Modern British 2010

STATS:
 * Search committee members:
 * PhD: 12
 * ABD: 5
 * ABD and will defend this year: 4
 * Post Doc: 1
 * FIrst time on market: 4
 * Three or more years on market: 5
 * Unemployed, looking for job:
 * Have short-term gig, looking for TT: 9
 * Have TT position, looking for new one: 1
 * Tenured but hankering after greener pastures:
 * Glutton for punishment: 1
 * Is nervously checking my cell phone and my e-mail every five minutes hoping to get an MLA invite: 2
 * Getting impatient! (The Americanists seem to have so much more gossip!): 3
 * Added a "gossip" column at the end of the job list
 * Feeling the dark encroachment of an old catastrophe: 2

Primary area of research:
 * Fiction: 9
 * Drama:
 * Poetry: 3
 * Other:
 * Modernism: 10
 * pre-1945: 5
 * post-1945: 7

__________________________

JOBS:

Bridgewater State College (MA) British and Irish modernism (Until Filled) Link

 * Does anyone have an idea if this position might be an inside hire?
 * Have you been given a reason to think it is?
 * I thought that I saw a VAP here that did British and Irish modernism, but I must have seen it at another school. I've looked at so many websites that they all begin to look the same...
 * Has anyone heard anything from BSC? (11/29)
 * No, but the deadline is Dec. 1st.
 * Phone interview scheduled (12/10)
 * Phone Interview scheduled (12/11) (how is that possible, considering you wrote this on 12/10??)

Colgate U, Deadline: November 20

 * These comments I've pasted in from the 20th/21stC American page
 * Q1: Anyone know what "modern fiction" means in this posting? Are they looking for a modernist or just 20c in general?
 * Q2: Are they strictly looking for an Americanist?
 * Not-really-an-A-but-an-observation: Based on the faculty interests online, it is a slightly weird, though interesting-looking, department: lots and lots of theater folks (they seem to have an institutional connection to the theater program) but from what i can see, almost no one who specializes in fiction of any period, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. So I'd guess this one is a pretty open search--Brit or American, and with "modern" fairly broadly defined. That's just my guess.
 * I don't see how you get that from their website. Hmmm...the dept chair works on Forster and Woolf. That isn't fiction?
 * EOAA form by mail (12/7)
 * To clarify: all of the comments above that are double-indented have been pasted in from the American page. I assume that the poster in question meant that very few people on the Colgate faculty specialize in fiction? But I don't know for sure.
 * Plenty of faculty in the Colgate English department specialize in fiction. The theater dept is affiliated with the English major ---and "housed" there for administrative purposes --- but mostly functions as a separate concentration.  This is definitely a purposefully open call, so don't sweat it.

Dickinson College (11/6) Contemporary/1945-present

 * There are five people on the 20/21C American page who got asked for more materials. No one on Anglophone or Modern British reports any requests. You know what that means, kids.
 * A: That Dickinson could have written a job description specifying that they were looking for an Americanist and saved hundreds of us well over a thousand cumulative hours spent reading about their school, their department, looking at their faculty profiles, their courses, their mission, then composing a custom application letter? Dickinson, if you're reading, did you not know when you drafted the job ad that you wanted an Americanist?
 * Yes... they really shouldn't have done this to Brit lit people. If they wanted a wide range of smart contemporary Am lit people, there were ways to imply it in their ad ("US-based, transnational interests, etc.)
 * It may mean they do not want Anglophone or British people; it may also mean that the Americanists are more active in updating their Wiki. Or both.

Eastern Illinois (11/6) 20th/21st C British

 * email ack. with link to online EEO (10/28) (11/18 x3, 11/19)

East Tennessee State U (12/11) Modern British

 * ack of application and AA form (11/30), (12/4)

