Spanish 2009-2010

Good luck to everybody with their search!

 * Visitor Type:


 * ABD, not defending soon: 9
 * ABD, defending within 4-6 months: 26
 * ABD, I have a set date for my defense: 2
 * ABD, no defense at my U: 5
 * Ph.D. in hand: 20
 * Visiting Professor, Lecturer: 12
 * Assistant Professor: 13
 * Postdoc: 1
 * Muleteer: 2
 * Member of a Search Committee: 1
 * Just browsing: 3


 * Specialty:


 * Latin American: 27
 * Colonial: 3
 * Independence era: 3
 * Modern/Contemporary: 15
 * Southern Cone: 3
 * Caribbean: 2
 * Brazilian: 2


 * Peninsular: 29
 * Medieval: 4
 * Siglo de Oro/Colonial: 10
 * XVIII-XIX:
 * XIX- XX: 11
 * XX-XXI: 5
 * US Hispanic:1
 * Linguistics: 5
 * Consider yourself a Generalist: 9


 * How many applications have you sent out?


 * 1-10: 19
 * 10-20: 19
 * 21-30: 7
 * 31-40: 5
 * 41 and above: 3
 * Wishes schools would get off their asses and schedule MLA interviews already: 103 (x ∞)
 * Already planning their trip to LA next year: 2
 * Thinks people on this thing are getting bitchy from the lack of information: 1
 * Thinks its funny how people get in fights: 3

MLA interviews scheduled:
[NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks. **The date you received the call/email, not the date of the interview!**]


 * Dominican University (11/10)
 * Manhattan College (11/18) email (x2)
 * Washington College (in Maryland), (11/23). Q. For which position? The tenure-track or the visiting? (11/30) (TT position)
 * Bethel College (11/24) email
 * College of Charleston (11/24)
 * American University (11/30)  Q: Which position? Q: How did they contact you, phone or email? Thanx! Emai, 11/‚
 * Monmouth College (12/1) email
 * Indiana U (not sure when--second hand)
 * Trinity U (12/1) (X2) phone
 * Brandeis University (12/2) email (x2)
 * U of Oregon (12/2)
 * North Carolina, Greensboro. (Phone, 12/02)
 * Grinnell College (12/3 x2) phone. (Be prepared, Grinnell asks some intense questions) (I second that: Make sure to have examples of books for all the courses they teach, that's what they asked me last year, It didn't went well for me, good luck, yeah and be prepared to have 5 seconds to recite random 50 minute class plans)
 * U of San Diego (Phone 12/4) (3x)
 * U Penn (email, 12/4). Q:  Lat Am. or Peninsular?   A: Lat Am. (2x) A: Peninsular (x3) Q: When (for the peninsular)? A: email, 12/4 (x2). Q: Anyone else? Nope, curious... are they looking for    an advanced assist. prof? no, just an entry level (for peninsular) A: The ad for the Lat. Am. position seemed to indicate that applicants needed to have a PhD, and the two people I've heard of who received interviews do indeed (one is already an Asst. Prof.). I know for sure they are gonna interview ABD's for the Peninsular position. Q: Peninuslar, so, according to a couple of you, Penn is not interviewing Assist. Profs? They just wnat somebody at entry level? Not necessarily, but they are interviewing some ABD's...but they definitely prefer entry level... Q: Do you (the ones who got a call for the Peninsular position) work on late XX and/or XXI centuries or not? Yes.
 * Saint Ambrose University (email, 12/7)(x2)
 * Central Michigan University (Phone 12/7)(x4)
 * Columbia College, Chicago (Phone 12/7) Q: What position? A:US Latino/a literature
 * Albion College (Email, 12/7)
 * U of Delaware (Email, 12/8) (x4)
 * Colorado College, Golden Age (email, 12/8), Peninsular (email, 12/10) (x2) Q. Are these two for Golden Age or the Modern Peninsular?
 * Bentley U (12/8) phone
 * Gustavus Adolphus (12/8, email) (x4)
 * Harvard Latin Americanist (12/8, phone) (x4) congrats and best of luck!
 * Saint Louis University (12/8) (x2)
 * Dartmouth (media) (12/9) email (x5) Q: Just out of curiousity: What kind of media do you people work on? A: Cinema
 * Dartmouth (19th C.) (12/9) email (x2) Q: curious, are you 2 Latin Americanists? A: yes. Q: any peninsularista got an interview for this position?
 * Towson U, Peninsular generalist (email, 12/9) (x3)
 * Dickinson College (latin americanist) (email, 12/9) (x5)
 * Lebanon Valley College (Peninsular) (12/9) phone (x3)
 * University of Kentucky (Lecturer) (email 12/9) (x3): is this the TT job turned into a Lecturer position?* Thanks, and congrats!!* Q. When did they decide that they were changing the TT Early Modern position into a lectureship? Are we talking about the same position or it is another lectureship? A. It is another position. This year they advertised two jobs from the beginning: the Golden Age TT and the Lecturer. ALL WRONG: They advertised THREE things, 1. Lecturships 2. TT Early Modern. 3. TT Latin American Lit/cultural studies.
 * Wellesley College (email 12/9)
 * SUNY New Paltz (phone call 12/9)
 * Brandeis (12/10) (x2) Q: Is that the date you got the e-mail? Just checking. A: Yes
 * Knox College (phone 12/10)
 * University of North Florida (phone 12/10) (x4)
 * Birmingham-Southern College (email 12/10)
 * Hamilton College, Early Modern TT (12/10, email) (x3)
 * Portland State University, Early Modern (12/10 email) (x7)
 * Creighton (12/10 email)
 * Rice, Mexicanist position (12/11 phone x 2)
 * University of Kentucky, Latin American Lit/Cultural Studes TT (12/11 phone) (x2)
 * University of Kentucky'. Early modern 12/11
 * Ohio Wesleyan University (Linguistics) 12/11 (e-mail)
 * Saint Michael's C (Visiting) 12/11 (email) x2

