Spanish 2008-2009

List Information
Welcome to the Spanish Job Seekers wiki for 2008-2009! This is intended as a collaborative space for all job seekers to pool their resources. ¡Suerte!

''If you know anyone involved in the Spanish job search this year, please tell them about this page. The more people who use it and update it, the more useful it will be.''

WIKI COUNTER I'm on the market and I'm... ... ABD, but defending real soon now: 36  ... ABD, not defending real soon: 3  ... I am about to file my dissertation (no defense where I am): 1 ... a Ph.D., but still at my degree-granting institution: 3 ... in a post-doctoral position (ABD or with degree in hand): 3 ... a visiting assistant professor or adjunct position: 12  ... in a tenure-track position: 5  ... in a tenured position: </li> ... in a non-academic position: 1 </li> Actually, I'm just lurking: 2 </li></ul>

Offers Made
[NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks.]


 *  Carleton College (thirdhand knowledge, from a competing candidate)
 *  U of North Texas (12/15)[Congratulations!]
 *  Macalester College (accepted 12/16)[Congratulations!]
 *  U of North Dakota (accepted 12/17) [Congratulations!]
 *  Lawerence University (accepted before MLA)
 *  Muskingum College (thirdhand knowledge, :
 *  U of Indianapolis (accepted 1/14, secondhand knowledge)
 *  U of Wisconsin (Green Bay)???

Campus Interviews Scheduled
[NOTE: When you list a school, please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks.]


 *  Carleton College (Nov. 2-4, mid November)
 *  Muskingum College (first week of December)
 *  U of North Dakota (second week of December)
 *  U of Otago
 *  SUNY Albany (12/4, email)
 *  Stephen Austin State U (phone call 12/11)
 * <li> Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12/13) Jan-Feb
 * <li> Rutgers University at Newark (phone call, Luso-brazilian position, week of Dec 15th)
 * <li> Loras College (12/12) Feb
 * <li> University of Toronto (12/17 email) For January. No MLA interviews, but 4 candidates for campus visits.
 * <li> Bennington College (12/19, phone) for late February
 * <li> Colorado State (12/19, phone)
 * <li> University of Dallas (12/20 email)
 * <li> College of William and Mary (email 12/22 for Feb)What position A: Transatlantic
 * <li> Berkeley (12/29 CONFIRMED)
 * <li> U of Colorado Boulder (12/29)
 * <li> The University of the South (12/29)
 * <li> Lafayette College (email in MLA 12/29)
 * <li> Washington and Jefferson C. (call at MLA)
 * <li> Colorado College (Assistant prof. Latin Am. 01/04)
 * <li> California State University @ Long Beach (email in MLA 12/30)
 * <li> West Virginia University (email in MLA 12/29)Peninsular o Latinoamericana?? A: Latinoamericana.
 * <li> Marlboro (email in MLA, 12/29)
 * <li> Scripps (email/phone call, 1/2)
 * <li> University of Scranton (phone call 1/7) Feb
 * <li> Colby College (position "B") (phone call 1/6)
 * <li> Southern Methodist (email 1/6 ack. names have been forwarded to dean)
 * <li> Princeton (c. 1/7; luso-brazilian and Lat. Am.)
 * <li> Western Michigan (call 1/7)
 * <li> Baker University (phone call, 1/8)
 * <li> Monmouth College(email, 1/8)
 * <li> Texas State U (1/8)
 * <li> Temple U (1/6)
 * <li> Kenyon C (1/6)
 * <li> Colby College (position Golden Age) (1/8)
 * <li> LVC (email 1/8)
 * <li> Dartmouth College (1/8) Golden Age, email and then call
 * <li> William and Mary (before MLA)
 * <li> UNC Chapel Hill (1/8)
 * <li> Rice (candidates invited right after MLA-secondhand knowledge)
 * <li> Mt St Mary College (email, 1/8)
 * <li> Ursinus College (phone call, 1/9)
 * <li> TCU (Golden Age, 1/9)
 * <li> Saint Michael's College (1/9)
 * <li> Cal Poly Pomona (1/6)
 * <li> UT Austin (email, 1/9)
 * <li> West Texas A&M (Phone call, 1/9)
 * <li> Grand Valley State U (email, 1/9)
 * <li> Alfred University (Phone call, 1/12)
 * <li> Hendrix College (1/13)
 * <li> Seattle U (phone call, 1/13)
 * <li> Butler U (email, phone call 1/13)
 * <li> Illinois State (phone call, 1/13)
 * <li> Trinity C (phone call 1/14)
 * <li> U of Florida (email, 1/14) Literature
 * <li> Gettysburg College (phone call, 1/9)
 * <li> Middlebury, (Spanish) date unknown; word of mouth
 * <li> UNCG (date unknown)
 * <li> West Chester (1/16 x2)
 * <li> Central Michigan (1/16)Q: World Lit or Spanish-Generalist? A. Spanish-Generalist
 * <li> Oakland University (1/16)
 * <li> Holy Cross (1/15 email) '''Q: Which position exactly?
 * <li> Ohio Wesleyan Univ. (1/16 phone call)
 * <li> U of Iowa (2-nd hand knowledge. week of 1/13)
 * <li> Tulane (week of 1/12) Spanish A.And Luso-Brazilian (1/19 email)
 * <li> Tufts(email, 1/19)
 * <li> Union College (email, 1/20)
 * <li> Alabama (email and phone, 1/21)
 * <li> Augustana C (email, 1/22) Q: Which position? A. Spanish Golden Age - AND LatAm Lit.
 * <li> University of Chicago. Only one candidate has been (and will be) invited for a campus interview the first week of february. (UofC grad st reporting)
 * <li> Albright College (email 1/21)
 * <li> Cal State Los Angeles (e-mail 1/22)
 * <li> UA Little Rock (e-mail, 1/22, Latin American)
 * <li> Wake Forest '''Q: which position? date?  email/phone? A. Linguistics (candidates invited before MLA -secondhand knowledge)
 * <li> University of Michigan (four candidates are slated for campus visits in January)
 * <li> Columbia (Latin Americanist)
 * <li> Oklahoma State
 * <li> WUSL (French/Peninsular). '''Q: Date? Email/phone? French or Spanish Peninsularist?
 * <li> CUNY Queens College (phone call 1/28 for Latin American position) Q. Wasn't this for trans-Atlantic? A. Actually, I think they are looking for a Latinamericanist/Mexicanist. Q: Peninsularist? A. Phone call 1/29.
 * <li> George Washington University (Spanish specialist) email 1/25 Q: Phone interview before or directly campus visit invitation?Phone interview before
 * <li> Mercer University
 * <li> Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (email 1/29)
 * <li> Eastern Michigan U (Phone call 1/29)
 * <li> U of Alabama (phone call 2/2)

