Renaissance 2009

Early Modern/Renaissance
Shall we do a headcount?

Add a number for yourself beside the appropriate category.

ABD (early):

ABD (nearly done - will defend by spring): 17

PhD in hand: 5

Visiting Asst Prof: 11

TT Assistant Prof: 11

Associate Prof: 2

Writing Sample/dossier requests made

 * Carnegie Mellon (x8)
 * Fairfield University (x9)
 * Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus (x15)
 * Grinnell College (x10)
 * Harvard University (x2)
 * Lehigh University (x7)
 * Loyola Marymount University (x3)
 * Marymount Manhattan
 * Ohio State/Mansfield (x2)
 * Syracuse University (x9)
 * Tulane University (x2)
 * University of Alabama (x4)
 * University of Iowa (x6)
 * University of Louisville (x15)
 * University of Oklahoma (x8)
 * University of Texas, Austin (x8)
 * US Naval Academy (x4)
 * Vanderbilt (x4)
 * Wake Forest (x40)

MLA interview requests made

 * Angelo State 12/4 (x2)
 * Bard 12/11 (x3)
 * Bloomsburg U 12/12 (x4)
 * Catholic U. (x3)
 * Carnegie Mellon 12/10
 * Central Michigan University 12/5
 * College of Charleston 12/11 (x2)
 * Fairfield University 12/12 (x4)
 * Grinnell 12/6 (x2)
 * Lehigh 12/4
 * Loyola Marymount U (Los Angeles) 12/8 (x4)
 * Loyola University (New Orleans) 12/11 (x6)
 * Nazareth College of Rochester 12/8 (x7); 12/9
 * Oberlin 12/10 (1)
 * Ohio State University, Mansfield 12/5 (x4)
 * Oklahoma State University 12/5 (x4)
 * Providence College 12/8 (x2)
 * Syracuse 12/4 or so (x3)
 * Trinity University 12/3 (x4)
 * Tulane 11/26 (x1) (later x1)
 * U Louisville 12/9
 * U Oklahoma 12/8 (x4)
 * U Southern California (x2)
 * U Texas at Austin 12/6 (x3)
 * U Texas at Dallas 12/12
 * Vanderbilt University 12/12
 * Wake Forest 12/4 (x8)
 * Whittier College 12/5 (x4)


 * Quiz time! "I have x many MLA interviews lined up so far":
 * a) 0 (3)
 * b) 1 (7)
 * c) 2 (2)
 * d) 3 (5)
 * e) 4 (3)
 * f) 5+(5) Wow! Congratulations!
 * g) none of yo bidness!

'''

phone interview requests made
'''
 * Eastern Connecticut State U (x3)
 * Oklahoma State University (x3)
 * University of Dubuque
 * Western Kentucky U (x2)

'''

Campus interviews
'''
 * Florida State

'''

Offers made
''' FLorida State HOTT program / English

'''

Searches Cancelled
'''
 * Albion
 * Fordham (rec'd official email indicating cancellation 12/10)(got mine on 12/11)(as did I)
 * University of Miami
 * Xavier
 * Harvard!!! argh (just got the email, 12.9) (ditto 12/10, dang it)

'''

Albion College (Shakespeare and early modern drama)
'''

Deadline: November 14


 * October 20 - Dossier request
 * 11/4 snail-mail request for dossier/syllabi/teaching statement
 * CANCELLED as per letter dated November 18

'''

Alcorn State University (2 positions)
'''

Deadline: review begins November 30


 * 11/3 acknowledgement of application (dated 10/30)

'''

Angelo State University
'''

Deadline: November 3
 * curious about the source of this date. It's not on JIL.

''' MLA Interview Scheduled by email (12/4)

Arizona State (associate or full)
'''

Deadline: September 29 until filled

'''

Baruch College, CUNY
'''
 * Deadline: Jan. 8, 2009


 * 12/8 snail mail affirmative action survey received (x2)

'''

Bard College (17th and 18th centuries)
'''

Deadline: rolling


 * 10/26: acknowledgment by email (I'm the OP for this, and now that I think of it, this was not a "real" acknowledgment--just a reply from the HR dep't. Sorry!)