Phone interviews scheduled:
[NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks. **The date you received the call/email, not the date of the interview!**]


 * Albright College Phone Interview (11/5), Phone Interview (11/6)
 * Susquehanna University Phone Interview (11/7), they will do campus interviews on first week of Dec., and make an offer before the MLA, Phone Interview (11/8). They emailed saying the position was not filled & the process was slower than expected. Q. When did they send this email? Q: Did you have a campus visit with them?
 * Hastings College Phone interview scheduled for 11/18 (11/16)
 * University of West Georgia- phone interview scheduled for 12/8 (x2), for 12/10  Q. When they sent the notice? by email or phone? A. Phone Q For which position? Latin American or Peninsular? Latin American A. And Peninsular (x2)   Q: When were you called to schedule foracademicjobs.wikia.com verdad, el dia exacto ne se' pero seri'a hace una semana.
 * Westminster College Phone interview scheduled for 12/4
 * Wake Forest University (11/26)
 * Berry College (12/1)
 * Albion College (12/3) (12/4)
 * University of Alabama (12/4) x3. Q: Is this the linguistics position at Tuscaloosa? A: Transatlantitc 20th & 21st c. A: Thanks! Q: Transatlantic, at entry level or adavanced assist prof? A. entry level. Thank you
 * U Penn (Latin American) 12/4 (anyone else?) No one has heard anything for the Peninsular? Yes, MLA interview scheduled on 12/4 (email) // I was wondering the same thing about the Peninsular position, as I've heard nothing so far. // a phone interview? not in the MLA? // They are probably just doing some initial scouting before deciding on finalists to interview at MLA. But who knows? The position was also open to 'exceptional senior candidates,' so there could be some informal discussions going on. An email for an MLA interview was received on 12/4 I had to call the HR office since one of my refs did not get the email. They will tell you who to send it to so it gets put in your file 12/7(see above).
 * Auburn University (12/4)
 * Illinois State University (12/4)
 * University of South Florida (12/4)
 * Illinois State University (12/7)
 * Ohio University (12/8)
 * Colorado College Golden Age (email, 12/8) x3 Q. This does not make much sense. How would they schedule a campus interview for one candidate and a phone interview for another? Could anybody explain that to me? A: It happens when a candidate cannot attend the MLA for different reasons... A: I am afraid they may be sure about the MLA candidate and less so about the phone candidate (myself). A. Ok, this is the first time that I see it. Thanks for the feedback. I thought there was a mistake. Q. Did they ask the candidate over the phone interview that the next step is a campus visit? If it is you, were you going to the MLA convention anyway? A: Yes, their email specifies that they are "moving toward settling whom we'll talk to at the MLA." I mentioned in my cover letter that I would attend the convention. A. Good luck with the phone interview then. No se acuesta uno sin saber algo m'as. Things are so weird these days.
 * Franklin College (12/9) Phone interview to be conducted early January Q: Did they call you to set it up or email you? A: They called me.
 * University of Texas PanAmerican (12/10) Q: Sorry, for what position? Q: Is this the World Lit/ Lat Am position? A: No, it is for the Linguistics position.
 * Western Illinois University (12/11) Linguistics

________________________________________________________________
Video interviews scheduled: (they should ALL be like this! think of all the time, money, and stress we'd save) (x2) [NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks. **The date you received the call/email, not the date of the interview!**]


 * University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse (12/3) (x2) Wow! this should be interesting (techie and all!) good luck!
 * University of Missouri (12/4) (x4)
 * UofChicago, Golden Age (early december)

Campus Visits Scheduled:
[NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks. **The date you received the call/email, not the date of the interview!**]


 * University of Western Ontario (Oct- Nov '09)


 * Albright College (Nov'09)
 * Susquehanna U. - (Nov '09) (2)
 * Morningside College (Nov '09)
 * Hastings College (second week of december)
 * UofChicago, Golden Age (12/9) (x2)

Offers Made:
(conversation about offer timing moved to question section)


 * Western Ontario (Nov. 25)


 * Morningside College (Nov. 25) - Accepted [CONGRATULATIONS! x4] Parabéns!