Ithaca College (rolling) British modernLink

 * has anyone heard anything from Ithaca? A1: Nothing here. A2: No, but it's early days.
 * Is it still early days? (11/29)
 * Yes. It's not uncommon to not hear anything until mid-December. And of course you always hear the random story of a person getting a call for an MLA interview on Christmas... Or, even better, once the convention has started. (11/30)
 * Yes, but by then they've already looked at writing samples, etc., no?
 * But I don't think that anyone has received a request for a writing sample, right? Has anyone received a request?
 * That's precisely the question. I'm the impatient one from 2 and 4 posts ago. The response was that it was still early days vis-a-vis getting an interview. But my initial question concerned materials requests.
 * I was the "early days" poster. I still think there's plenty of time to hear before MLA, and I also agree with the other posters it's very common for schools not to request more materials before inviting to first interviews, based on past experiences.
 * Some schools never ask for a writing sample. Did they ask for letters of rec.? If so, they may just go straight to scheduling MLA interviews. Very common.
 * Yes, they did ask for rec. letters initially.
 * Received phone call for interview. (12/08) x2
 * Letter of Rejection (12/09)
 * Have heard nothing yet (12/10)

Marquette University (11/1) Modern British and Irish

 * Request for writing sample (11/2) (x2--I submitted 10/27)
 * So fast-- congrats! Can you say when you filed your application?
 * I'm not the OP, but have info from the 20th/21st c. American page (Marquette's also hiring in that area): They seem to be reading applications as they are submitted online. Several people were asked for writing samples well before the deadline passed. [Looks like most people got requests within a week after they submitted their applications.] (11/4)
 * To the OP, who reported request on 11/2, you applied specifically for the British job, right? (As opposed to the Americanist job?)
 * I'm the OP. I submitted my materials Oct 31 (for the British job, not the American)
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/10)x2

MIT (10/20) Contemporary Literature or Media (not specifically British)

 * email ack. (11/5)
 * 20th/21st c. American page indicates requests for further materials were made on 10/30 and 11/13.
 * Same on the Film Studies page--looks like they may not have wanted British lit. people.
 * See discussion of Dickinson above for similar phenomena.
 * At least one Brit. person--a friend of mine who doesn't use the wiki--was asked for more materials in Nov. (x2)
 * I would strongly encourage people to add information like this -- even if it is about a friend. If we do not add to the wiki, the wiki will not help all of us.

Mount Saint Vincent University (12/4) Modern and Contemporary Literature - Poetry

 * Quick personal email ack from chair.

Providence College (11/02) Modernism / 20C British and Irish link

 * email ack. notifying me that transcript not yet received (thank these good people!) (11/12 x 2)
 * Anything, anyone? (11/29)
 * Nope--I emailed last week to follow up, and they said they were still reviewing applications.

Ripon College (11/1)

 * ack via snail mail (11/9)
 * Anything, anyone? (11/29)
 * Interview request by e-mail on Monday (11/30) x2
 * Letter of Rejection (12/09)
 * Mind if I ask what form rejection letter took? (e-mail, snail?)

Rowan University (NJ) (11/02) 20thC / 21stC British

 * email ack 10/23 (two days after application) --- Q: has anyone else who e-mailed an application gotten an ack yet? --- A: yes, email ack (10/25, 10/31) --- Q2: thanks. maybe better to put it this way: has anyone else who e-mailed an application NOT gotten an ack yet? --- A2: I just spoke with the dept. chair, who said they are having e-mail trouble. So if you haven't received an ack, that's why. (I consolidated this thread; hope no one minds.)
 * WS request 11/14
 * Request for writing sample and statement of teaching philosophy 11/14
 * same request 11/7, 12/2
 * very nice rejection email (12/11 x 2)
 * Never even an ack. Does that mean they lost my application?
 * Probably so. I sent my first email and never heard from them. Then, I spotted the above comment about email trouble and re-sent my application right on the deadline. Then I received confirmation a few days later.

St. Olaf College (10/15) Global lits in English and 20/21C British link

 * email ack (10/15), (11/1) (x2)
 * Has anyone heard anything? The email acknowledgment suggested they'd be in touch in November.
 * Nothing here yet. I emailed them to see if my letters got there in time in mid Nov. and they never responded.
 * MLA interview requested via email (12/8)
 * Darnit! I even learned their fight song!
 * : ) Does anyone else go through extended (and ultimately damaging) imaginative exercises picturing living in each college town?
 * and actually look at houses for sale in the area? ... sad but true.

