ACLS New Faculty Fellows 2011-2012 UPDATES

Previous posts on ACLS New Faculty Fellows program from 2011-12 Humanities and Social Sciences Postdocs page: LINK.

LINK to ACLS site: http://www.acls.org/programs/newfaculty/

ACLS NFF Updates and Queries (after January 19, 2012)
Everyone ready for the webinar? What questions do people have to ask?

So during the Q&A, there was some mention that a few schools have converted or are in the midst of converting fellows to TT positions. (The number 10-12 was mentioned.) One of the admins said there was information out there about what schools are doing this. Anyone know what schools might be doing this or have any idea what schools are likely to?


 * As far as I can tell, it's not much different from the common practice of hiring a VAP for 1 or 2 years while waiting for the budgetary green light to make a TT hire, and meanwhile to encourage the VAP to apply for th TT job (sometimes hiring them, sometimes not). The schools likely to dangle an eventual TT job in front of you are the ones where you'll be filling an important gap that they just haven't been able to fill yet. I'm not sure any of the schools are merely converting the positions; from what I understand, they still have to do a search. So yes, the prospect of a TT opening in two years is a perk you should take seriously in weighing your offers (if you think it's a place you would like to stay), and worth asking about if they don't bring it up, but I would never consider it a promise.

Did the webinar today (Monday, 1/23) address if at this point schools can become hosting institutions if they are not currently listed as participating? I am scheduled for the Thursday webinar due to a campus interview, but I am considering sharing with the selection committee that I was preliminarily selected for this fellowship in part, because as a more peripheral candidate for this particular job, I think they might be interested in me and know they are trying to create a TT in my field in the next two years. Advice? I also don't want to give them an excuse not to offer me the TT if they are tied between candidates.


 * This was not addressed directly, but I am virtually certain no schools beyond the 49 listed in the FAQ can get themselves added to the list and offer the fellowship. I also don't understand your question. Was this a TT job you interviewed for? If so, the school can't offer change the position to and ACLS postdoc instead of a TT. No way that would fly (or should).


 * Thank you for the information. It is a TT that I interviewed for but I am more of a long-shot candidate who fits in a field they want to develop a few years for now, and might have a lecturer position in. I would take the TT in a heartbeat and echo your sentiments that they shouldn't convert a TT to this, even if they could. I didn't know if they would be eligible to become an ACLS participant at this point in the process, which you clarified. It seems like SLACs joined later in the process last year, judging by the 2010-11 wiki, motivating my original question. Thanks.


 * On Monday they told us there would be no SLACs participating this year.
 * Today (1/31) is the day our dossiers go live, right? Good luck, everyone!​