Rhetoric/Composition 2010

Rhetoric/Composition
Please be careful to check the formatting after you edit the pages. If you add a space before the content, wikia will convert the text to "Teletype" as if it is a "coding example" appearing in a textbook. The format for each university is:

University Name
 * comments on search status

Leave two blanks lines between institution names.

On the Search
And so the nightmare begins anew. ..

How do you all think this September compares to previous years for Comp/Rhet jobs? For sure, we'll know more when the JIL comes out, but colleagues in other departments have been lamenting the dearth of jobs in their field already. Thoughts?

If all of these jobs hold, I think we'll be doing okay. My concern is that funding will fall through and some of these jobs will be withdrawn. Since that is likely, lets hope it's not too many.


 * Well, I just passed 100 job applications. They say that some jobs are getting over 150 applications.  By the end of the year, I may have hit that many sent out.  Of course, I've been going for everything - rhet/comp, generalist, post-doc, lecturer, visiting - anything full-time.  My bet is that there are quite a few just like me.

See "History" page for date and time last updated.

tis the season: don't forget about the Universities to Fear wiki http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Universities_to_fear

What's going on with all the boxes? The Wiki is much harder to read now....????
 * Someone edited the site and adding spaces before lines invokes code mode -- the help at the top says never do this! It creates "Teletype" text.
 * Fixed manually (and slowly) once again... at least the fourth time I have cleaned the entire listing. (12/1) Thank you. (x3)

Wiki counter
Please bump up the appropriate category by 1, or add a new category and set it to 1.

I'm on the market and I'm...
...ABD:

...ABD but defending this year: 42

...a Ph.D., but still at my degree-granting institution: 5

...a visiting assistant professor or adjunct position: 6

...in a post-doctoral position (ABD or with degree in hand): (with degree in hand) 6

...in a tenure-track position: 13

...in a tenured position: 2

...academic support staff (non-teaching staff): 3

...in a non-academic position:

...primarily working in comp/rhet: 7

...primarily working in a field besides comp/rhet (with strong comp/rhet background): 6

...primarily working in a field besides comp/rhet (without strong comp/rhet background):

...trying to remember why I wanted to be an academic: 5

...ready to give up: 2

...wondering if McDonald's is still hiring: 1

...aging prof wishing I'd handled my career better 1
 * (care to give some advice, aging prof?)
 * a bit too much job changing early on can make hard to find TT later in life!

...Thinking this whole process is crazy - most other jobs at the same salary range only ask for a resume and a 2-3 pg application!: 3

Actually, I'm just lurking
...as a SC member: 3
 * Q to SC Lurkers: Are you willing to say what info interests you here? (see Q/A section below)

...as a faculty member (not on SC) in a dept. that is about to release a job ad: 1

...Spouse of a Search Candidate: 3

...as someone on the market in 2010: 1

...as someone on the market (in a non rhet/comp field) in 2010: 1

Q & A about the Career Path
See more on Discussion Page

Q: Any thoughts on when it's time to give up hope hearing from a school? If I haven't had request for more materials & others have about a week ago, is the writing on the wall?

A: Depends on the deadline. I would trust the wiki- if they wanted more materials from someone more than 2 weeks ago, you're probably out. If they arranged interviews within the past 5 days and you weren't called, you're probably out. At least that's how I'm doing it. The official rejection letters usually come way late in the process.

A non-composition ABD wondering what the teaching load norm is for these tt positions 2-2 or 4-4?
 * Simple answer: YES! More detailed answered: It all depends on whether it's a [edit: public] teaching or research institution. I think it varies with liberal arts colleges/universities. I've seen 3-3 and "small" class sizes advertised. The jobs ads, for the most part, specify the load, though.

Q to SC Lurkers: Are you willing to say what info interests you here?
 * Making sure that our search progress is on the same schedule with other schools so that we don't get behind.