University of Chicago (11/6) American, British, or Anglophone literatures from 1880 to 1950

 * Request for writing sample 11/23
 * Request for writing sample 11/30 (x2)

University of Chicago (11/6) American, British, or Anglophone literatures from 1950 to present

 * American page lists requests for extra materials (11/23) (but right now the requests seem to be for the 1880-1950 range) [From OP: Oops--sorry! That info wasn't yet up when I posted this update here.]
 * American page now lists 3 requests for Writing Samples, 1950-present. (12/2)


 * Request for writing sample 24/11

University of Nevada - Reno (10/29) 20th C. British and/or Post-Colonial link

 * Request for writing sample and dossier (letters, Xscripts) (11/11)
 * Email rejection (12/10 x 4) - Quite a poorly-written one at that!
 * Email rejection #5 in this list, 12/10--but I thought it was a passably nice note. At least they tell you what's going on in their search. - (#6) Yeah, it seemed pretty harmless to me, too.

University of North Carolina - Greensboro (11/20) Post 1900 British and Anglophone Literature link

 * Snail mail ack. with AA form (11/16), (11/21) (ditto 11/28)
 * Request for writing sample, teaching philosophy, letters of rec. (12/2)
 * Do you mind saying how you got this request? I just got the acknowledgment via snail mail today!
 * The request for additional materials came via email.
 * Did anyone else get a request from them?

University of North Florida (11/2) Early 20th Link

 * Request for writing sample (11/9x2) (11/13)
 * Has anyone who got a ws request heard anything further from UNF? (11/29)
 * No.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (11/20) British and/or Irish Modernist Literature Link

 * request for rec letters, made straight to recommenders 11/5 (PS, from OP: I think this automatically happens when you file an application)
 * Has anyone who made an application to La Crosse *not* gotten a dossier request? I'm trying to confirm the accuracy of the last post.
 * It's definitely automatic. My recommenders notified me of the request the very same day I filed the application. (I know that doesn't *exactly* answer your question, but hope it helps.)
 * Yes, that's exactly what i was wondering about. Thank you!
 * It seems like their composition search is proceeding (MLA interviews), so maybe now they will get to the British Lit. search.

University of Wisconsin at Madison (11/27) post-1945 British and Irish literature

 * Has anyone had an ack of application?
 * Yes; letter received 11/13 (x2), 11/23 (x2), 12/1, 12/4, 12/5
 * Request for writing sample. (12/10) [x4 (and rec letters)]

Westminster College (MO) (11/13) 20th C British or American

 * Snail mail ack. with AA form (11/23)

Gossip
Rejection Letters
 * How about posting the odd rejection letter here, the best and the worst? We can start a rejection letter hall of fame/infamy.
 * God, what I would do for a rejection letter right now, rather than radio silence. ..
 * You say that now, but no news really is good news here.


 * Points for not sending it the day before Xmas, but the the faceless, nameless, computer rejection thing is pretty unclassy. No sign of humans anywhere in their process--not even a cyborg. Respectable points for punctuality; low points for computerized boilerplate interfacing. Eco points for the paperless process:


 * Position Title: Assistant Professor, Twentieth-Century British and/or Postcolonial Literature (2009)


 * Search Number: 70599


 * Applications have been reviewed carefully and after considerable deliberation, the number of candidates has been narrowed. Unfortunately, your application was not one selected for further consideration at this time.


 * We appreciate your interest in employment at University of Nevada, Reno. Jobs become available frequently at the University and we encourage you to continue to visit our website at http:/jobs.unr.edu/professional/. When you see a position that you are interested in, please submit your application electronically through this site.


 * Best wishes in your job search.


 * Sincerely,
 * University of Nevada, Reno


 * Count me among those who doesn't mind e-mailed rejection letters, including this one. A paper rejection letter is no less of a form letter, and has no more of an individual touch; it just costs more money and uses more natural resources, at a time when universities should be conserving both. And since many of these jobs—including Reno—took our applications online, what's wrong with the correspondence from their end being online as well? I know I appreciated the money I saved on postage by applying online, and I see no reason to insist that the university not do the same.


 * What s/he said...


 * Nobody has said s/he minds rejections by email. Both rejection letters posted here came by email. But there is a difference between a one-size fits all boilerplate rejection letter that serves all departments and searches and is signed "The University" and an email that's formulaic but is specific to the search and signed by the chair. I prefer the human generated as opposed to the machine generated letter. But either way, I applaud the paperless process. I am very grateful this year to the searches that asked us to email or upload cv and application letter first, without requiring writing samples, letters and transcripts up front. That's a positive trend in my view. So is the emailed rejection letter.


