Early American 2009

Early and 19th c. American
Please update the date and time whenever you edit this page!!! Last update: 12/24 at 5:33 PM EST 

Should we follow the other wiki fields and do a headcount?
 * ABD 20
 * PhD in hand (lecturer or adjunct or post-doc) 9
 * Visiting Assistant Professor 4
 * Assistant Professor 7
 * PhD in hand working non-academic job 2
 * What, no search committee lurkers? 2

MLA Interviews Scheduled/Contacted

 * Ball State
 * Boston University
 * Butler U
 * CalTech (reported on Romanticist page)
 * College of Wooster
 * Edgewood College
 * Georgia State U
 * Indiana University of PA
 * James Madison U
 * Kutztown U
 * Loyola University Chicago
 * LSU
 * Notre Dame
 * Pace University
 * Penn State-Shenango
 * San Francisco State U
 * Simpson College
 * St. Michael's College
 * UCLA
 * U of Memphis (phone)
 * U of Nebraska (reported on Romantic/Victorian page)
 * U of New Orleans (cancelled)
 * U of North Texas
 * U Pacific
 * U of Wyoming
 * Wofford College
 * Winona State (phone)

Individual Job Listings
Ball State (11/1)
 * email acknowledgment of materials
 * Acknowledgment of application (11/3) (x2) 
 * Request for further materials (11/11) (x3)
 * MLA interview request by phone (12/11) (x2) 

Boston University
 * Received confirmation letter that app was complete 11/2
 * Acknowledgment of app (11/6) (x2)
 * Request for further materials (11/12) (x5)
 * Rejection by mail (11/28) (4)
 * MLA interview request by e-mail (12/12)(x2)
 * Rejection by mail--an incredibly thoughtful and generous letter. (1/1)

Bridgewater SC Due 12/1
 * As of 11/14, I received word this position was still active.
 * Email request for letters of recommendation 12/1 (x 4)
 * Request for Phone interview 12/11 (2)
 * Q: Does anyone know if they're interviewing at MLA?
 * A: Bridgewater never goes to MLA.
 * Campus visit scheduled for late January early February.<BR>

Butler University Due 11/3<BR>
 * Request for more materials 11/5 (Submitted app 11/1)<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app 11/7<BR>
 * Email from dept. 11/7 with no earlier request for additional materials ("Thanks, but no thanks"?)<BR>
 * Email request for additional material, last week of October.
 * Request for further materials (11/3) (x4)
 * Request for further materials (11/20)
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/5 x4)
 * Q: Were the interviews scheduled by phone or e-mail?
 * A: phone

Caltech (19th C Brit or Early Amer or Transatlantic)Deadline: Dec. 1,<BR> E-mail states: "of the three tenure track positions that were advertised by the Humanities at Caltech this summer/fall only one of the three positons [sic] will have a chance of being filled." Not clear whether these are the three sub-fields in literature (which I'd always assumed were for only one job), or three jobs across the humanities.
 * Anybody know what it's like to teach literature at Caltech?
 * A: I hear it's delightful. Low teaching load, very motivated students. Will force you to become a generalist in the classroom, but expectations for research are high.
 * Email request for more info, including EEO and a job application (12/5)
 * Was that e-mail request with the EEO and job application something that goes out to everyone?
 * I don't know, but I got it too. (12/5 x3)
 * Did not receive email request, so maybe not.
 * Rejection e-mail (12/24)
 * Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Claremont Graduate University (10/6/08). 19th century American Literature and Cultural Studies.
 * Requested interviews at ASA or CGU campus already (10/14).<BR>
 * Any word yet on a short list for campus visits? (10/27)<BR>
 * 4 candidates on shortlist; got call 10/23<BR>
 * isn't it a violation of MLA guidelines for them to be interviewing so early?
 * Do you have any more information about these guidelines? As one of the candidates, I'd love to learn if we have any leverage.
 * A: You can find some of the relevant guidelines here: []. *So far, I haven't been able to find too much detail that would make this a violation. <BR>
 * Additionally, because they interviewed at ASA, they may make the case that this is not an exclusively MLA-field job. Also, my understanding is that the MLA guidelines are just guidelines and are not enforceable, though they do indicate a kind of "best practices."  There is a list on the MLA site of administrations that have been censured by AAUP, but I would imagine that's for more than violating MLA guidelines. This might be a good question for Chronicle forums, too.
 * Have they already made an offer for this position?
 * A: According to SC chair, offer has been made and accepted