'''
 * MLA interview scheduled via email 12/11 (x3)

Bloomsburg University (Shakespeare)
'''

Deadline: November 10


 * 10/27 acknowledgment by mail
 * 11/28 acknowledgment by mail

Q: Were phone or email MLA interviews scheduled? ''
 * A: They are calling people today and tomorrow (12/12 and 12/13) for MLA interviews. They just called me (so nice!) and said they were running a bit slow. So hold tight...

Thanks - believe it or not, I got the call within a half hour of asking this question! You're right -- very nice guy.

Carnegie Mellon (open rank)
'''

Deadline: Oct 15


 * 11/7 email request for writing sample and dossier (x8)
 * 12/9 email notice for MLA interview
 * 12/10 MLA interview scheduled by phone

''' So is this one interview scheduled or two now? Above doesn't say (x2)
 * A: They emailed a preliminary notice, then followed up with a call to schedule the interview the next day.

Catholic University
'''

Deadline: December 1 Q: Were phone or email MLA interviews scheduled? And when were they?

Central Michigan University
No Deadline: Screening starts October 20 (until filled)
 * NOTE: Actually, I think there is a deadline (though I didn't see it anywhere in the ad), and it appears to be 10/26. At least, this is what my acknowledgement email indicates: "The hiring committee will begin screening after October 26th, the deadline date."
 * 10/21 acknowledgement by email and link to affirmative action survey

'''

City College, CUNY
'''

Deadline: December 1


 * 11/18 mailed acknowledgment (w/affirmative action survey)

'''

College of Charleston (poetry and prose)
''' phone request for interview 12/11

Deadline: November 10


 * 11/17 snail mail acknowledgement and affirmative action survey

'''

Eastern Connecticut SU (17th century non-dramatic)
'''

Deadline: none given
 * 10/24 affirmative action survey received by post (dated 10/20)
 * 11/25 phone interview scheduled by phone (x2)

'''

Eastern Illinois University
'''

Deadline: November 7
 * 10/21 acknowledgement by mail

'''

Fairfield University (non-Shakespeare)
'''

Deadline: October 15
 * 10/30 letter acknowledging receipt of initial application
 * 11/21 email request for writing sample & rec letters (7)
 * 12/12 MLA interview scheduled via email (x2)

'''

Florida State University (Open rank, Book History, British 1300-1900, Continental 1100-1800, three positions)
'''

Deadline: October 10
 * One flyback has been scheduled for Oct. 24.
 * Question: did anyone get an acknowledgement of any kind from here?
 * Yes; email questions the day after submission of application.
 * Yes; also, they announced a hiring freeze on Thursday 10/30 (jobs.fsu.edu). May be a soft freeze and may not affect these jobs.

A few questions about this puzzling position: is this a hire for the english or HOTT program, which courses would the hire teach in the broad spectrum indicated (1300-1900) and how would a flyback have been scheduled in October before any conference interviews? Not sure about the HOTT program, but originally they were trying to beat the freeze and make offers before 11/4. Evidently, these jobs were not affected by the freeze and they are now making the decisions more slowly, but flybacks have already occurred.
 * 3 Jobs were crosslisted in several depts, so that's why the SC flew people out rather than have all SC members go to MLA, CAA and AHA.
 * Word is flybacks went badly. Not sure what status of search is. <-- Q: Can you explain a little more? Otherwise, this seems like an unfair (because so unsubstantiated) comment to add.


 * sounds like an inside job to me.
 * rcvd email confirming receipt of my application materials (11/20)
 * I received a similar e-mail from the dept office on 11/18, as well as an auto-reply on 10/31 (the week after my campus visit) saying that someone in the dept had uploaded my resume to PeopleSoft. From the renewed communication this week, it looks like they may have been approved to hire for the jobs. I did not think my flyback went badly; however, there were at least six flybacks for the three jobs, so I can't speak to overall trends. And perhaps mine went worse than I thought? Even if I don't get the job, I'm glad one of these awful hiring freezes may have thawed.

rec'd email ack of of receipt of application 11/21 - link to affirmative action survey gave a posting date for this job of 11/10/2008 (over a month after the originally posted date for the review of applications)


 * Looks like they've made an offer -- congratulations to the person who received it!

