday, I'm sick of waiting for them to get this untangled. (9/29)

- The PLU position is advertised on the AHA job site: http://www.historians.org/members/eib/search_listing.cfm?JobAdID=8019

- Why THANK you, above poster; that's useful information indeed. Now why the heck can't PLU post that same info on their own website? (10/5)

- On a note related to the PL post immediately above: is there a history job at UMass? There is a Chronicle ad that points you to the dept. web site, but that yields nothing informative (at least as far as my addled brain could figure). (9/29)

- All right, all right... the "grow the * * * * up" comment was rude and somewhat immature. Sorry. I was having a bad day. A seriously bad day. Anyway, I deleted it and the following comments pointing out my lack of etiquette so as not to take up more of people's mental space. Ok? Go Gators!

- No real harm done, Gator. Hang in there....

- For those of us who missed it - could someone PLEASE fill us in on what is going on with the princeton job?

- re: the Princeton bit - nothing relevant to the job search, don't worry.

- If you would like to laugh, please read http://philosophyjobmarket.blogspot.com/2007/08/so-i-laugh-in-your-face.html
- If you would like to cry, please read http://philosophyjobmarket.blogspot.com/2007/11/king-volcano-gave-me-numbers.html


- So is it officially a bad year for twentieth-century U.S. (general political, social and cultural history)? Any hope for more job ads in the next few weeks?

-I would beg to differ. If you are 19th or 20th U.S. you are a hot commodity this year. Interesting considering all the talk of the surplus of colonial jobs. Seems that theory has been overturned with this year's market...(10/28)

- only a good 19th cent year if you are in certain specific fields

- It's been about what I expected for 20th century U.S. (10/29)

- I agree that it's a shockingly bad year for colonialists ... compare this page to last year's page.... (10.29)

- And are we in agreement that it's a particularly GOOD year for Af-Am? (10/29)

- I think last year was a really good for AfAm. One of my colleagues applied for 60 jobs. Its seems to be an okay year for AfAm in my humble opinion (11/6).

- 60 AFAM jobs wow that seems unreal. I can't imagine that would have left room for any this year, but as they each year is truly different. (11/6)

- Well, there are 25 Af-Am jobs listed on last year's wiki, and 27 this year. Maybe your colleague applied to 60 jobs, not all of which were specifically Af-Am? (11/7)

- So who keeps taking the liberty of deleting large chunks of the wiki discussion? Do you do it because you find the discussion offensive? Does it seem like unnecessary clutter? Are you the same person who deleted the Princeton discussion? I cannot imagine an answer that is not both presumptuous and lame, unless it was an honest "whoopsie." (11/7)


- I am reposting an erased comment. I was on the market last year as an early Americanist and was able to land a job. This was partly due to the fact that the market was amazing last year.

- It looks bad this year but I think a number of schools had failed searches and might have to wait a year before the start the search over again. My own institution needs two early Americanists and will hold another search next year. All this is to say that I have a good feeling that the market will spring back for early Americanists next year. I also think the number of Native America searches is lower than expected this year and will likely increase over the next few years.

- It's a horrible year. To what other careers can I apply the useful skills gained in pursuit of a PhD in early american history?

- I dunno ... town drunk? (12/5)

- Good idea. Welfare probably pays better than adjuncting. (12/6)

- Wouldn't that be towne drunk? (12/6)

- Ha. (12/6)

- I nominate the "towne drunk" line from 12/6 for best wiki post of the year (final awards will be announced in an anonymous ceremony - "The Wikis" - next spring). (12/9)


- I'm moving the following exchange about relevancy from the top of the page to down here, as per my proposal at the end:

Note: Under each school, please stick to relevant info/commentary. Save the funny/snarky but otherwise unnecessary commentary for the bottom general comments section.

- Why should "funny / snarky" comments be segregated, but gossip/information from mysterious "circles"/ and other such malkery be included under the school headings? Why not simply limit the wiki to more factual-oriented info, i.e. received rejection letter (date); received interview invitation (date)?

