Russian & Slavic 2011-2012

'''Уважаемые коллеги! Добро пожаловать! '''The 2011-12 hiring season has arrived.

A few guidelines to keep things neat:

1. Please update the Wiki when you learn about new searches, canceled searches, notifications of interviews, campus interviews, and concluded searches/offers.

2. When adding new searches, please list the institution name in alphabetical order. If an institution is conducting more than one search in the field, list the university and the position name in parentheses beside it, creating two separate entries for updates. Use Header 2 so that the institution will show up in the Contents list below.

3. When updating the status of searches, please give the means by which you learned of the news and also the date, i.e., Interview scheduled (phone), 12/15/11; Search cancelled (word of mouth), January, 2012; Rejection (mail), 3/17/12.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THIS WIKI?
 * PhD in hand: 12
 * ABD: 5
 * Contemporary: 1
 * 20th century: 9
 * 19th century: 5
 * Pre-19th century: 1
 * Linguistics: 2
 * TOTAL: 17

Bates College - Lecturer in German and Russian

 * deadline Nov 21

Binghamton University - Visiting Asst Prof (3 years)

 * Review begins in Jan

Bowdoin College - Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Russian (1 year)

 * deadline Jan 15

Brigham Young University - Open rank position in Second Language Acquisition (tenure track)

 * deadline Jan 2

Carnegie-Mellon University - Open rank position in Second Language Acquisition (tenure track)

 * Review begins Oct 31

College of the Holy Cross - Assistant Professor of Russian (tenure track)

 * deadline Nov 1
 * Has anyone received a response? I haven't. (12/12)
 * not me yet, either (12/12)
 * I emailed shortly after submitting my material because I sent it a little late. They replied saying I was missing my undergraduate transcripts. Based on the job announcement, I assumed they only wanted graduate transcripts, and I wonder if anyone else only sent those in, and, if so, if they were told they also needed undergraduate transcripts to complete their application. (12/13)
 * That's very strange and concerning. If they're waiting for undergrad transcripts, they'll have a very small pool, I bet. I only sent in grad school transcripts. I didn't contact them because I assumed my application was complete.
 * I also only sent the grad transcripts. I'd like to think they'd get in touch if they really wanted the undergrad transcripts!
 * In any case, the position looks tailor-made for their current lecturer who has been there for years.
 * This is ridiculous. It seems like this is their way to create a very, very small "pile A." Do they care what you got in chemistry in your sophomore year 15 years ago? I did not mail my undergrad transcripts either and I agree that they probably have an inside candidate. In that case, can't they just do a direct hire? I hate it when academics engage in this kind of hypocritical show of openness. It would save applicants time and emotions if they just hired the person. It would save them time and money that they will presumably spend on bringing someone to campus. In my current job, they spent $10,000 on a similar search, and yes, ended up hiring the really nice, really smart adjunct. ??
 * I sent both my undergrad and grad transcripts, and I haven't heard anything. I'm convinced that there's something shady going on. It should be illegal.
 * I believe that they are required to do an open search for a tenure-track position, even if they know whom they want to hire. Sad for us, but true.
 * But is it an "open" search if they don't even interview anyone?
 * What if they just advertised the job and said, at the end, "but don't bother apply, because we already know whom we will hire."
 * THIS SUCKS. Shall we do anything about it? It doesn't seem like anyone even got an interview. Any time this kind of thing happens in our field (grossly unethical and blatantly so actions), it would be nice to have an open conversation about it. Or just have a private party at AATSEEL and gripe. Preferably in a jaccuzzi.
 * Has anyone else written to the department to check on the status of the search? The next step is to write to HR. They should be interested in the fairness of this process.
 * No comment on the fairness of the search, but they have invited candidates for on-campus interviews. (grapevine)
 * I emailed them asking for a status on the search, but have not heard anything yet. (1/6)

Columbia University - Lecturer in Discipline (Russian)

 * immediate review
 * interview scheduled at ASEEES (email)
 * When were you contacted? (11/15)
 * any developments?

