Modern British 2009

Last Update: Dec. 10, 5:00 pm EST Please change the date/time when you update the page.

MLA/Phone Interviews or Campus Visits Scheduled
(please also update in regular section)

Carleton U (Ottawa, ONT) request by phone for interview 12/9

College of Wooster MLA interview request 11/24 (x4)

Florida Atlantic U MLA Interview Request (phone 12/5) (x2)

James Madison University MLA interview request by email 11/23 (x4)

Kennesaw SU phone interview scheduled by email 11/25 (x2)

Missouri Southern Phone interview scheduled 11/24

Penn State Dubois MLA interview scheduled by phone (x4)

Sewanee, University of the South MLA interview requested (v-mail) 12/9

U Louisiana, Monroe 11/28 MLA interview scheduled (phone 12/9)(x3) (12/10 x2)

Modern/Contemporary British
Shall we do a headcount?

Add a number for yourself beside the appropriate category.

ABD (early):

ABD (nearly done - will defend by spring): 8

PhD in hand(defended in last six months): 6

PhD in hand (for a year or more, lecturer/adjunct non-tt position): 5

Visiting Asst Prof: 2

TT Assistant Prof: 5

Associate Prof: 1

Independent Scholar: 1

Demoralized: 5

Indignant, with intermittent moments of something that resembles, yes, boredom: 2

Watchin' It Like A Trainwreck: 1

Regrets choosing modernism as their field: 1

Arcadia Univ. (Glenside, PA) 19th and 20th, postcolonial theory send by Nov. 1st


 * Ack sent by snail mail 11/1
 * Ack sent by snail mail 9/18
 * does anyone know if this search is still on?

Boise Due 11/1
 * rejection received by mail 11/28
 * rejection 11/19 due to late application
 * rejection by mail 12/1

Boston U Due 11/1
 * rejection received by email 11/21 (me too)
 * rejection by mail 12/8
 * Has anyone received a request for more materials? Writing sample? Letters of rec?

Carleton U (Ottawa, ONT) 14 Nov. Ack 11/17, Email Ack 11/20
 * request by phone for interview 12/9

Christopher Newport Due 11/7


 * Ack 11/13
 * Ack 11/12
 * Writing sample requested by email 12/6. Also says "due to budgetary constraints" teaching load for this position is now 3/4 (x7)
 * just curious--will the "teaching load" news deter anyone? i set out determined not to pursue jobs with teaching loads higher than 3/3, and yet here i sit fairly certain that i will send them something.
 * I'm sending -- it's just an email .pdf file, after all, and I don't have to dip into my $5 savings. At least they're honest.
 * I'm sending mine too, although it does make me less enthusiastic about the job. I wonder if the extra class would be just for the first year, or permanently.
 * It seems like the dept's climate might not be too good down the line if faculty have such different workloads.
 * I'll send the pdf but I'm unlikely to take the position if offered. If they have the funding line, they have the funding line, no?  So why would the economy increase the teaching load by one class?
 * Possibly because they are only able to afford to keep the line by cutting non-tt positions, either temporarily or permanently. I'm sending them my sample, and I'd probably take the job if offered.  Next year's market, after all, is likely to be even worse than this one...
 * Friendly response to writing sample submission says that MLA Interviews will be requested on or just after December 17th (12/8) (X3)

College of Wooster Due 11/10


 * Writing sample requested 11/10 (x6)


 * Writing sample requested 11/19


 * MLA interview request 11/24 (x4)

One wonders why they stated a 11/10 postmark deadline in their ad, when clearly their own deadline was much earlier.

Columbia Due 10/31


 * Writing sample requested 11/13; ditto, 11/18

East Tennessee Due 12/15
 * 11/5: got an email saying that the job search has been canceled

Evergreen SC Due 11/3
 * email from recruitment coordinator stating that they would be holding phone interviews mid-late Jan, not MLA. 12/3

Florida Atlantic U due 11/7
 * Ack. by snail mail (11/15) and directions for uploading letter and cv to Human Resources Dept. website
 * I'm confused, since letter and CV were requested up front. Could you explain the circumstances of your directions for uploading letter and cv to HR website?
 * Sure thing. I received a letter saying that even though I had already sent letter and cv to the search committee, I would also need to upload it to the HR Website. This letter also stated, quite specifically, that if I hadn't received word by December 16th I could safely assume that the committee had found candidates more suited to their needs. (Btw, the letter provided the exact URL for the HR website).
 * Thanks for the info.
 * writing sample request 11/24 (x4)


 * I just got the general applicant ack with the directions for uploading letter and CV to HR website (11/21).