- I disagree vehemently about the "Note: please stick to relevant info/commentary" post and the "malkery" followup above. If you want information, go to the Chronicle. I want funny/snarky/insightful/plain-spoken gossip here, people. If I wanted to read brain-dead HR obfuscation, I can read countless job ads and departmental mission statements. This is my source for the unspoken tidbits in the field, the things that are implied but not said in polite circles, the things that are crucial to know. If this wiki was merely factual, it would have no use for me at all.

- Hallelujah!!! Free O.J.!

- As the original poster of this request, my intent was to keep relevant gossip and information under the school headings, so it's useful and to the point. As opposed to the swearing, name-calling, idiocy which this has so quickly devolved into. Give me relevant gossip people, not your stand-up routines.

- Point taken. I guess there is such a distinction as relevant gossip and irrelevant gossip. May I humbly ask that we move the discussion here about relevant info/commentary down to the discussion section? I'll check back in a week and if there's no objections, I'll move this discussion down-page. (9/29)

- Job seekers would do well to remember that this Wiki is not unknown to SCs and deans and some are curious to read discussion about their searches. Personally, I think this whole wiki thing is excellent for promoting the transparency of the process overall. (2/8)


- I move that SC's that go for an inside hire be made to reimburse applicants for the interfolio / postage / travel fees that they laid down for the search. I understand that they have to do a nationwide search for HR purposes, but why should Ph.D. candidates pay to do the SC's work for them? (2/17)

- I imagine your comment is borne out of frustration. I have seen inside candidates from a number of angles and would say that they have almost no higher chance of being hired than any other candidate that makes it to the front end of the AHA interview list. As known quantities, inside candidates have so much going for them in searches, but they also have so much going against them. Search committees definitely recognize this. An inside candidate offers them a comfortable 'safety' candidate, but they are also hoping and searching for someone who they believe fits even better. SCs worry about the burden of hurt feelings, departmental dissension, etc. arising out of an inside candidate, but that is not going to stop them (or the department) from going after a more desirable hire. (2/17)

- The penultimate poster is forgetting that the other candidates do get benefits even if he or she is not the inside hire. Interview experience is good, and having interviews can be used for bargaining...not to mention the fact that you make good will with colleagues who now have pity for you. I'll take pity because this profession is retarded. (4/5)

- Anybody else more than a little annoyed at the schools that have you fill out a lengthy on-line application, upload all your materials, and then also send them in by regular snail mail. The online applications are a complete time-suck and then to have to send it all in on top of that is driving me up a wall.

- Amen! I particularly dislike the applications that require your letters to be uploaded because it forces you to beg your letter writers to do even more work. It's bad enough for the applicant to have to waste their time, but to ask their supporters to do the same is unreasonable.

- I haven't encountered that. The online aps I've had to fill out required me to upload documents and mail ones that are impossible to upload (letters, basically). No place has required duplicates. That sounds pointless.... (10/22)

- What sucks about the online aps is having to fill out generic hiring forms with the same info thats on my CV or elsewhere

- Re: the deletion here, I wrote it, I deleted it, it didn't add to the conversation, please leave it deleted; sorry.

- I'm not in history, but you all are the only ones even asking questions about the on-line process. I personally find the criminal background stuff rather disturbing, and I don't even have a record. The application process is humiliating enough without having to report a DUI, or something that might be on a juvenile record. I believe some of these application procedures may be in response to new federal guidelines about background checks (securing our homeland, presumably), but I'm curious to know if others find this aspect of the on-line process disturbing (and not just annoying).

- In most states, such questions are required of all applicants for a state position. I used to teach 8th grade and public school teachers get the full questionnaire, background check, etc. But hey, back in the 70s you had to sign a statement that you weren't a communist before you could be hired to teach in the LA public schools, so technically it's BETTER than it used to be! No use blaming the schools, tho', they're jumping through state-mandated hoops.


- When schools ask for transcripts, do they mean they want to see undergraduate transcripts as well? I've only been sending places my transcript from my PhD program, since my undergraduate days were quite a while ago... but suddenly it occurred to me....