For Rhetoric, be sure to follow Communications Wikia 2010 updates.
 * Many of the Rhet/Comp posts were cross-listed and are interviewing.
 * Also check Indeed: Rhet/Comp Jobs

Question to SC lurkers who've received a large number (100+) of applications: are all those you've received comp/rhet PhDs? Are there really that many of us?
 * Yes, there are that many. Most R1 SCs will receive 90 - 150 applicants per post
 * Unconfirmed: Second tiers are receiving 50+ for most openings
 * Confirmed: At least some community colleges are receiving 50+ because CSU, UC, and other similar state systems have no openings
 * Search at: California Community Colleges
 * In my search: out of 145, 120 or so were RC. Yes, there are that many now and from many different schools. New programs (Bowling Green, Clemson, UTEP, UN Reno etc.) are starting to graduate more students.

Probably not the "correct" thing to ask, but if there are this many people for so few jobs, do we need new programs? Do we need as many graduates as we are producing? What becomes of the hundreds who will not find work this year or next as states cut even deeper? Should we have a "career options" forum? Ouch.
 * Some appointments will likely be defunded, too, so develop a backup plan.
 * Yes! A career options forum would be *fantastic*!
 * Might as well use the Discussion page, since there are no editing issues: Discussion Page

Tenure-Track Jobs
'''Please read the editing instructions at the top of the wikia page! You can easily muck up this code, and people have.'''
 * Please edit by section when possible, not the full list.

(ALPHABETICAL)

Institutions A-B
American University of Kuwait
 * Phone Interview on Oct. 12 2009: Very friendly.
 * E-mail rejection (11/23) x 1

Arizona State University
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x5

Auburn University 
 * Request for more materials x13
 * Phone interview scheduled x4 (most recent: 11/23)
 * Phone interview conducted (12/3) x2

Augusta State University (WC Director)

Augusta State University (Asst. Prof.)
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x4
 * I did not apply for this position but for another one at Augusta.
 * The confirmation that I received TODAY (11/30) says that a short list will be determined by Dec. 1. Did your confirmation say something similar? Just curious.
 * To the poster above, the SAME thing happened to me yesterday (11/30).

Barry University 
 * MLA interview scheduled (11/10) x2

Baylor University 
 * confirmation of application
 * request for more materials 11/5 x4

Birmingham-Southern College 

Boise State (WAC) 
 * affirmative action form by email x2
 * phone interview scheduled 11/16
 * Rejection letter x 3 (11/23; 11/24)
 * Finalists selected (12/3)

Bluffton (OH) University (TESOL) 
 * requested supplemental application form
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info

Bradley (IL) University 
 * confirmation of application
 * confirmation of application and request for more material x 10 (11/18)

Bridgewater State 

Brigham Young University 

Bryn Mawr College (Writing Center Director)

Buena Vista University 
 * Confirmation of receipt of application, late October x3
 * Phone interview arranged (12/1) x2

Institutions C-E
Catawba College 
 * request for more materials 11/20 x2
 * Rejection letter via postal mail (12/3)
 * Email received (12/4) stating that due to financial constraints, the committee will not be holding interviews at MLA.
 * Initial phone interviews will be held in early Jan w/ campus visits to follow.
 * They also stated that they received over 100 apps for the job and that my dossier request was one of 18. x2

Central Michigan University 
 * confirmation of receipt of application, request for EEO info x 5 
 * Phone interview conducted on 11/14 x 1

Champlain College

Clemson University 
 * request for more materials x8

Coastal Carolina 
 * Phone interview scheduled (11/20) x2
 * Q: How did they contact you? A: By phone.
 * Phone Interview scheduled for Dec 9th (contacted by phone 12/4)

College of Coastal Georgia
 * (Q: Where is this position listed?) It's listed of the online Chronicle of Higher Ed joblist
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info