Phone Interviews Scheduled
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 * <li> Carleton C (Oct)
 * <li> SUNY Albany (mid Nov; campus visits in Feb)
 * <li> U of North Texas (11/14)
 * <li> Muskingum College (11/17)
 * <li> McKendree University (12/1, 12/3)
 * <li> Mercer University (11/17-21)
 * <li> U of Missouri - St. Louis (11/11)Which position? linguistics? A: Spanish (Assistant Teaching Prof)
 * <li> Northern State University - SD (11/14)
 * <li> South Carolina Aiken - SC (11/20)
 * <li> Meredith College (11/22)
 * <li> Macalester College (Nov)
 * <li> U of Otago (Nov)
 * <li> Doane College (Nov)
 * <li> Loras College (12/08)
 * <li> Stephen F Austin State U (12/4)
 * <li> University of Wisconsin Green Bay (Nov)
 * <li> University of Utah (12/4 phone call)
 * <li> University of West Georgia (12/5)
 * <li> Temple University (12/5, phone call)
 * <li> College of William and Mary (12/5, email)
 * <li> California State Los Angeles (12/5, email) 12/8-12/9
 * <li> U Wisconsin, River Falls (12/5, email)
 * <li> U of Wyoming (12/6, email)
 * <li> Texas A&M U Corpus Christi (12/6, phone call)
 * <li> Illinois State U (12/8, phone call)
 * <li> UNC Charlotte (12/8, email)
 * <li> Utah State (12/8 email)
 * <li> University of Massachusetts, Amherst (12/9, email)
 * <li> Wells College (12/9, e-mail)
 * <li> Bennington College (12/11, e-mail)
 * <li> Texas Tech (secondhand knowledge; a friend had a phone interview with them today, 12/11)
 * <li> Calvin College (12/12, email)
 * <li> Colorado State (12/16, phone, Mexicanist)
 * <li> University of southern indiana (12/16, phone)
 * <li> Capital University (ack. letter 12/17, 12/16: will finish reviewing Jan 9th and establish phone interviews then)
 * <li> University of Alabama (12/18 phone call - interview second week of Jan)
 * <li> C of New Rochelle (12/28 email - first week Jan)
 * <li> WestChester (1/8, phone)Linguistics
 * <li> Western Illinois University (1/8, email)
 * <li> Wake Forest (1/12)
 * <li> U of Texas, Pan American (email 1/14)
 * <li> Wilkes Honors College (1/17, e-mail)
 * <li> Western Oregon University (1/20, e-mail)
 * <li> Lynchburg College (1/19, phone)
 * <li> Williams College (1/22, e-mail)
 * <li> Utah State -- Brigham City (1/23, e-mail)
 * <li> Radford U (1/29) Q: Is this a campus visit or a phone interview post-MLA?
 * <li> Fayetteville SU (1/29) Q: Isn't this position canceled?
 * <li> Montclair SU (1/29)Q: is this post- MLA? They interviewed there A: A friend has a campus visit scheduled, not a phone interview.
 * <li> Case Western Reserve U (1/30, phone call, 1/30 email)
 * <li> U Wisconsin Superior (1/30 -- yes, after an MLA interview)
 * <li> Fisk University (e/mail 1/30; interviews 2/3-2/5)