- I've been sending my undergrad transcript when the ad says "transcripts," and just my graduate transcript when it's singular. But my undergrad institution will provide as many official transcripts as I want free of charge, so it's easy for me to do. And I have no idea if search committees actually want to see undergrad transcripts (I can't imagine they're all that useful or relevant), but I figured it couldn't hurt.

- I sent only Ph.D. transcripts unless the ad specified they wanted "all." (11/9)

- I sent both my M.A. and Ph.D. transcripts. They are in closely related fields, but each record stresses different strengths. (11/9)

- Some of my undergraduate and grad institutions don't send sealed transcripts. How are unsealed transcripts received by SCs? (11/14)

- In addition to being secretly on the job market, I am on a search committee. In our department, our wonderful administrative assistant opens all applications and puts all of the materials together in nice packets. Therefore, the committee has no idea whether transcripts come to us unsealed or not, so it makes no difference here. Of course, other schools might not have an admin to do this, so I don't know how other committees would react. (11/20)

- My university requires transcripts (all of them) as part of a background search required by the H.R. dept. for all prospective hirees. The critical issue is not sealed or unsealed, but official or not (these must be official, not photocopies). And in terms of other conversations, it's critical that these are received before an official job offer can be made. Why? The university apparently learned from experience that it needs to verify people's claims about their credentials. (12/7)


- Does anyone have information, posts, stats, links, etc. on the job market in other countries? Is there anyplace in this entire world that has a surplus of jobs for historians who specialize in the United States? I know one person that got a job in England and I have applied for a few in Canada myself... but are their any hot spots (or even luke warm markets) out there? .. Thanks. (11/09/2007)

- sadly, the U.S is an academically understudied field in every part of the world except the US itself, where it is overstudied. The only exception I can think of is the U.K., but they have their own PhDs to think of before they hire non-Brits. For what it's worth, I've seen a higher-than-average rate of job ads in US history for universities in...Turkey!

- I have seen jobs in the U.K., Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Poland, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore in U.S. history. Canadians tend to hire their own because of government restrictions. I also know that it can be difficult to make it back to the U.S. after taking a position in a place like Australia. There you are required to write a lot of articles rather than a book, something that might hurt your tenure situation if you were hired back in the U.S. (same could be said in the U.K. as well). You should look into these postdoc fellows programs sponsored by individual colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. There is also a growing American Studies movement in Ireland. I am an early Americanist (Atlanticist) so I have looked at a number of U.K. schools because a lot of my research is in England. (12/22)


- This deleting of job information is getting out of hand. Someone from a Houston area IP decided to delete the Northwestern job info in 20th Century, and someone from Madison, WI deleted the Berkeley info. The UW-Whitewater material has also gone the way of Philip Michael Thomas's acting career. I understand that the job market is stressful and that people may not want to be reminded of certain posts/find out that they didn't make it to the next cut, but this wiki is designed to be a source of information for the rest of us. Can we please try to be a bit unselfish and keep the material around for everyone else? Thanks, and Go Gators.
- Someone has also deleted my and others' posts under Providence College, where I was trying to figure out if PC had lost a whole bunch of our transcripts. If whoever's doing this thinks they're taking out extraneous info, please: that discussion did matter to those of us who were spending $$ to resend transcripts, giving us a better idea of how many people were in the same boat.
- See below for a partial reconstruction of the Whitewater debacle. (Very sad.)
- I have restored the University of Southern Indiana discussion, which also disappeared. (11/14)
- Thank you, anonymous restorers! (11/16)
- I'm not sure why a comment I left yesterday on Tufts' search was deleted, but I'm restoring a shorter version. (11/16)
- Somone deleted the information that I posted about the Ohio State women's history job and the warning about the failed searches for that job. I've posted it twice, and it has been deleted twice. (11/21)
- Any chance you're willing to post it one more time, maybe here? I applied for that job and I'd love to know what you have to say that's so dangerous! :) 11/25
- Someone deleted my response to the rather snarky (dare I say bigoted?) comment about a Catholic University's Western job. I'll try posting it again & see what happens. 12/6