Cuyahoga Comm College

Daemen College
 * 11/23 - Major faux pas: it's not a good idea to use CC instead of BCC when emailing someone already on edge that you received his or her and 60 others' applications. [Make that 99 others, since they were nice enough to send the same email out again [3rd time, actually] with more email addresses added! What's going on there? ;P ] x 99
 * rec'd letter dated same date of inappropriate email saying my materials were forwarded on to the committee and rec'd an EEO form

DePaul University
 * e-mail confirmation of application (11/24)

Drew University 
 * Confirmation of materials x 5 (11/24)

Duke (first year writing fellowships)

Eastern Illinois 
 * confirmation of application x 8

Eastern Washington University

Institutions F-L
Fayetteville State University
 * Note: do see "universities to fear" and prepare yourself accordingly.

Florida Atlantic University 
 * Request for more materials 11/13 x 5
 * MLA interview scheduled via phone (12/4)

Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter 

Georgia Gwinnett College 

Georgia Southern (new media) 
 * Phone Interview Scheduled (11/18)

Georgia Southwestern SU
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info (11/23)
 * Furloughs, no raises, dysfunctional department. Avoid at all costs.

Georgia State 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info
 * request for more materials (11/17) x8

Grand Valley State 
 * MLA interview scheduled x3 (most recent: 11/23)

Grandview (IA) College 

Harvard (Preceptor- not tenure track) link to job ad
 * e-mail confirmation of receipt of application, mid-October
 * e-mail confirmation of receipt of application, end Oct.
 * Does anyone know what this job pays?
 * R- I believe it is around $50K
 * e-mail confirmation, mid-Nov
 * request for materials (11/19) x9 (11/20) x2
 * may I ask did request for more materials come by email? ---Mine did. x7
 * think I got the email for also-rans, just generic asking EEO info (11/20)
 * no, I got both emails.

High Point University (Asst. Prof. of Comp. and Lit. -- lit. specialization open)
 * e-mail confirmation of application (11/16) x 2, (11/24)
 * Did anyone not get an email confirmation?
 * request for video/phone interview via email x1 (12/04)

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)
 * E-Mail confirmation of application x 5

Ithaca College (2 positions)

IUPUI 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info

Kennesaw University 
 * phone interview scheduled (11/20) x2

Kent State, Tuscarawas

Kutztown University of PA 
 * affirmative action request via mail (11/17)
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/2) x5

Lafayette College 
 * confirmation of application x6
 * request for addt'l materials x4 (12/1)

Lebanon Valley College 
 * MLA interview invitation received via phone 12/3 x1

Lewis (IL) University (WPA) 

LIM College

Lindenwood University

Longwood (VA) University 
 * confirmation of receipt of application, request for EEO info (x2) 11/30
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/1) x2

Loyola University, MD 
 * email requesting phone interview to be set up in 2 weeks 10/26
 * Phone interview set up
 * form rejection letter 11/6 x 5
 * Said they are doing 2 sets of phone interviews since they are doing two searches; hasn't set up the second setyet
 * Anyone know what the 2 positions are? I've applied to the Assistant Prof. of Writing, what is the other? Which positions have had phone interviews set up? (both?)
 * The two jobs are the Writing Center Director and the Assist. Prof of Writing. They have set up interviews and apparently campus visits for the WC Director (see below). They are in the process of setting up the second set of interviews for the Asst. Prof of Writing job. This is not a second ROUND of interviews. It's just taken them several weeks to complete the initial 10 interviews.