Davidson College - Visiting Assistant Professor

 * 2 year position w/ possibility for renewal; 20th century; 3/2 teaching load
 * CV, transcript, 3 letters of rec, statement of teaching philosophy, writing sample
 * deadline Nov. 15
 * invitation to interview (12/13 email): (x8)
 * rejection: did not fit their profile: 12/13
 * yep, same as above
 * Those interviewed at AATSEEL should hear soon about campus interview. They plan to invite 2 people to campus in Feb. (1/9)
 * Email: "At this time we have not made any final decisions in our search. We will be in touch again by late February." (1/12) (x2)

Heard through the grapevine: finalists were invited for campus visits
 * Does anyone know if this means one is not invited? :)
 * I got the same email. I assume it means they have invited people to campus.
 * I like how this is up for interpretation!

Is this the email they sent to everyone who was interviewed but not invited to campus?

I would guess so. Unless there's someone who was interviewed, not invited to campus, and did not get this email.

of course it means you are not invited. After the on-campus, they will let you know that they have chosen their candidate--that's what late February refers to. An alternative, and certainly more honest, rejection email would have read: we have made our selection for on-campus interviews but the general search remains open.

Very "polite" of them. Doesn't make me want to work for them, honestly.

Last year when the Binghamton search failed after the on-campus interviews had taken place they had to go back to the original application pool to find their candidate. Something like that happening is why they leave it open until the position is definitely settled. It doesn't have to do with the department itself. It's more likely an HR policy.

Durham University - Professor of Russian and Cultural Theory (3 years)

 * deadline Nov 29

Florida International University - Lecturer/Instructor in German and Russian

 * Review begins Dec 15

Harvard University - Director of the Slavic Language Program

 * Review begins Dec 1

Indiana (Bloomington) - Senior Position in Slavic Lang & Lit

 * area of specialization open; mid-career scholar sought
 * CV, letter of intent, six letters of rec requested
 * deadline Nov 1

McGill University - Assistant Professor of Russian Studies

 * Tenure track position; Russian Romanticism and Realism and one or more of the following areas: Russian media and visual studies, performance, intellectual history, and (cross-) cultural studies.
 * CV, teaching portfolio, writing sample, 3 letters of rec


 * deadline Nov 5
 * Has anyone been contacted? (12/12)
 * not me (12/12) x2
 * still nothing (12/15) x3
 * and more nothing (12/19). Anybody? Anything?
 * nothing here (12/19) x2
 * STILL nothing! (12/29) Help!
 * yeah, nothing here (12/30) x4
 * 1/9: Just called to inquire; was told they're still looking through files -- i.e., either have not interviewed or are not finished interviewing. I believe interviews are to be conducted by phone.
 * request for phone interview next week (contacted by email 1/11)

Middlebury College - Assistant Professor of Russian

 * Tenure track position; 19th century
 * CV, transcript, 3 letters of rec, statement of teaching philosophy
 * deadline Oct. 15 (extended to Oct. 27)
 * Invitation to interview at ASEEES (phone, Nov. 7) (2)
 * Congrats to the interviewees! Can I ask whether you both received the call on Nov. 7? (trying to figure out if there's any chance of getting an invite at this stage, or not). Also, what is your specialization?
 * Does anyone know what their timeline is like? Have candidates already been invited on campus? A: Yes.
 * Any idea how many people are invited to campus? there was a talk about a "short list" and I am wondering how short the "short list" is...
 * a short list is generally 3, sometimes 4 people.
 * Nicely worded rejection letter (by email) 01/03/12 (x2)
 * they have invited people for on-campus interviews (grapevine). Any confirmation of this from someone invited?
 * Not one of the people invited, but confirmation via another section of the grapevine.