The Whitewater Debacle
- I am the poster who started the "Deleting information" thread above. I want to expand on that a bit. There is a line under the UW-Whitewater thread that was posted on 2007-11-14 00:36 that says "- I BEG YOUR PARDON BUT I (POSTER 11/12) DID NOT ERASE THAT PREVIOUS POST! IF I had erased it, then why would I keep the comment I made above, which clearly alludes to the quoted material, easily found on Chronicle forum? You're obviously a well trained historian to jump to such conclusions! (11/13)" That post was made from the IP 140.146.98.213. Guess where it is registered to? Yep, you guessed it, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Draw whatever conclusions you would like from that. To look up an IP, go to www.arin.net . Some are not easily to identify (e.g. AOL IPs), but ones registered to various schools will come up by that school.
- I'm not sure I see what the IP address has to do with anything. The poster with the UWW IP address denied being the deleter, and I haven't seen any explanation for why that person was accused. Even if the deletions were done from a UWW IP address, it doesn't necessarily follow that it was the same user (it's quite likely that more than one person at UWW might take exception to people trying to discourage potential applicants). In any case, I don't think that it's appropriate to use this wiki to diss potential places of employment. If nothing else, it invites abuse (for all any of us know, the people posting anti-UWW comments are actually applicants trying to discourage competition). I don't like it that threads have been deleted, but I understand the impulse. (11/16)
- I disagree. I think that this wiki is the EXACT RIGHT place to share troubling or negative information about jobs, locales, and SC's. Of course, the information here is even less trustworthy than real-world gossip; it's basically anonymous scrawls on a bathroom wall, unsourced and largely impossible to verify. BUT, and this is an important but, it's a useful stream of information that is outside of the control of SCs and institutions. As such, it's an important source of countervailing opinion. Authoritative? No. Useful to the powerless? Yes. If SC's and institutions don't like it, they can fight it by being more transparent and respectful of applicants. (11/17)
- To the second poster in this thread: you missed my point. I doubt that the UWW person did the deleting and was not trying to say that they did. I was simply trying to show that they thought the proper course of action in this case was to question another poster's scholarly credentials. That speaks volumes about the faculty climate at that school, I would think. It matters little to me, as I am a colonialist.
- Re: Attempts to figure who wrote what before the reincarnation of Vince Foster-The wiki job board will collapse without anonymity. Trying to figure who wrote what from an IP address and the political slant of a post requires too much guesswork to be of use. It is good that the board stirs up a variety of issues and emotions, and hopefully the wiki will push SCs to be more transparent. In the meantime, please be sensitive to the fragility of the wiki (and of the minds of job seekers).
- WOW! HOLY CATS! This has officially descended into surreal idiocy. I was the one who wrote the JOKE about Professor Vince Foster. You know, Vince Foster of the, ummmm, WHITEWATER SCANDAL? Yeah, that one. Then some clueless tool took offense at it because they were, well, clueless. But then a couple of better-informed posters pointed out to the original idiot that it was a joke. At which point I piled on a bit more, invoking the name of Bernard Nussbaum, yet another actor in the original WHITEWATER SCANDAL! But now, some no-doubt well-meaning moron has decided to delete entire exchange, saying that "The wiki board will collapse without anonymity ... please be sensitive to the fragility of the wiki (and of the minds of job seekers)." Are you f@&!*$%g kidding me? You are censoring HUMOR which relates this "Whitewater Scandal" to THE, historical Whitewater Scandal, and at no point EVER threatened the anonymity of actual, real participants? Is this really happening? Are professional historians so mind-bogglingly insecure as to delete this sort of stuff? Man, good luck holding a job, let alone getting one.
- As someone coming late to this, I am struck by your use of "idiot," "original idiot," "tool," none of which seem helpful on a job page... but then, did you understand it was a job page? I'm surprised anyone would waste this much space on a job page to a joke. Is name-calling people necessary, considering it's not a comedy club, ergo if they don't get your joke, so what (perhaps they weren't expecting to be your captive audience, but instead to find real discussion of the job market)?
- Here's part of what went missing (again, why delete things? They can be retrieved):
- To the IP expert, I do NOT see what transparency or fair play have to do with revealing the identity of an anonymous poster who has not been proven to have done anything wrong besides write something people disagree with. Are we going to violate the anonymity of anyone who posts something here that another person with IP skills dislikes? Am I the only person who would seriously reconsider being transparent if I thought that my identity would be revealed? I will not delete the name above, but I would ask the person who posted it to consider deleting it; is this wiki really about 'outing' posters? Do we want it to be?? (11/19)
- Um, I would take a look at this before you go any further.... (11/19)
- I'm all for outing members of SCs and other institutional actors who post on here, absolutely. Aside from someone's institution of place of residence, there is no way to know the EXACT identity of a poster. And the Vince Foster joke was very, very funny I must say.
- We've had some apparent SC/faculty participation in other job discussions, and the results have been ok: mention of a lack of applicants, or discussion of how some incoming applicants were not addressing the parameters of the position well enough. I genuinely appreciate that kind of info; it's clearly meant to help. What might (and I stress "might") have happened with the UWW job is another kettle of fish entirely. (11/21)
- Even without the IP fingerprints, I think we can surmise that someone with stronger-than-ordinary ties to UWW (that is, not your garden-variety job applicant) has been participating here. That's pretty obvious from both the almost propagandistic content of some of the surviving posts, and their overly defensive tone. Given what we know (either rightly or wrongly) about the IP information, I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that this person is a SC member, or a member of the department. It's also revealing that the ENTIRE discussion (lock, stock, and barrel)was deleted immediately after someone suggested that there might be SC participation. (11/21)
- If an SC member posts and gives us helpful information I'm all for it. If an SC member posts to try to "sell" us on the school I'm against it. Whitewater may be the academic equivalent of the Garden of Eden, but I'd rather hear that from an unbiased source rather than someone who has a stake in the outcome of the search. (11/22)
- More deleted info retrieved. (11/23)