Loyola University, MD (Prof./Dir. of Writing Center) 
 * Phone Interview in late Oct.
 * Campus visit scheduled for early December

Institutions M-N
Massey U (New Zealand) (Lecturer)
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info
 * Request writing sample (11/28)
 * Request letters from references (12/1)

Millikin U (Ass't Prof English/Journalism & Prof Wrtg)

Monmouth C (Ass't/Assoc Prof & Coord, Comm Across Curriculum))

Montana State University (English/Comp Education, MSU site ad)
 * Ack of complete app x1 (9/21)

Mt. Ida College
 * confirmation of application (11/23, 12/1 via email)

Mt. Union (Writing Center)
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info (x 2)
 * MLA interview scheduled (11/25) x3

Morningside College
 * Ack of application (11/30)

Northwest Missouri State University 
 * MLA interview scheduled via phone (12/3) x 3

Institutions 0-R
Penn State Berks (Writing Center TT)
 * E-mail confirmation of application and Affirmative Action Data Card (11/10) x 2

Penn State York 
 * Affirmative action email survey (11/19) x 2

Pepperdine University 
 * Ack of application
 * Rejection (12/3)
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/4)
 * Would the above posters mind sharing how they were contacted?

Philadelphia University (Director of WAC)

Pitzer College (Writing Center) 
 * Affirmative action email survey x 6 (11/16, 11/20)

Purdue University 
 * Ack of Application/EEO Card x 6 (most recent: 11/5)
 * MLA interview scheduled via phone 12/4 x2

Queens College, CUNY
 * Where is this advertised?
 * It's on the MLA JIL (ade.org)
 * letter ack of application x 5
 * The Chronicle recently posted what appears to be the same position with a later deadline and an online application. Strange!
 * Either they didn't like the applications they received the first time around, or they're doing a last minute post to increase the applicant field for a position that has a pay range that isn't that spectacular for the new york metro area.
 * I just received a letter that states "We wish to acknowledge the receipt of your applications for the position of Assistant Professor, Rhetoric and Composition in the English Department. If you have not already done so, please send us your dossier at your earliest convenience."  That's it.  Just those two sentences.  Did anyone else get this letter?  I'm not sure if this is just a standard ack of app or if it is a formal dossier request.
 * I received the same letter. As their most recent job posting asks for a dossier (which wasn't in the original MLA posting) I figure it's their form letter of acknowledgment.
 * I also received this letter. x3

Regent University 

Rider University (2) 
 * Has anyone heard from them? Their deadline was October 1st, and they asked for a serious stack of paperwork???
 * Good question- I was thinking the same thing today.
 * Nothing here. (11/19) x 8
 * According to the Theory wiki, applicants for the Theory position were phoned about MLA interviews. (11/20)
 * They are currently contacting candidates for MLA interviews (composition studies - 11/23)
 * MLA interview scheduled 11/23. x3

Roosevelt University 
 * request for more materials (11/19) x 5 (how made? email? letter? thnx.)
 * rec'd e-mail request

Rowan University link to job ad
 * ack of application, request EEO info x5
 * Email request for more materials (11/21) x4
 * Request for phone interview (12/3) x3

Institutions S-T
Saginaw Valley SU (3 positions)

Savannah College of Art and Design, Hong Kong

Simpson College 

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

St. Edward's University
 * Confirmation of application, request EEO info x3
 * Phone interview scheduled (12/3) (Q: Did they contact you by phone or by email? A: Phone.)

St. Francis University
 * Phone Interview Conducted (11/20) x2

St. John Fisher College 
 * request for more materials (11/23) x 7

St. Norbert College 
 * ack of application x 4 (11/16)
 * MLA Interview Invitation received via phone (email follow-up also received) x 3 (11/30)

St. Xavier 
 * just received letter saying "search is currently on hiatus" (11/20) x 4
 * looks like same thing happened last year too.
 * successful search in 2008-2009; 2007-2008 search for two positions was consolidated into one position which was filled

Seton Hill University 
 * EEO card x 3 (11/14) (11/23)
 * MLA interview invitation received via phone (12/1, 12/2) x 4

Shepherd University 
 * MLA interview invitation received via phone (12/3) x 1

Soka University
 * confirmation of application x 4

Southwestern Oklahoma State Univ.