 * I know this letter is from an Anglophone search but many of us work in both areas, so I am posting it here. High points for nice letter with a human feel to it. Came promptly after MLA interviews were scheduled too, not months later. When I emailed the chair with a query before applying, he emailed back promptly. Looks like a well run search.


 * Dear Candidate,
 * Thank you for your interest in the University of Hartford. Please forgive this formulaic response, made necessary by the sheer volume of applications we have received for our position in Anglophone literature. We have identified a small number of candidates to interview at MLA and, unfortunately, you are not among that group. Rest assured that the quality of the applicant pool made settling on a short list to interview at MLA extremely difficult.
 * I wish you well in your job search.
 * Yours sincerely,
 * Robert A. Logan
 * Professor of English
 * Chair, Department of English
 * College of Arts and Sciences

Best jobs/Worst jobs
 * All right: what's the choice job among the above? What's the dead end? Opinions?
 * Best Job: U Chicago. No contest.  And you never know a dead-end until you're in it.
 * Chicago is a dead end you can see from a mile away. It's a great city, but a totally dysfunctional department that uses searches as political weapons.  This job has been listed for several years and no one has ever been hired.  Plus, they're unlikely to tenure junior faculty, even those with books from top-notch presses.  Madison is by far the best research job listed here.  Lots of others would be wonderful quality-of-life jobs (if such a thing even exists anymore).
 * UW Madison would be my favorite. I interviewed with UNF recently and liked them enormously. Too bad the search failed.
 * Hey, I'd like that Madison job, too. Maybe we could share.
 * Fine by me. Shall we tell them two for the price of one?

Questions for SC MEMBERS:


 * 1) Why do YOU check the Wiki?
 * 2) Why do you request more materials days apart?
 * 3) Do you reject without reading a candidate's material if you can tell from her letter she works, say, later or earlier than you would ideally like?

More specific stats?
 * I am also interested in WHO is getting requests for more materials, interviews, and ultimately jobs: Ph.D.'s in hand mostly? Top 10 Ph.D. program graduates only? For specific jobs, what areas of expertise are being contacted? I really don't know HOW to make myself a better candidate (I already have multiple publications, for example) and it's comforting to know that, well, there's nothing I can do about not being a U Chicago graduate or not working in poetry, or not already being an Assistant Professor. But, yes, I know some of us beyond these parameters do, in fact, get good jobs. It also feels good to post when you do get a request, as well as, when you don't, to share disappointment through humor (see, for example, the categories of searchers we've created) with a job-seeking world that, while still virtual, is a little more tangible through the God-or-Foucault-bless-the-Wiki.
 * Please offer your stats?:
 * recent PhD, top-15 program, 1 p-r'd publication, 13 applications made, 2 requests
 * defended this year, program at a large state school (big 10), no publications, about 15 applications maybe, no requests
 * recent PhD, non-TT post at degree-granting institution (smallish, 2nd-tier), 1 publication, ~20 applications, no requests :-(
 * recent PhD, not TT post at PhD university, 1 non-scholarly publication, 1 publication under review, top 20 program, 26 applications, 2 requests
 * Postdoc. top non-US phd. one book. two articles. several reviews. 30-odd apps/2 mats requests/1 post-mats rejection.
 * ABD, book under contract, 3 p-r articles, 1 request
 * recent PhD, program in top 25, several book reviews and one short article on pedagogy, one-year VAP, 24 applications, 1 request
 * Recent PhD from 2nd tier program, 2nd year in a VAP position at small institution, 2 p-r'd articles (one on pedagogy), 2 textbook-related pubs, 16 applications, zero requests (boooo)
 * Can someone please define for me what a top tier vs. 2nd tier university is? I know that seems like a silly question. My program is in the top 20, but not top 10--is that top tier??
 * I don't think that's a silly question at all! I'm always baffled by these rankings, too, so I don't really have an answer for you. I would guess, though, that a program in the top 20 is in the top/1st tier; then maybe programs ranked from 30-50 would be in the second tier. What do others think?
 * ABD, top-20, no pubs, 34 applications, 1 request for more materials (what do the rest of you mean by "request"?)
 * I mean, request for more materials.
 * ABD, second tier large state u, three publication plus book review, about 30 applications, 2 requests