MLA Interviews Scheduled
Link to MLA Interviews 2008

Rejections after MLA *
[NOTE: *This new category should let us distinguish applications rejected before MLA from rejections to candidates interviewed at the MLA who will not be invited for campus visits]


 * <li> Colby College, Position C (01/08, e-mail)
 * <li> Lafayette College (1/13 e-mail)
 * <li> University of Iowa (1/14 e-mail)
 * <li> University of Indianapolis (1/15 email)
 * <li> Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (1/15 email)
 * <li> Seattle University (1/16 mail)
 * <li> Washington and Lee University (1/13 mail)
 * <li> U of Richmond (letter rcd. 1/20)
 * <li> U of Ontario (letter rcd. 1/22) Q. What university if this? Is it in Canada?
 * <li> SMU, letter rcd. 1/26, no MLA interview
 * <li> U of Sydney (Australia), email rcd. 1/27
 * <li> Adelphi, letter 1/28
 * <li> Saint Joseph's college, email 1/28

Rejections before MLA
Link to Rejections before MLA

Canceled Searches
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please add to the bottom of the list. Thanks.]


 * <li> Albion C
 * <li> George Mason
 * <li> Catholic U (converted into Visiting Professor search)
 * <li> Connecticut College
 * <li> U of Virginia
 * <li> Miami U of Ohio
 * <li> Villanova (letter)
 * <li> UC-San Diego (Portuguese, 11/19, email)
 * <li> Converse College (letter, 11/22)
 * <li> Saint Joseph's University (around 11/25)
 * <li> University of California, Irvine (letter, 11/26)
 * <li> Claremont McKenna (Latin Americanist; email, 11/27 x2)
 * <li> UNCG - Not the latin americanist position.
 * <li> University of Pittsburgh (letter, 12/1 and 12/10)
 * <li> Florida State University---colonial latin american (letter, 12/04)
 * <li> Rowan U (email, 12/2)
 * <li> University of South Carolina - all three positions (no contact - on website)
 * <li> SUNY Stony Brook: the 20th Century Latin American position has been frozen (email, 1/6 x2)
 * <li> Dartmouth: postponed (email, 12/9) -- professorship of Portuguese. For this year, it's still up as a visiting position.
 * <li> U of Washington (email, 12/10 x 3)
 * <li> University of Massachusetts, Amherst (email, 12/13)
 * <li> Muhlenberg College (email 12/15 x 5), Latin American Position
 * <li> Calgary University, Canada (email 12/16 they have just sent out letters)
 * <li> Maryville College(12/17, letter)
 * <li> Reed College (Peninsular and Latin American; 12/17 Letter x 2)
 * <li> Arizona State University (email 12/18), Golden Age/Medieval. (converted into Visiting Professor search)
 * <li> U of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Peninsular (email, 12/19).
 * <li> Siena College (letter, 12/20 x2)
 * <li> High Point U. (12/22 letter)
 * <li> Siena College (12/22)
 * <li> Wilkes (12/22)What is the source of this information? I recently called asking about the status of the search and they said it's not cancelled. [Source: E-mail dated 12/22 indicating search suspended]
 * <li> UNC Charlotte (postponing search due to uncertainty of available funds)
 * <li> Drury University (email 12/5)
 * <li> U Minnesota Morris (email 1/6)
 * <li> SUNY Stony Brook (email 1/6)
 * <li> College of New Rochelle (email 1/12)
 * <li> Coastal Carolina University (email 1/14) (the search for this position has been put on hold because of economic situation)(1/27: I got an email saying it was back.)
 * <li> University of Missouri Saint Louis
 * <li> Colorado State University @ Fort Collins (phone call 1/16) The CSU has a new hiring freeze.
 * <li> Northern Illinois University (letter 1/29)
 * <li> Fayetteville State University