Swarthmore College (3 year renewable position) 

Syracuse University Link to Ad)
 * email ack of application (11/19)

Tarleton State University 

Texas A&M  English without Borders; three posts?
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x 3 (11/2)

U… - U of K (Many are Univs of…)
United States Military Academy
 * USMA - What job is this and where is it listed? I only saw Social Science and Language positions on their site.
 * It's posted on MLA: Position begins in Jan. as a semester appointment with a chance to compete for a subsequent three-year appointment.

Unity College, Maine
 * Acknowledgment of material 11/20 (12/2) x2

University of Alaska-Fairbanks 

University of Colorado (Denver) 
 * Request for letters of recommendation x6 (most recent: 11/17)

University of Dayton (ESL) 
 * Request for more materials x3 (most recent: 11/2)
 * MLA Interview request x3 (most recent: 12/1)

University of Florida 
 * FL: Received a letter in response to my app that "after reviewing materials" they will only be inviting "two or three" applicants to campus and "to bear with them during these endeavors". I take this to mean no MLA intvws. x 8
 * Last I heard, about a month ago, the committee was planning to go to MLA. This will be their third search for this position in as many years.
 * Request for more materials. Said they received over 150 applications. (11/12) x 3
 * Q: Does anyone know approximately how many applicants will be asked for additional materials for big research 1 schools like this - and the how many will be invited to MLA interviews?

University of Hartford 
 * Acknowledgment of Application/EEO Card x 11
 * Advisor contacted for more info x2 (most recent: 12/1)
 * -- What do you mean by this? (They e-mailed my advisor, asked when I will be finishing, and if I can teach a broad range of courses.)
 * My advisor was emailed and asked the same questions on 12/1.

University of Houston 
 * Acknowledgement of Application/EEO Card x 3
 * e-mail request for more materials x3 (most recent: 12/1)

University of IIlinois Urbana-Champaign 
 * request for more materials x12
 * MLA Interview scheduled (12/4)
 * Q: Would the above poster mind sharing how you were contacted?

University of Kansas 

University of Kentucky
 * Acknowledgment of application x 4 (most recent: 12/1)

U of L … on (Many are Univs of…)
University of Louisville 
 * confirmation receipt of application x5
 * request for more materials x5

University of Maryland 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x 7
 * received an email that said the committee "has selected your application for further consideration." x5
 * rejection letter received 12/5

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info. x 5

University of Michigan
 * (2 positions: 1 Beginning Asst, Advanced Asst, or Assoc. Prof, open specialty; 1 Asst Prof for Digital Culture Cluster)
 * (Q: There's only 1 on MLA. What's the second position?)
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x5 
 * very nice confirmation letter that included a timeline for decisions - professional and thoughtful
 * The digital environments/digitial humanities position is not a comp/rhet specific position. Nothing in the job description mentions those areas.  The deadline has now passed, but the job ad is still available on the MLA Job List by serarching for "Michigan, digital." See also the listing under Drama/New Media on this site.

University of Nebraska 
 * request for more materials x3

University of New England link to job ad

University of North Carolina, Pembroke

University of North Dakota 
 * Request for dossier 12/5

University of North Florida 
 * Request for materials x 2 (most recent: 11/23)
 * Be sure to read salary survey, faculty report: Pay Below St. Univ. System Averages

University of Oklahoma (lecturer)
 * Request for materials x2 (most recent: 11/24)

University of Pittsburgh 
 * Ack of Application/EEO Card x 5
 * Request for materials x6
 * rejection received via email x 15

University of Pittsburgh-Bradford 
 * Ack of Application/EEO Card x2

University of San Francisco (Term Assistant Professor)
 * Ack of Application/EEO Card x 4
 * Request for add'l materials via email 12/2 x4

Univ. of Southern California (lecturer)

University of South Carolina, Columbia 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info x 6

University of South Carolina Upstate 

University of South Dakota 
 * confirmation of application, requested EEO info
 * Phone interview scheduled + request for additional materials x3 (most recent: 11/25)