WS request 11/24 person: could I ask when you got the ack letter (just wondering whether they're requesting WS's on a rolling basis, or whether they're done requesting). MLA Interview Request (12/5) (x2) Q: How--phone? email? A: Phone
 * I'm one of the writing sample people from above. I received ack letter on 11/15

Florida SU Due 11/1 One wonders why they bothered with a 11/1 due date, since they've only requested WS's from apps sent in before that date.
 * Writing sample requested 10/3, 10/10, 10/23, 10/27
 * One also wonders how many more schools you're going to wonder about.

wow. are we really going to get snarky and smart-assed about colleagues' postings here? come on, people. we're all wondering about these searches, that's why we're here, no?

I second. History shows that the snarky person was wondering about other jobs just a day or so ago. One wonders what hu's problem is, with the gratuitous comments and all.

Not meaning to turn things snarky. Sure, we're all stressed and wondering what's going on. But I don't think the 4 people asked for samples were asked b/c they turned their apps in early. Nor do I think they appreciate the suggestion.


 * I don't think the person was being snarky towards the people who received requests or suggesting that their early submission was the only reason they received requests. The commenter was simply noting, as I have, FSU's failure to solicit materials from anyone who submitted their materials close to the deadline of November 1st. If FSU continues to fail to do so, I will feel similarly cheated.

Oh yeah, I wasn't suggesting anything untoward about applicants, just that it's a bummer for those of us that applied close to the deadline that the only writing sample requests happened during the month before the deadline and then never again after that. Seems like they might have done better to state an earlier closing date in their ad. I was commenting on the choices of the search committee, certainly not the applicants who had requests.


 * Sorry then from the "snarky person" if I read too much into your remarks. If you applied closer to the deadline, they may not have gotten to your applications yet.  I wouldn't read any more into it than that.  Anyway, best of luck to everybody.


 * email notification that this job search has been cancelled 12/1


 * OMG, I feel like they are mocking us now. Seriously.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Due 10/31
 * Ack. by snail mail 11/7
 * Has anyone heard anything further from them?
 * no, but hopefully it will be soon!
 * ME TOO!
 * Writing sample request 12/1 (x6)
 * Were the requests made via email, phone or mail?
 * Email

Hood Due 11/3
 * 10/28: this job is no longer listed on the JIL, CHE, higheredjobs.com, or Hood's HR page. Is the search cancelled?
 * UPDATE: Search reopened--see Hood's site.

James Madison Due 11/5
 * MLA interview requested by email 11/23 (x4)
 * Question: Just curious. Did JMU make materials requests before they scheduled interviews?
 * A: No; they asked for a ws at the same time that they scheduled the interview
 * Q: Does anyone know why this search failed last year?

Kennesaw SU Due 11/1
 * phone interview scheduled by email 11/25 (x2)

Manhattan College Due 11/17
 * ACK postcard 12/5

McMaster U(Hamilton ONT) Oct 31 Nothing. And I'd really love to hear something.
 * Has anyone heard anything from them?
 * ME TOO!

Missouri Southern Due 11/3 Phone interview scheduled 11/24

Murray SU 11/14


 * Written acknowledgement sent 11/7

Penn State Dubois Due 11/14 Q: can you tell me when you were called about the INTs at MLA? Thanks! A: I missed their first call on 11/24; my caller ID indicated that Penn State had called, but I thought it would be creepy to call back given that they didn't leave a message. This drove me crazy for a week, until they called again yesterday (12/1) and scheduled the interview.
 * Acknowledgment of materials received (11/19) / me too (snail)
 * MLA interview scheduled by phone (x3)
 * Thanks for responding! Yikes: they did not leave a message?  Note to self: stop screening calls.  ;-)

Purdue U North Central Review begins 10/22 (but it was only advertised on 10/24!) Q: anybody heard anything more?!?
 * ACK 11/14