'''

Fordham University (Rose Hill campus)
'''

Deadline: November 1
 * Email rejection 10/7
 * Request for further materials 10/21 (x4)

Request for further materials 10/27
 * Request for further materials 10/28
 * Email rejection 11/7
 * email rejection 11/8
 * email rejection 11/11 (3)
 * request for further materials 11/11 (x4)
 * email rejection 11/17
 * email request for dossier and writing sample 11/18
 * email rejection 11/19
 * email request for dossier and writing sample 11/23
 * email rejection 11/23
 * email rejection 11/24 (x2)
 * Note: They received over 130 applications...fyi.

I heard today (12/8), from faculty at my university, that the search was cancelled as of 12/5.

Man!   Another one bites the dust!


 * Unless you are at Fordham, "faculty at my university" is not a reliable source. (And for what it's worth, a faculty member from *my* university said the search is still on.) Anyone have any reliable information?


 * From "my university" person: Email yesterday (12/10) from Fordham officially called it off, as of 12/5.

Note that the Medieval position at Fordham says that it has been called off for "budgetary reasons"--most likely if one is off, so is the other.

I have no special knowledge of this search, but it is possible that budgetary constraints forced them to choose which position they wanted to fill rather than just cutting both. At the end of the day, we just don't know until they start notifying their applicants.

For your entertainment: carefully vetted but undisclosed source says all Fordham searches have been cancelled at the end of last week (i.e., around 12/5).

I just spoke with the search committee chair; no mention of cancellation. There should be a separate wiki for rumors. (-- sure; and that's where oral communication from search committee chairs should also be posted?)

Well, I just got and email stating that the search has been cancelled. In this case at least, it appears the rumors were right.

Damn.

I also just rec'd email stating search is canceled.

Grinnell College
'''

Deadline: November 1


 * 11/10: email acknowledging complete application and link to affirmative action survey (x6)
 * 11/12: email requesting further information (writing sample and teaching evaluations)(x4)
 * 11/14: email requesting writing sample/teaching evaluations
 * 11/17: email requesting writing sample and teaching evals (x4)
 * 12/6: phone call requesting MLA interview (x2)


 * hmm... seems there's a VAP currently in this position. Does anyone think this is an inside job?


 * What is a VAP? (they have seemed sincere enough to me--I know they solicited outside names, as I was encouraged to apply).

'''
 * Even if there is a VAP (Visiting Assistant Professor) it does not mean that he or she is a shoo-in for the job. Why bother worrying over this? If they express interest, take it seriously.


 * I have been told that very frequently VAPs are passed over for outsiders in order to get a fresh perspective. So I wouldn't lose hope. Though, if you look at that VAP's syllabus, I would say it's quite a good one.


 * A prof from Grinnell sent out three calls for applicants on different listservs. Not usually done if they have someone in mind already.


 * I am the VAP -- thanks for the comments on my syllabus. I can't speak for every job out there, but in my experience, VAPs are treated very similarly to other candidates. In this case, I was not among those selected for an MLA interview. The job listing is very specific and the school, in my understanding, is looking for exactly what they asked for in the announcement. Given that I am not exactly that, they looked elsewhere. I know it is unusual for people to self-identify on here, but I also thought it might be useful for those of you with interviews to go in with the confidence that this is absolutely not an "inside job." I wish you the best of luck. Grinnell is an incredible place to work -- the students are remarkably bright.


 * How kind of you! May your academic good karma return abundantly.
 * Wow! VAP, you are the coolest! All the best to you...and sadly, I am not one who was chosen for the MLA. It must have been my writing sample. Urgh.