University of South Florida

University of South Florida, Polytechnic

University of Southern Indiana link
 * (side note: I used to work here; workplace is more toxic than most. Chair was removed last year. Comp chair quit. Not good.)
 * Phone interview scheduled 10/9 -- very nice
 * Phone interview scheduled 10/13 -- very nice interviewers
 * Contacting my references, 11/02--QUESTION: Folks, What does it mean if they're contacting my references whose letters they already have? What is the next step after the phone interview and reference contacting usually? Many thanks.
 * If you're ABD, most likely they want to verify with your references that you will finish your degree in the expected time. However, even if you're not ABD, it's still standard practice to actually contact references by phone--even if they already have your letters. Some committees contact references before inviting candidates to campus. Others contact them afterward. Regardless, sounds like you'll be invited to campus.
 * Campus visit scheduled x2
 * Q: Which job does this entry refer to:  the Assistant Professor of English positions or the Instructor / Contract Assistant Professor of English position?
 * A: My campus visit (noted above) is for the Contract Assistant Professor of English.
 * A: My campus visit is for the Assistant Professor of English
 * Q: Has anyone who was interviewed for this position heard back yet?

University of Texas-Arlington 
 * Request for more materials x 6 (most recent: 11/20)

University of Texas-Brownsville 
 * confirmation of application postcard x 2 (most recent: 11/12)
 * Phone interview scheduled x 2 (12/4)

University of Texas-Pan American 
 * Request for more materials x 1

University of Utah (2 positions) 
 * Request for more materials x 4
 * MLA interview invitation for Asst. Prof via phone (12/4) x2
 * According to someone associated with this search, they have received over 150 applications
 * A lot of searches have many applicants this year; I'm on a search with 145 applications.
 * What are the two positions? - Answ - They are the same job, but one is entry level Asst. Prof and other is Asst/Assoc. Prof level

University of Waterloo 

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
 * Phone interview scheduled x2 (most recent: 11/16)
 * Phone interview conducted x2 (most recent: 11/20)
 * Campus interview scheduled

University of Wisconsin-Madison 
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info -- letter says screening will continue throughout month x 4
 * request for more materials (via email) x 11 (most recent: 12/2)

Univ. of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
 * confirmation of application, request EEO info

Univ. of Wisconsin-Stout
 * EEO form request x5 (most recent: 12/2)

Virginia Military Institute

Institutions W-Z
Wake Forest University (lecturer)
 * Request for more materials x 3 (10/26)
 * Would you mind sharing when you submitted your applications? (11/23) A: I sent mine out on 10/20. A: 10/13. A: 10/23
 * MLA interview scheduled via email (12/02) x2

Wesleyan College 
 * acknowledgment of application x5

Western Carolina University

Willamette University 
 * acknowledgment of application/Applicant Information Form x3 (11/17)
 * They already conducted 15 interviews at NCA…
 * Emphasized communications, new media, screen/stage
 * They did emphasize those areas but I didn't expect them to do interviews exclusively at NCA. Bummer.
 * On campus interviews scheduled

Winona State (3 positions) 
 * Q. Where is the ad for this? it's not on their website or JIL?? thx
 * One ad appeared in the StarTribune and was e-mailed to some U of MN students.

Xavier University (WPA)
 * Ack of Application/EEO Card x6
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/4)
 * Q. Would the above poster mind sharing how you were contacted?

Suspended Searches
St. Xavier University (11/21) via letter

Offers Made
List Institution and whether (1) offer has been made and (2) accepted (with date).


 * example

== Hiring Info == If you wish, please feel free to use this section to share information salaries offered. It would be helpful to all current and future seekers. If you're willing to do this, make a note of the kind of job, the level (asst/assoc/full), the region, the kind of university, the salary, and any very significant perks/incentives (if any), male or female, and if you negotiated