NYU - Clinical Asst Professor/Director Jordan Center

 * Candidates should submit a cover letter, c.v., and three letters of recommendation.
 * Review of applications will begin on September 6, 2011, pending administrative and budgetary approval but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
 * Submitted application in September - haven't heard anything at all. Has anyone else?
 * Same here - and still not a word.
 * Nicely phrased E-mail rejection [11/7].
 * Yup, me too.

Purdue University - Assistant Professor in Modern Russian Literature & Culture (tenure-track)

 * Review begins Dec 5
 * Confirmed receipt of application Dec 5
 * Phone interview requested for late January (12/16) (x4)
 * How were you contacted?
 * answer to above - by email

University of Ottawa - Assistant Professor in Russian (12 months)
candidates within a week or two."
 * Review begins Dec 15
 * Where was this announced? I can't find the original advertisement for the job.
 * AATSEEL job board
 * On 1/9/2012, received the following update (in response to status inquiry): "The members of the search committee are in the process of reviewing the applications and should have a shortlist of

University of Pittsburgh - Assistant Professor of Russian

 * Posted on AATSEEL
 * Deadline: Review begins immediately
 * Acknowledgment received: 11/2 (but I imagine these will be sent out on a rolling basis)
 * Interview scheduled for ASEEES (e-mail) -- 11/14
 * Has anyone heard from them since then? Will they be doing more interviews at AATSEEL? (12/19)
 * Grapevine has it that they are interviewing at AATSEEL this weekend. I'm surprised no one on this wiki got an interview! (?)
 * They did! Several during the ASEEES and several more at the AATSEEL.
 * 1/9: Just called to inquire re. status of my application; the nice administrator told me that everyone's still in the running; the dept. still haven't finished deciding who will be interviewed. There's been a total of 65 applications, 40 of them from people specializing in the Silver Age -- the specialization the department is specifically looking for. Rejections will be sent out later this month.
 * 1/9. They did indeed hold interviews at AATSEEL this weekend.
 * The finalizing of the short list for campus visits must be in process now.
 * Any news? -- email today (1/17) said they just finished preliminary interviews. x2

Ruhr University (Bochum, Germany) - W2 Professor in Russian Culture

 * The Seminar for Slavic Studies/Lotman-Institute at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, has a vacancy starting October 1, 2012 for a W2 professorship in Russian Culture.
 * Scientific and professional CV, certificates, list of publications and teaching experiences by Sept 30, 2011 to The Dean of Philology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, D 44780 Bochum
 * asked for five most important publications and dissertation to be sent (16.11)

Tufts University - Lecturer in Russian Lang & Lit (1 year)

 * Review begins Jan 10

Vassar College - Mellon Postdoc in Russian Studies (2 years)

 * Review begins Dec 26
 * Have people who were interviewed for the 1-year position at Vassar also been interviewed for the Mellon postdoc? Answer: they mentioned both in my interview, so I assumed the same interview counts for both.
 * to the above post: not in my case. they did not mention the postdoc

Vassar College - Visiting Asst Prof/Instructor of Russian (1 year)

 * Review begins Dec 15
 * request for an interview at AATSEEL (12/22) x3

University of Waterloo - Lecturer in Russian

 * Review begins Nov 30
 * Request for on-campus interview for Feb. (12/16)
 * oddly phrased rejection by email (12/23) x3

Wellesley College - Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian

 * Review begins Nov 22
 * confirmed receipt of application. (12/5)
 * Has anyone heard re. interviews, etc.? (12/19)
 * Nothing as of 12/25.
 * Me either.
 * 1/9: Called to inquire. The department is still going through the applications to decide whom to interview. Rejections and interview invitations will be sent out in late January, approximately.
 * 1/9: Email asking to schedule Skype interview later this week. (x2)
 * 1/20 They received 60 applications, interviewed 5, will invite 3 to campus in mid-Feb.
 * 1/21 Invitation to campus interview. x2

Williams College - Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian

 * Send application letter, c.v., and three letters of recommendation postmarked by Feb. 1, 2012