Harvard (assistant or associate)
'''

Deadline: October 27


 * 11/20: email request for more materials

'''Does anyone know if this search was officially frozen? Why do you ask that? '''Because of the general announcement that Harvard was freezing: http://chronicle.com/news/article/5567/harvard-freezes-staff-hiring-and-may-call-off-faculty-searches

I don't think so. 12/2 I got an email ACK of receipt of extra materials which said the committee would contact if it needed more info. (x2)

According to today's Chronicle (http://chronicle.com/news/article/5630/harvard-freezes-salaries-suspends-faculty-searches), Harvard's H&S school "will freeze salaries for faculty members and nonunion staff members, [and] suspend nearly all searches for tenure-track and tenured professors." Alas!

12/10: I got an email saying the search has been canceled for this year. (x2, sigh)

Lehigh University (17th Cent.)
'''

Deadline: November 1
 * 10/20 email acknowledging receipt of initial application (x2)
 * 10/24 affirmative action survey received by mail (dated 10/20)
 * 10/28 request for more materials (x3)
 * 11/3 email rejection (x7)
 * 11/3 request for more materials
 * 11/12 email rejection (x2)
 * 11/12 request for more materials (x3)

Why does the list say that interview requests have been made above, but not here? Does one expect that Lehigh will make these requests today (Fourth of December)? '''
 * R -- just didn't list here as well, sorry! MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/4

I am surprised that, with at least 7 people reporting WS/dossier requests, only one has reported an MLA request. Anyone else out there with an MLA request? Just seems odd to me.

Loyola Marymount, CA
'''

Deadline: October 27
 * 10/15 email acknowledging receipt of initial application (x4)
 * 11/17 snail mail affirmative action survey received
 * 11/19 email request for more materials (x3)
 * 12/5 email acknowledgment of receipt of dossier in which they said to expect to hear from them by the end of next week (x3)
 * 12/8 MLA interview scheduled by phone (x2)
 * 12/9 rejection by email (x9) (Very pleasant, and prompt, rejection letter...)(agreed!)

'''

Loyola University, New Orleans'
''

Deadline: November 10
 * 11/07 email with affirmative action survey


 * 12/11 MLA interview scheduled by phone (x3)

'''

Marymount Manhattan College (medieval/renaissance)
'''

Deadline: November 15
 * 10/28: acknowledgment + affirmative action survey by mail (dated 10/23)
 * 11/6: acknowledgment + affirmative action survey by mail (dated 11/3)
 * 11/20 email requesting dossier
 * 11/28 acknowledgment by mail

'''

Nazareth College of Rochester
'''

Deadline: November 14
 * 11/14: acknowledgement by mail (x5)
 * 12/8: MLA interview request

'''

Oberlin College
''' Deadline: November 30
 * 10/23: acknowledgment by mail
 * 10/27: acknowledgment by email
 * 11/12: acknowledgment + affirmative action survey by mail
 * 11/28: acknowledgment by mail

A friend in the department has told me there's a well-loved inside candidate for this one too... (but you never know how this will turn out--outsiders win out inside candidates all the time. Just mentioning it so people know).

Q Anyone know if the same is true for the C19 position? '''


 * 12/10 MLA interview. they called last night.

Ohio State University, Mansfield
'''

Deadline: review begins November 15
 * 11/3: dossier request by letter (dated 10/30)
 * 11/17: dossier and writing sample request by letter (dated 11/12)
 * 12/4: mailed acknowledgment

'''

Oklahoma State University
'''

Deadline: November 3
 * 11/24: acknowledged by mail (w/ affirmative action survey)
 * 11/25: Request for phone interview by email (X2)

'''

Pacific Lutheran University
'''

Deadline: November 1
 * 10/27 acknowledgement by mail (dated 10/23)(x3)
 * 11/3 affirmative action form by mail(x2)
 * 11/18 affirmative action form received by mail

'''

Penn State - York (literature before 1800, prefer medieval or renaissance)
Deadline: November 10
 * 10/20 acknowledgement by mail
 * 10/27 acknowledgement by mail (dated 10/23) and link to affirmative action survey
 * 11/3 acknowledgement by mail (dated 10/30) and link to affirmative action survey

Providence College (Milton)
'''

Deadline: November 1

'''

MLA Interview Request (phone) x2

'''

Rockford College
'''

Deadline: November 7

'''

Saint Joseph College
'''

Deadline: December 1

'''

St. Francis Xavier University
'''

Deadline: December 15
 * Hey, Smart Ass -- the deadline was December 1.