- As requested on 12/8, I've cut-and-pasted the parts of the whitewater debacle post from above, leaving the parts of the posts related to the job itself above, and putting the posts related only to the debacle below: (12/16)

- As noted above, this entire thread was deleted sometime this morning (11/14). I am not sure I can piece everything together from memory, but the short version is that someone (Poster X) was vehemently defending this school from criticisms that had been expressed in The Chronicle of Higher Ed forums. After those criticisms were quoted, they were termed "slander" by Poster X and then deleted. A subsequent (and understandably indignant) poster provided links to the forums in question, and in the process s/he suggested that Poster X was clearly sticking up for "your own school." This morning, I posted a comment asking if this meant that Poster X might be a member of the SC (not a crazy surmise, given his/her detailed and exclusively positive references to things like retirement benefits and funding for conference travel). After that was posted, the whole thread, including the title, was deleted. (11/14)
- To add: there was debate over the teach load (4/4, 3/3, discussion of flexibility), whether or not new hires would be teaching basics only, and notes on potentially less-than-stellar students. The ardent UWW champion rather came across as a jerk. That said, someone out there is willing to defend UWW to the death. So, if the thought of Wisconsin gets you excited, search the Chronicle Forums and do due diligence if you make the cut. (11/14)
- OK, this is what was deleted, going back even earlier.:
- It wasn't in the ad, but can we assume that this is a 4/4 teaching load? (10/18)
- No response from SC on basic app. question. Might just be a function of mid-semester overwork? (10/28)
- No, you cannot assume it is a 4/4 load. But if that's a bad thing, why apply? (10/31)
- I've heard there is flexibility on course load: some faculty teach 4/4, some teach 3/3. The department supports a variety of teaching forums, like team-teaching, online teaching and hybrid teaching, all of which can reduce the teaching load. (11/2)
- FWIW, if you want to believe the slander posted on the Chronicle Forums, written by people who neither attend nor teach at UWW, then don't apply. However, if you are interested in a tenure-track position, with a flexible teaching load, a very generous conference allowance, research funds and fellowship availability, better than average salaries, excellent benefits (esp. health and retirement), and a great location near three excellent cities (Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago), with better than average students, then please do apply.(11/12)
- Poster above on 11/12 erased a post which began "- FWIW, someone in one of the _Chronicle_ threads commented, "Whitewater: not a great school, not great students. Someone I know had a 4-4 load there and was teaching intro service courses almost exclusively." Another noted: "Whether a heavy teaching l . . . ". (The "History" function of this page doesn't seem to store more of that deleted previous post.) The 11/12 poster then replaced that previous statement with their own. While I think that it is great that you have a good opinion of what is clearly your school, I do not think that you have the right to erase someone else's opinion, 11/12 poster. In fact, I find your action reprehensible, and it spurred me to go and find the "slander" (don't you mean libel, or at least defamation?) on the Chronicle site: There's this http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,42449.0.html and this http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,29440.0.html and this http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,23236.0.html