Quinnipiac College Due 11/1 TT search suspended. New search for visiting asst prof (email 12/10).
 * Has anyone heard anything from them?
 * No, and I'd really like to.
 * me too -- i hope it's still happening.
 * I wonder if all applicants received this email. They ask for notification by March 1st if you want to be considered for the visiting position, and say their decision will come shortly after.  So have they narrowed the pool already?  Or does this mean they just start the search from scratch?
 * well, it depends on how long they've known about the cancellation, and how long they've already spent making decisions. Since they never requested writing samples, etc., I'd imagine they stopped at some point in the process when the search began to look threatened and didn't proceed to the materials requests stage.  If they'd already met and narrowed the pool, then I suppose it would make sense for them to start with the long-list first when trying to fill the VAP position. But they're also responsible to inform anyone who applied for the tt job that it isn't one any longer.  So I would imagine all applicants received this email.  We are probably not special (something this truly awful job market year as made crashingly clear to pretty much everyone).  Happy holidays.
 * Sounds about right. Happy Holidays to you too.  Others who received the same email? (x 3)
 * Do you think the March 1st deadline means they want their applicants to wait and see what shakes out at MLA, or do they want interested parties to be in contact right away?

Sewanee, University of the South Due 11/10 ---no materials request before MLA interview request
 * Has anyone heard anything from them?
 * MLA interview requested (v-mail) 12/9, 12/10
 * Had they made materials requests?

Texas A&M Due 11/1
 * Written ack. sent 11/7

Tulsa 11/7


 * Writing sample requested 11/6, 11/13

U Chicago Due 11/3 nothing here. I bet we're all waiting for some word from them... Are they done with materials requests? Does anyone know?
 * Email Acknowledgment (11/17) x4
 * Has anyone heard anything further from them?
 * Writing sample request 11/24 by email (x3)

U Louisiana, Monroe 11/28 Q: Phone? Email? A: phone, sorry!
 * Ack (11/24)(snail 12/5 x2)
 * MLA interview scheduled (phone 12/9 x 2) (12/10 x2)

U Nebraska, Lincoln 11/1 Writing sample requested 11/10, 11/12

University of North Carolina at Greensboro  Due 11/14
 * Got a letter saying that the search has been canceled 11/17

Univ. of South Carolina, Beaufort (19th & 20th) Review begins Nov. 10
 * 10/28: this job is no longer listed on the JIL, CHE, higheredjobs.com, or USCB's HR site. Is the search cancelled?
 * I noticed the same thing. If you search for jobs on USCB's HR site, you find nothing. I'm getting worried that the tanking economy is making quick work of our job possibilities.
 * I received an acknowledgement last week that didn't mention anything about it being cancelled.
 * So confusing, because now (10/29) you can't even apply for the job as it's no longer listed on their HR site, and the ad requires online apps! USC Central HR says it's probably canceled, but I can't get a human on the phone at USC-Beaufort to confirm.
 * Ok- I just checked the status of my app and it says "on hold for hiring Freeze."
 * UPDATE: Search reopened per email from SCC.

Univ. of South Carolina, Salkehatchie (Late British, African American, or Generalist) Review begins Oct. 26
 * This job isn't listed on the USCB's HR site? Has it, like the Beaufort job, been put on hold for hiring freeze?

Univ. of Tennessee, Martin (19th & 20th) Review begins Nov. 1


 * Ack, snail, sent 11/10, with a note saying they will have a list of MLA interview candidates by the week after Thanksgiving
 * e-mail requesting more materials 12/01 (x2)

Virginia Commonwealth Due 11/13


 * Written acknowledgments sent 9/17, 11/6, 11/20

Yale University Due 11/1 I wonder if they'll make contact earlier this year, since they've broken with their search methods this year and have requested everything up front.
 * ACK via snailmail 11/18
 * Has anyone heard anything further from them?
 * A: For what it's worth, last year Yale did a similar search and requested materials in waves: first a dossier, then writing sample, then the call for interviews which did not come in until something like 12/23. Since this year Yale has asked for everything up front (letter/dossier/sample), I personally would not expect to hear until Christmas Eve. But that's me...