According to the MLA job list, it's December 15th.

''' ack of materials by mail 12/4

Swarthmore College
'''

Deadline: October 31
 * dossier request 10/22
 * a question about this--since they asked for a full dossier (letters, writing sample, transcript) with completed application, what does "dossier request" mean here?


 * Has anyone heard *anything* about this one at all? I'll settle for gossip...a: They hope to make their selections this weekend and contact them next week-- this from the SC chair.

'''

Syracuse University (17th Century)
'''

Deadline: November 15
 * 10/23 request for writing sample
 * 10/28 request for writing sample (and dossier) (x2)
 * 11/4 request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/11 request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/18 request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/25 request for writing sample and dossier by email
 * 12/4 (circa) MLA interview request (x3)

'''

Trinity University
'''

Deadline: November 24

MLA Interview request by phone 12/3

Tulane University (early modern transatlantic)
'''

Deadline: October 15

dossier request 10/22 (x2) MLA interview (11/26)

MLA interview request (thanksgiving week)

rejection via email (12/4) (x2)

'''

University of Alabama (Renaissance drama)
'''

Deadline: October 31
 * 11/6 email request for writing sample [x2]

11/18 email request for writing sample

'''

University of Arkansas (Little Rock)
'''

Deadline:

'''

University of California, Berkeley (Asst./Assoc.)
'''

Deadline: October 31
 * 10/21 email acknowledging receipt of complete application (x3)
 * 10/23 email acknowledging receipt of complete application
 * 10/28 email acknowledging receipt of complete application
 * 11/3 email acknowledging receipt of complete application
 * 11/4 postcard by mail (x2)


 * Any word/gossip/rumor about the UCal schools vis. hiring freezes? (or are they just taking their time setting up MLA interviews?)

just taking their time. search still on (12.12) ''' I know that UCSB's is still on, so Berkeley's is probably still on as well.

University of California, Santa Barbara (Renaissance Drama)
'''

Deadline: October 24
 * 10/27 mailed acknowledgment and affirmative action survey (x3)
 * 11/21 emailed acknowledgment and link to affirmative action survey

'''

University of Dubuque (Shakespeare)
'''


 * 11/18 mailed acknowledgment

'''

University of Houston, Clear Lake
'''

Deadline: October 31

'''

University of Iowa (Renaissance Lit and Early Modern Culture)
'''

Deadline: November 3
 * 10/20 email acknowledging receipt of initial application (x2)
 * 10/22 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 10/23 email request for writing sample and dossier (x2)
 * 10/29 email request for writing sample and dossier

'''

University of Louisville
'''

Deadline: November 7
 * 10/29 email request for writing sample and dossier (x2)
 * 11/5 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/12 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/13 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/17 email request for writing sample and dossier (x2)
 * 11/20 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 11/25 email request for writing sample and dossier
 * 12/05 phone call request for writing sample and dossier

12/9 phone call scheduling MLA interview

'''

University of Mary Washington (early modern non-dramatic)
'''

Deadline: November 3

Anyone know what's going on here? No dossier requests or anything?

'''

University of Miami
'''

SEARCH POSTPONED

Deadline: November 3
 * 10/25 acknowledgment by mail
 * 10/31 according to MLA JIL, Search has been cancelled
 * 11/4 letter by post dated 10/29 saying search is postponed until next year (2)

'''

University of Oklahoma
'''

Deadline: review begins November 7
 * 10/27 email request for writing sample
 * 11/3 email request for writing sample (x4)
 * 11/14 email request for writing sample

Note: Sorry about originally putting an incorrect deadline here. November 7 is what the MLA JIL has and I must have just written it down wrong.


 * 12/8 MLA interview scheduled by phone (x2)

'''

University of Southern California
'''

Deadline: November 1

''' was this search frozen as well?

''' I'm wondering too; apparently the California R1 schools haven't budged!