College of Wooster (11/10/08) 19th century American literature<BR>
 * Received confirmation e-mail that application was complete(10/30)<BR>
 * Request for writing sample (11/19 x7)<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled (11/24 x2)<BR>
 * Q: How were these interview requests received? A: Phone (12/1)
 * Rejection email (12/18)(+1--a rather kindly worded rejection, I might add)

Edgewood College (Madison, WI) (11/15/2008) [ad] <BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app (11/19)
 * Request for writing sample, STP, and dossier (11/17)<BR>
 * Request for further materials (11/19)(x3)
 * MLA Interview Scheduled by phone (12/10) (x2)

Georgia State University (11/10/08) 19th century, with antebellum specialty<BR>
 * Wasn't this job posted last year? Did they not find a candidate or was funding pulled? (10/28) I believe they lost funding last year for this job. The search was canceled.<BR>
 * Rec'd e-mail confirmation that materials were received (11/6)<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app (11/18) (x2) <BR>
 * Request for more materials (11/18)<BR>
 * MLA Interview Scheduled (12/12)<BR><BR>

Indiana University of PA (11/30/08) American Lit to 1920<BR>
 * acknowledgment of app by mail (12/4)<BR>
 * Did this indicate their timeline for the search? They asked for enough materials initially that they could conceivably be doing MLA interviews or they may be like other schools and circumvent the conference altogether.  Just curious if they made their plan clear.
 * Letter indicated MLA interviews will occur; also that job is 4-4, which was a bit surprising
 * It's not so surprising if you know anything about IUP. FWIW, though, I suspect/believe they offer some reductions for graduate level teaching and/or productive researchers.  I suspect you need to fight for a 3/3, though, even if you're publishing and teaching a graduate class every semester.  This is guesswork, not fact.<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/11) (4)<BR><BR>

James Madison University (11/5/08) American Lit 1865 - 1950<BR>
 * acknowledgment of app (11/6)<BR>
 * email ack 11/11<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app 11/12<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled (11/23 x2)<BR><BR>

Kutztown Univ (PA) (11/10/08) Early American Lit<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app 11/17<BR>
 * Request for MLA interview by phone (12/7) (x3)<BR><BR>

Longwood Univ. (VA) (11/15/08) Asst. Prof. English/Early American Lit<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app. Also received a release form to have academic information released...not sure what this means, but most likely included in all acknowledgments? (11/19)
 * Request for phone interview (12/1)<BR>
 * Request for phone interview (12/2) (x2)<BR><BR>

Louisiana State University (11/14/08) Asst. Prof. 19th-Century Amer Lit and/or Brit. Romanticism <BR>
 * acknowledgment by email that application was received (11/14)<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/8)<BR><BR>

Loyola University (Chicago) Asst Prof to 1865<BR>
 * Wasn't this job posted last year as well? A: Yes, it was. Offer was made and declined.<BR>
 * Received email ack (11/6)
 * Email ack (11/14)
 * Acknowledgment of app (11/17)<BR>
 * Request for more materials (11/11 x3) (11/14)(11/19)
 * Q: wasn't the ap due on 11/14? anyone get news since then?
 * A: In request for more materials, it was stated that they did not expect to finish reviewing applications before 12/15
 * Thank you!!
 * Last year they called on Dec. 23 to schedule an MLA interview
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/17)

Maryville College (Tennessee) (12/1/08) Asst Prof., Colonial through 19th Century American Literature ad<BR>
 * acknowledgment by email that application was received<BR>
 * USPS acknowledgment of app (11/13, 11/21) (+2)
 * Q: Anyone know if this position is still open?
 * Notice that this search has been canceled via snail mail (12/17)
 * A cold and overly formal letter