- I BEG YOUR PARDON BUT I (POSTER 11/12) DID NOT ERASE THAT PREVIOUS POST! IF I had erased it, then why would I keep the comment I made above, which clearly alludes to the quoted material, easily found on Chronicle forum? You're obviously a well trained historian to jump to such conclusions! (11/13)
- By "clearly your school," do you mean that this sounds like a SC member? It kind of sounds that way (see above ref. to retirement benefits). (11/14)
- Okay, fine: there's three or more different actions here, not necessarily in chronological order: 1) Poster 11/12 wrote a strong defense of UWW against statements here and in the Chronicle forums. 2) Someone deleted a previous post critical of UWW. 3) Someone deleted the entire UWW posting. Regardless of when these things happened, and whether one person, even Poster 11/12, did them all, there are a few things we can learn from this: Don't delete stuff from the wiki, posters, because it's rude. Engage in debate with your fellow, largely anonymous, posters. Deleting or altering our words is annoying to us, and we will most likely repost the missing material, calling attention to it in a way that you might dislike as much or more than the original material you deleted. And Poster 11/12, aka "Poster X" : I do not believe that you are reflecting well on your institution. You seem to be very critical, defensive and angry; this wiki is a collection of the powerless in the profession, and you are stomping all over them, with accusations of slander [sic], and snarky comments about our credentials and training as historians. Why is this necessary? (11/16)

NOTE I am on a search committee for one of the positions posted on this site. Last year I was one of you all, on the market and checking this site every five minutes. Now that I am on the other side, I like to post information that might be helpful to people applying for the positions where I have inside information, not to sell the job but out of sympathy. When I saw how someone tried to track down one of the posters on the site I resolved to no longer post any helpful information because the whole thing has clearly been compromised. Good luck to you all. (12/22)
- To the person who wrote the note above, perhaps it would have been more useful if you had used your position on the SC to push for more transparency and open communications with applicants. I would think this would have been a better use of your time rather than posting anonymous information that on a wiki that is more and more known for bogus information. Have a Happy Holiday season down there in Savannah.
-In response to my "Note," I have actually been influenced by the complaints on the wiki. I asked the rest of the committee to be quick with their decisions and to inform the candidates as soon as possible. There have been no complaints posted regarding my new institution. P.S. I'm on vacation and I don't teach at SCAD (what other schools are in Savannah?).

- Despite SO MUCH talk on the wiki about this school, I had a fine time interviewing with them at the AHA. They were collegial, seemed genuinely interested in my dissertation project, and gave me a lot of solid information on their institution. (1/10/08)

- I am a visiting professor on a one-year. My college Dean sent this to me via e-mail, so I am unsure of the source, but here you go:
January 2, 2008
For Some Historians, More Jobs to Go Around
The American Historical Association estimates that colleges in the United States awarded about 940 history doctorates in 2006-7, slightly fewer than in the previous year. But those newly minted Ph.D.'s are expected to be outnumbered - for the third year in a row - by the job openings in their discipline, according to a new report by Robert B. Townsend, the association's assistant director for research and publications.

The report was released in advance of the association's annual meeting, which of course includes many job interviews. The meeting runs tomorrow through Sunday in Washington.