Q. Is it true that they cancelled Dartmouth (Golden Age) after the MLA and campus visits?

Jobs After MLA *

 * <li> (1/12) Cambridge, Spanish Golden Age, Deadline Feb 16. http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/ZL281/Senior_Research_Associate_in_Spanish_Golden_Age_Culture/

Have you heard about...?
'''[Note: Please leave info in this section until the school's status has been updated. Many people check this site once a week or even less frequently.]'''

NOTE: YOU CAN DO A SEARCH OF THE ENTIRE PAGE; ON A PC, GO TO EDIT/FIND AND TYPE IN THE SCHOOL. ON A MAC, PRESS "APPLE" F AND TYPE IN THE SCHOOL.

'''Q: Spanish Study Abroad Assistant Director at College of the Holy Cross?

'''Q: Mellon Post Doc in the Humanities at Tulane?

'''Q: Wilson College? A: I received an e-mail in December requesting a writing sample. Last week they informed me by e-mail that I am a "semi-finalist" and that they would be contacting my references.

'''Q: University of Puerto Rico (what happen with this position? Has someone heard?) A:They called on 1/21 and asked a few questions so they're probable still reviewing the applications. A: Thanks for the info!

'''Q: Wartburg? A: They just finished campus visits and will be making an initial offer by Feb. 1st.

Q: Furman?

Q: Dickinson College? Q. So, are they interviewing or not? Somebody deleted the previous message. A: Yes, at least one campus visit has been scheduled.'''Q. Do you know for which position? A: Linguistics. Q. What about the Peninsularist position? And the U.S. Latina/o?

Q: SUNY New Paltz? A: A friend got a cancellation notice.

Q: Case Western Univ? A: See above.

'''Q: Wash U after MLA? A: Wash U already notified of campus visits (from a friend of mine who got the nod). Q: Which position is this for exactly? What field is your friend in? A: Comp. Lit and French/Spanish

'''Q. Randolph-Macon, A: A friend of mine has a campus visit at Randolph-Macon.

Q. U. of Richmond after MLA? A: In the first week of January a friend told me she had been invited by Richmond to campus. Position in Latin American Literature and Cultural Studies.

'''Q. U. of Chicago after MLA? ''' A. See above. Do not worry. It is just politics/ideology. Not the candidates' competence or knowledge.

Q. Boston U. after MLA? A. Already contacted candidates for campus visit on last week of January.

Q. Saint Joseph's college after MLA? A. A friend of mine is going for a campus visit next week. He was contacted at the beginning of January.

Q. Capital University?

Q. Arkansas at Little Rock after MLA? A. Campus visits have been scheduled.

'''Q. Fairmont State University after MLA? '''

Q. Dominican? A: Campus visits scheduled (second-hand knowledge) Q. Do you know for which position?

Q. Oklahoma State?

Q. Saint Anselm College after MLA?Campus visits have been scheduled (second hand knowledge)

'''Q. Wisconsin Superior after MLA? A: Post MLA phone interviews. Q: What do you mean? I had an interview at MLA. Are they making phone interviews now? A: Yes, they made (post MLA) phone interviews yesterday, maybe they are undecided.