Nanyang Technological University Asst. Prof., 19th C. American
 * Phone interview scheduled by email (12/5)

Notre Dame (Indiana) (10/31) Open rank, two positions, 19th and 20th c. American fiction.<BR>
 * Received letter via USPS that application was received (11/3)<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app. via USPS (11/4) (x2) <BR>
 * Received request for more materials (11/14)(x2)
 * Two senior campus interviews scheduled for first two-weeks of December
 * Do they still plan to interview junior candidates at the MLA?
 * I will double check and get back to you
 * Thank you. I ask because the request for additional materials specified 11/26 as the receipt deadline.
 * Yes, junior candidates will be interviewed at the MLA convention
 * Rejection via snail mail (12/8)x5
 * Q: Were any of the rejectees previously solicited for a writing sample?
 * A: I was not contacted for a WS and got the rejection ltr (12/11 x2)
 * Interview request by phone (and then email) (12/15)
 * Rejection via email. (12/17 X2)
 * I had been solicited for a writing sample; just received a nicely-worded rejection by email (12/17)
 * I was the one above; same deal. I think the niceness is generic.

Pace University (11/15/08) Asst Prof, 19th Century
 * Got request for more materials - seemed like mass email (11/7 x2)
 * Got the same request for more materials; definitely mass email.
 * Did not get the request -- maybe not all that mass.
 * got request for dossier via email (11/25)
 * MLA interview scheduled via phone (12/10 x 2)

Penn State-Shenango (10/20/08) (Americanism with race/gender diversity)
 * Also listed on 20/21st wiki
 * Request for MLA interview via email (12/15) x3
 * Q: Have they gotten back to you after that initial email yet?
 * A: No, I haven't received any follow-up, but I'd give them some time, considering they have to coordinate everyone's schedules. I'm just thrilled their search wasn't canceled!
 * A: No, and ditto.
 * Interview scheduled (x3)

Princeton University (10/31/08) Asst Prof, to 1865.
 * someone in my dept. has an on-campus PRE mla interview scheduled. huh.
 * Curious. Is it a current assistant prof on the tenure track, an abd, or a recent PhD?
 * Rejection letter 12/11 (x4)

San Francisco State U (11/12/08) 19th Century Asst Prof<BR>
 * acknowledgment of app by mail 11/10(x3 11/13)
 * MLA interview scheduled via email (12/15) (x4)<BR><BR>

St. Michaels American (11/15/08) Lit/pre-20th century
 * email acknowledgment 11/14, 11/18<BR>
 * snail-mail ack. 12/4
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/10)(x2)
 * Rejection letter: a wonderfully generous and thoughtful letter that offers a real model for kindness in this profession. (12/20)

St. Thomas Aquinas
 * Phone interview request by phone (12/15)
 * Q: Did you actually schedule the phone interview, or did they say they were going to call back end of Jan. to schedule the phone interview?
 * A: No, I haven't scheduled the phone interview yet. I was asked to return the call in anticipation of a phone interview in January.

Simpson College (IA) (11/1/08) (pre-20th C. American)
 * Ack. of app. 11/14<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/9 (x2)

SUNY New Paltz (11/01/08) late 19th-Century Amer Lit<BR>
 * Has anyone heard anything about this position? I ask b/c most state schools in NY have experienced a hiring freeze. I would assume that SUNY NP has been affected. No?
 * As far as I can tell, New Paltz is avoiding any hiring freeze--a bit of an outdated article, but this might be worth looking at: http://oracle.newpaltz.edu/article.cfm?id=3845 (11/26)
 * More recent and less encouraging news: in a statement made reported on 11/21, the New Paltz president indicated that they would consider "reviewing faculty searches." (source: midhudsonnews.com)11/26
 * Boo! But thanks for the info... I had a feeling.
 * Notification of canceled search by mail (12/12, 12/13)
 * I guess the wave had to come to this field eventually, but of all the jobs this year why, oh why, this one? <BR><BR>