The association's magazine, Perspectives, lists about 1,030 new history jobs, a tally that the group uses to measure the health of the history job market. However, more jobs don't always translate into more opportunities for all.

The data show that, in some specialties, there are too many would-be professors to go around. And in others, there aren't enough. In American history, for instance, job listings were one-third less than the number of new doctorates awarded in the year before. And in Asian and African history, the number of job openings outstripped the supply of new professors, the report says.

However, Mr. Townsend wrote, specialists in fields "with a severe imbalance" could be good fits for open positions or they could find work outside of academe. -Audrey Williams June



- Since everyone's relatively fresh from AHA's (for those of you who were there), could we start a list of typical AHA questions? This was my first AHA so I went anticipating the big four: What's your diss. about, when will it be done, what's your next project, and what can you offer the school? For my only interview I was asked a few of those, plus how will you integrate your research into your teaching. Any other standard (and non-standard) questions?

- A question about teaching philosophy (or variations thereof) came up in most of my interviews. So did historiographic questions that related to my research, my field of specialization, and also my chronological field more broadly (to see if I could converse outside of my thematic field). The oddest question I got was a random historiographic question on a specific topic that did not relate directly to my research but did fall into the period I would be expected to teach in this particular job (I'm an early Americanist whose research focuses on the revolutionary and early republican periods, and the question had to do with the literature on a seventeenth-century topic). It was like a prelims question. (1/10)

- I also got: "What press are you thinking about publishing your dissertation with?" and "Tell us about your thoughts on service to the profession"

- I've gotten asked "What was the book you liked best published in your field... in the last 12 (or 18) months?" a few times. Only once did I get asked, "What was the worst mistake you ever made in a classroom?" but that was a doozy.

- In almost every interview, I got a variation of "How do you deal with the challenge of teaching students with diverse backgrounds in one classroom?" I was surprised that I didn't get "how would you teach the U.S. survey" more often. Most committees seemed to assume I could do it; they tended to want to know what NEW courses I would want to teach. (1/10)

- A few non standard questions I was asked: "How would X's book look differently if the author had read your dissertation," "How has your participation in X group affected the way you approach history," "How would you teach a graduate course on theory and methodology/mentor graduate students," "How does your project engage capitalism," "Would you consider publishing your second book with a popular press," "Do you read X(not the one of the three I use in the diss) language," and everyone asked for the origin story of my project.

-In two of my interviews I was asked about "balance." That is, "How do you anticipate finding a balance between your own research, teaching responsibilities, and academic service?" One of my committee members later told me that the point of this question was to gauge whether or not a candidate will be able to meet tenure requirements. (1/18)

- Two separate liberal arts/teaching-oriented colleges asked me how I would explain my work to undergraduates.





I think am prepared to speak about teaching and research with faculty in the history department I am doing an on campus interview with. But what types of the things is the Dean (or other University administrators) going to want to talk to me about in their meeting with me? Any suggestions out there in the land of the all-knowingWiki?

- I've had a couple on-campus now and first, I'd be prepared to talk about teaching & research (a lot of deans are/were profs as well) but mainly they'll be talking to you, laying out salary, retirement, etc.; it's usually more of an informational session with you just nodding and being handed paperwork. If you are interviewed by an affirmative action or diversity officer, however, expect to be asked about how you handle diverse learning styles; if someone like that is on the schedule, it's helpful to have some idea on any specific changes etc. the school has had (if it was a prep school that now prides itself on its diversity or what have you). Hope any of that's helpful!

-Both the CHICAGO GUIDE TO YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER, by John Goldsmith, John Komlos and Penny Gold, and THE ACADEMIC JOB SEARCH HANDBOOK, by Mary Heiberger and Julia Vick have nice chapters devoted to this question.

-My favorite site for interviewing advice is on the following link. Especially checkout the Mary Corbin Sies link...she explains what the SC is looking for to such questions. Brilliant! (2/3)
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~jbeebe2/IntvQs.htm

- THANK YOU so much for posting this! What a great resource!!! 2/5

Reference

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