Q. Iowa State University (translation/interpretation/Spanish for professions) after MLA?

Q. Univ. of West Georgia? A: I had to email the search committee chair to see what was up. Got a polite rejection letter. My guess is, if you haven't heard anything by now, the news ain't good.

Q: What happened with Muhlenberg after MLA (Peninsularist)?Well, that was asked earlier and then somebody had the brilliant idea of erasing the info. Basically, we'll be finding out (hopefully) in early+ Feb. for campus visits the latter part of the month.

'''Q: U of British Columbia? [someone erased previous info]''' I really haven't heard about it, but it wouldn't surprise me if they canceled the search again. They have been doing that for the last three years: they announce a Latin American search, next year a Peninsular. So, look out for two Latin American positions next year! I stopped bothering with the applications. Sorry! A. I have it on third-hand knowledge that they are interviewing for the Medieval position. (2/3)

Q: U of Redlands? A. I got a confirmation letter and affirmative action materials late last week.

Q. Washington U at Vancouver? The deadline was 1/15. Got an email saying that it has been frozen. Forget about it.

Q: Grinnell C? has already scheduled campus visits.

Q: U of Utah? conducted webcam interviews in December rather than MLA. Said they would bring finalists to campus mid-January.'''/A. I was wondering if they have actually invited anyone for a campus visit?'''

Q. Guilford College? Has campus visits starting the first week of February

Q. Wittenberg University?

Q. University of Texas at San Antonio?

Q. Tennessee State University?

Q. St. Bonaventure University?A. I had an mla interview and haven't heard anything either.

'''Q. U of St. Thomas at St. Paul after MLA? ''' A: Also interviewed at MLA and haven't heard anything yet. A. Campus interviews have been scheduled (secondhand knowledge).

'''Q: North Central College? A: Campus visits scheduled (second-hand)

'''Q: Nova Southeastern University?

'''Q: University of St. Thomas?

Q. University of Puget Sound, Peninsular, visiting? A. They notified the short list a few weeks ago. Not competing with t-t searches so waiting until the end of Feb. to bring still-available candidates to campus.

'''Q. Virgina Tech after MLA?

Q. University of Colorado - Denver?

Q. I presume Western Kentucky has by now scheduled phone interviews if not campus invites for the dept head position?

Q. University of Iowa Business Spanish lecturer?

Q. Eckerd College?

Search-Related Comments, Questions, Tips, FAQs, Etc.
'''Q: Any advice for the flyback? It's my first. ''' A. The job talk and/or demonstration class are generally the most important part of the interview, so put most of your energy there. At the MLA they asked you questions and you talked most of the time. On campus, it will be more of a conversation, so let them talk and take some time to listen. There´s a lot they will want to tell you. Try to relax as much as you can. It´s very unlikely you´ll do anything to blow the job and whether or not you get it is largely out of your hands and often comes down to luck. A: I would disagree that the job talk is the most important part, this is not always the case, especially at liberal arts colleges that may ask you to teach two different classes, both a language and a literature, I would make sure that you clarify what they are looking for in a "job talk" I had one campus visit where I presented my 16 page, 40 minute "job talk" (which is typical for research places) and they had expected a 20 minute conference type presentation...needless to say they seemed bored, and were much more interested in my teaching. Do not underestimate the importance of the class you teach during your visit, ALSO do not forget that it is an interview, even though you may be having coffee with undergraduate students, I had one visit where after not getting an offer, a friend at the place told me that they had included undergraduate students in the search process, and that after having lunch with me, the students reported that I didn't seem very interested in the position, even though I had expressed in the actual "interview" and in conversation that I was interested, the students somehow felt that I wasn't and that affected my status...so be prepared and be yourself, but don't forget that even a cup of coffee where you mention that you hate living in a cold climate could be taken the wrong way...ie they figure you won't want to stay and will be back on the market if they hire you in favor of a warmer place...also wear really comfortable shoes as they seem to always want to include a "campus tour" even in subzero temps. A. I would agree with clarifying beforehand the length of the talk. My shortest job talk to date was at a liberal arts college; my longest, at a different liberal arts college. Also, I would concur with those who have said to treat every part of the visit as an interview, from the time they pick you up from the airport to the time you're back there. Even interactions that seem to be informal can leave a good or bad impression with people, and once you're on campus, a large part of the process boils down to whether or not you seem interesting and likable.