Texas A&M, Corpus Christi (10/31/08) (Am Lit to 1865, pre-Renaissance and transnational)<BR>
 * Ack. of app. 11/11
 * Request for phone interview via email (12/5)
 * Request for campus interview via email (12/19)<BR><BR>

Texas Tech U (11/1/08) Asst Prof, Am lit to 1865<BR>
 * Is this the same job as listed last year? (10/28)  It's the same position number in the online application system. (10/28)<BR>
 * Acknowledgment of app (10/28) (x2) <BR>
 * Request for more materials (11/11)
 * Phone interview scheduled 12/4 (x2)

Tulane U (New Orleans, LA) (10/15/2008) (early modern transatlantic) <BR>
 * Received request for dossier 10/22. (x2)
 * Thanks but no thanks via email (12/4). (x2)<BR><BR>

U of Alaska-Fairbanks
 * Request for phone interview (12/1)(+1)

University of California-Los Angeles (transatlantic studies before 1900) Deadline 11/3/08<BR>
 * Received acknowledgement of application (11/3). <BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled (reported on Romanticism page, 12/1)
 * Rejection via e-mail (12/16)

University of Memphis (11/03/08) Assistant Prof of American lit, beginnings to 1800. ad<BR>
 * 11/7 Received email from my advisor stating he had been contacted for a phone reference. The department then requested he send on a reference letter.<BR>
 * 12/4 Phone interview request by phone (x2)<BR><BR>

Univ. of Nebraska (11/1/08) (19th C. Am/Brit Lit and digital humanities)<BR>
 * MLA interviews requested 11/25 (see Romantic/Victorian page)<BR>

University of New Orleans (11/14/08) Americanist in pre-1860 literary and cultural studies <BR>
 * Request for more materials (11/13) (11/20)<BR>
 * Request for further materials, including a syllabus for upper-level course (11/20)<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/12)(+1)<BR>
 * Received email that search had been suspended due to unanticipated mid-year budget cuts. (12/19)

University of North Texas (10/15/08) Early American Lit <BR>
 * Received letter via USPS that application was received (10/21) (x3)<BR>
 * Request for further materials (10/30)<BR>
 * MLA interview scheduled (12/4)(x2)

University of Northern Colorado (11/01/2008)Assistant Professor of 19th Century American, Lit of the West
 * A colleague has scheduled a phone interview with them; I'm not sure about the dates <BR><BR>

U Pacific (11/7) <BR> Rejection email (Memorandum -- TO: American Literature Applicant) 12/22<BR><BR>
 * Request for further materials (11/18 x3)
 * MLA interview requested via email (12/5 x3)

University of South Dakota (11/3) Early American/Colonial Lit
 * Acknowledgment of app 11/7<BR>
 * USPS ack. 11/14<BR>
 * Request for phone interview (11/25) <BR><BR>

University of Wyoming (11/1/2008) 19th century American <BR>
 * Acknowledgment by mail that app was received(11/7) (x2)<BR>
 * Acknowledgment by USPS (11/8)<BR>
 * Ack by USPS (11/25)
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (12/15) (x5)<BR><BR>

Winona State Univ (MN) (Deadline 11/14/08) Asst. Prof. Early American Lit
 * Called 12/14 to schedule phone interview<BR>
 * E-mail notice that SC was no longer considering apps 12/17
 * Request for phone interview (12/18)<BR><BR>

Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC). Assistant Professor of English, Early American Literature. (11/7/2008). ad<BR>
 * Acknowledgment by mail (11/8) <BR>
 * Request for further materials (11/13)
 * E-mail request for letters of rec (11/17)
 * E-mail request for letters of rec (11/20)
 * MLA interview scheduled via phone (12/5)(x4)<BR><BR>

Young Harris College (GA) (Deadline 11/15/08) Asst. Prof. Early American Lit
 * Request for campus interview by phone (12/15)
 * Q. Did their process go from submission of materials straight to the campus interview? Or was there a phone interview?
 * A. Straight to campus interview. There wasn't a formal phone interview, though I did have an extensive conversation with the search chair when I received the call.<BR><BR>