25 new faculty members to be hired at Boulder campus
The recruiting process for the 25 new faculty positions approved by Chancellor Bud Peterson is in its initial stages, and the names of new hires will be announced in spring 2007.
The positions, announced by the chancellor during his convocation speech last week, were described in a press release as 10 tenure-track faculty, 10 instructor positions and five positions for “special opportunity hires.”
“None of the lines have been given out to the colleges yet,” said Susan Sires, assistant and faculty liaison for Arts and Sciences Dean Todd Gleeson. In order to release the funds to begin the recruitment process, the individual departments must first seek the signatures of several authorities.
The recruitment process for tenure-track faculty, described in detail on the Faculty Affairs Web site, must begin with the departments filling out a form requesting approval for the new position from the dean of the college. Funding for the recruitment and salary typically comes from within the individual school or college, but since these positions are “centrally-supported,” funding coming from outside sources would likely require the provost’s signature.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is currently in the process of writing a strategic plan that includes proposals for new faculty lines that will go to the provost,” said Associate Dean for Arts and Humanities Graham Oddie. “We are still working on it, and it’s not public information yet. It will be released in a month or two.”
CU Spokesperson Barrie Hartman also said that very little official action has been taken.
“You have to begin recruiting now, and it takes a year to recruit new faculty. Most of these people are teaching somewhere else,” Hartman said. He added that “it has not been determined yet which department will receive priority” for the new positions.
Sophomore Nate Gauna, a business major, was optimistic about the possibility of a more intimate learning environment. “The class sizes are huge. New faculty would create more one-on-one situations with professors.”
Josh Minor, a junior film major, was less concerned.
“I don’t really know how it will affect me,” said Minor. “Most of the professors I have are new to me anyways.”