No insight on this particular search, but please do remember that UC schools are public and USC is private (2 different systems). In this climate, that might not make a huge difference in terms of whether the search is frozen, but I do know at least several other UC schools (surprisingly) have searches going forward (for example, UCI in medieval), so there may yet be hope in some places. ..

It was a multi-field search anyway, so they may just have decided to give it to art history or history. Also, because of the nature of the search, they may be following a different schedule / model. (Don't think the ad mentioned MLA, to begin with.)

One can keep track of this position at the wikis for Art History and History:

http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Art_History_2008-2009#University_of_Southern_California.2C_Los_Angeles:_Early_Modern_Scholar.2C_1600-1800

and

http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/European_History_Jobs_2008-09#Early_Modern_Europe


 * MLA interview scheduled by phone 12/9 (x3)

Q: Just out of curiosity, were there WS requests for this position? A: Come to think of it, no.
 * A: WS requests are being made of MLA interviewees.
 * Other information: over 300 apps from three fields, just over 20 (split between the three fields) to be interviewed; line is safe from freeze and budget cut

Q: at what level are they interviewing? ABD, VAP, TTAP? thanks.
 * ABD in my case.

University of Texas, Austin (poetry)
'''

Deadline: October 15
 * Request for further materials 11/3 (x7)
 * Rejection letter by mail 11/29 (x3)
 * MLA interview scheduled by email 12/6 (x3)

'''

University of Texas, Dallas (open rank)
'''

Deadline: November 15
 * 11/11 mailed letter acknowledging application dated 10/29
 * 12/9 mailed acknowledgment (dated 12/2)
 * 12/12 email to request a phone call to schedule MLA interview (x2)

'''

US Naval Academy (interest in Milton)
'''

Deadline: November 7
 * 10/25 acknowledgment by mail
 * 11/13 dossier and more materials request by email (x2)
 * 11/20 more materials request by snail mail
 * 11/24 more materials request by email

'''

Vanderbilt
'''

Deadline: October 15
 * 10/17 mailed letter acknowledging receipt of initial application with mail-back affirmative action survey (x4)
 * 10/27 rec'd affirmative action survey
 * 11/14 email request for dossier/writing sample (x3)

12/12 phone/email request for MLA interview

'''

Wake Forest University (Shakespeare/drama)
'''

Deadline: October 31
 * Writing Sample/Teaching Philosophy requested 10-21 (x3)
 * Writing Sample/TP/Dossier requested 11/04
 * writing sample/TP/ Dossier requested via email 11/05
 * 11/3 mailed letter of acknowledge and AAE survey
 * Writing Sample/Teaching Philosophy/Dossier requested 11/10
 * Writing Sample, TP, Dossier request (email) 11/11
 * Writing sample, teaching philosophy, dossier request (email), 11/12
 * MLA interview request 12/4
 * MLA interview request 12/8

'''

Western Carolina University
'''
 * early British drama (medieval, Renaissance/early modern, and/or the long eighteenth-century). Ability to teach drama from multiple nationalities and periods including modern and/or contemporary drama a plus]
 * Applications received by December 8 may be considered for prescreening interviews at MLA.
 * Q: Did anyone who applied receive any sort of email confirmation?
 * A: No. just the confirmation page with the electronic submission; I think it's hit or miss whether the department sends an additional confirmation. At least that's been my experience with online apps . ..


 * Q: Anyone have any idea what "prescreening" entails?

'''

Western Kentucky University (prefer Shakespeare)
'''

No Deadline: Review begins Oct 31 (UPDATE: letter of acknowledgment says review begins Nov. 3rd)
 * 10/27 letter of acknowledgment (dated 10/23) and survey to return by mail

12/02 phone interview request (x2)

'''

Whittier College (prefer Shakespeare)
'''

Deadline: November 1
 * MLA interview request 12/5 (x2)

'''

Winona State University
'''

Deadline: November 14
 * 10/28 acknowledgment by email with attached affirmative action/background check consent forms

'''

Xavier University (Shakespeare/renaissance drama)
'''

Deadline: November 7

SEARCH CANCELED