 Q: Usually, how many candidates are on the short-list for campus visits? A. Three is pretty typical. A. However, a lot of larger programs bring two and have a third on hold in case the first two don't work out. A. More programs bring in 4 candidates than 2. Some even bring 5, although I'm sure that that number is dropping this year.

'''Q: Has anyone received a request for a visit that they really don't want?? or turned down a visit? I received a call for one and I was really caught off guard...I said yes, but I'm regretting it. ''' A. I have a few on my list that I will say no to if they call and I turned down a request for a phone interview this week. You need to approach this with an open mind and maybe you'll be really happy somewhere you didn't take too seriously at first. But on the other hand, if you really really know that there's no way in hell you'd accept a job there, then do them and yourself a favor and call them back and say no. A. I have 2 campus visits only as a plan "B" if any of the other 3 in plan "A" don't work. I would not turn down any campus visit until I really have an outstanding offer from my favorites, as you never know what can happen, and the economy is not at its perfect time to reject any option (yet).A. I wouldn't refuse campus visits. They are good practice in the process, and if you get more than one offer, you have a better chance of negotiating with the institution you are interested in. A. I'd refuse a campus visit (and I have) for places I couldn't EVER imagine myself being (e.g., an island with 50,000 people off the coast of Alaska; that's why I now do better research before applying). I don't think it's fair to the university to fly me out for an interview when I cannot, in my wildest dreams, imagine accepting a job in X or Y location. Having said that, however, I agree with the first answer, and would advise you to keep an open mind when thinking about potential visits. It's better on balance to accept than to reject visits; especially in this job market, we can't be too picky.

Q: Any ideas of what you are supposed to do if you get an offer, but you still have upcoming campus visits already scheduled?? One school said they would be contacting me (if I was their first choice) by the end of next week, but I have three more visits scheduled, and I am interested in the other positions as well...I only have a 1/3 chance of this happening...but it could.... A. Legally, they to give you 2 full weeks for a response on your part (and most will). Otherwise, if the time period given to you is shorter, you can cordially ask if you can have the two full weeks to think about the offer (that you are honored, and will consider it with great enthusiasm etc...very carefully). As I said, "legally" they need to give you 2 weeks. ''RESPONSE: I don't know about "legal" as opposed to "MLA recommended." I doubt that there's a national law that dictates 2 weeks for considering a job offer, but I'm not a lawyer.''. RIGHT: There is no law to be followed, just MLA recommendations.

Another posibility is for you to say that you are delighthed by the offer and ask them to send you the contract. With this answer you are not saying YES, just you are living the door open telling them you are interested, this will give you more time. Preparing the contract can take up to 2 weeks with/or before the back and forward negociations on salary, moving expenses, posibility of reducing one courseload in your first year, extra funding for conferences or anything else you believe you are able to negociate. Until you sign the contract, there is no legal bound. Also, don't be afraid to tell them now that you are having other campus interviews and that you need to make a well informed desition before making a desition on their job offer. I believe it is positive for them to know where are you standing now I am very confident they will understand and give you more time.

Although a very good method to buy some time, some schools will not send you the contract until you have verbally accepted the offer. Ergo, ask directly for the two weeks and DO tell about your other campus visits.Good luck!

'''Q: For those who have been through this process before, when will the next wave of jobs be posted? Is the economy so terrible this year the JIL will stay as anemic as it has been the past several weeks?''' A. There are good jobs on the list through May, so don´t give up. A lot of schools don´t get positions approved until the second semester, which means the request has to go from the department, up through the dean´s office and to the provost. This takes a couple of weeks, so if they started back mid-January, they are only getting approval now and still need to advertise. There will definitely be more. There are about 80 billion dollars for education in the stimulus package, including a lot of money for pell grants, and a lot of direct aid for states. I doubt everything will collapse because of the economy. After the Catholic Church, Universities are the most long-lived institutions.