Canceled Searches

 * Highpoint U
 * Virginia Tech Q. Which position? The tenure-track or the instructor?


 * A: I believe the tenure-track search was canceled and changed to an "Instructor" position instead (ugh).


 * Illinois Wesleyan position "transformed" into a 2-year non-tenure position. Q: Does anybody know anything about it after it was transformed into a 2-year position, and later into a 1-year position? Did it get finally canceled? R: Seems like the search for the 1-yr VAP is still on. They probably got hundreds of applications as the the job description included three possible fields, Mexico, US-Latino, and Colonial.
 * Calvin College (12/10)

Rejections:
[NOTE: Please add the school at the bottom of the list and put the date in parenthesis. Thanks.]


 * Benedictine College (e-mail, 11/3) x2
 * Wofford College (letter, 10/20)
 * American University (e-mail, 12/4)
 * Middle Tennessee SU (e-mail 12/4)
 * Morningside C (very polite email, position filled 12/7)x4
 * Cincinnatti U (e-mail, 12/7)
 * Connecticut College (e-mail, 12/7)
 * Amherst (letter, 11/30) -- Is this for the position in Women's Studies? A: yes, women's studies
 * Bentley U (email, 12/11) x2
 * Indiana U (email 12/11) Hispanic Caribbean/US Latino (x4)
 * Southern Methodist University (email 12/10) x2
 * Susquehanna University (snail-mail, early December)

Does anybody know about...
[NOTE: Please write the name of one school/position at a time, and please add all follow-up information to the original entry for that school. If there is already an entry for a position, please follow up through that entry rather than adding another; clutter confuses things.] [Does any body know how to fix the 2 entries that now seem weird (NY and Portland)? Thanks for fixing it.]
 * Fairfield University?
 * British Columbia (Peninsular): anyone received phone call/email to schedule interview at MLA? UBC, as most Canadian universities, don't interview people at MLA. I ma not quite sure about it. I was interviewed at MLA by Alberta a couple of years ago. A: for the current opening they´ve been interviewing at MLA for the last couple years. A: They've also been canceling it for the last couple of years. A: Don't hold your breath for British Columbia: They haven't been able to fill positions for the last five years. Q: do you know why they haven't been able to fill postions for the last years? Money? Unable to find suitable candidates? Thanks.
 * U of Michigan (Peninsular): anyone received phone call/email to schedule interview at MLA? A: Committee is still reviewing applications. I'd wager they will start contacting people next week (Insider knowledge). Q: Can you get more info from your insider, such as are they looking for someone at entry level, an advanced scholar? A: As far as I know there's no preference. They just want to hire the best possible candidate in one or more of the areas that need to be filled. When are they going to start calling/emailing people for G.. sakes??? A: Next week, definitely. They met today (12/11). Thank you very much for the information, whoever you are!!!! Q:  When was that "they met today" posted? A: 12/11
 * Clemson U (Peninsular):
 * Marist College (Generalist)? Anyone have any news? I've checked their job application website and it appears that none of my letters are uploaded to the site yet. I'm wondering if they have yet to contact my references? Or have they written me off already? A: none of my letters are uploaded either so I guess they haven't asked for them yet.
 * U of South Florida? (Peninsular) As of the middle of last week, I was under the impression that they hadn't started narrowing down candidates. HR did not turn over the list of candidates until 11/30. Thanks!! Q: What does "HR" stand for? A. Human Resources. Phone interview (contacted by phone, 12/3) The Medieval/Early Modern Positions? Thanks. A. I believe it was for modern peninsular/transatlantic, but I wasn't called so I do not know.
 * Williams (I know that at Williams they received many applications this year. And that they haven't still gone over all of them. Probably next week.) (A: Thanks!)
 * Chicago A. Forget about the Chicago position. It is described as an assistant position when they are looking for an early associate professor. If you do not have a published book and almost got tenure you are not going to be considered. Furthermore, they are looking for a specialist in poetry. Q. How do you know that? A. I know somebody in the department. OK, thnx. Does Chicago have an internal candidate? A. No, they do not. It is going to be somebody from outside, but at least a senior assistant professor, that is, somebody who has been an assistant professor at least for 4 years, who has published a book and who concentrates on poetry. As you can see, the other Golden Age professor in the department focuses on novel and theater. A: Thank you.
 * Washington C. Washington C has made its interviews for MLA. No idea about the other places. Thanks!
 * Colorado College(Peninsular)? nada. Yes (see above) Q: Anyone received news about the post-Franco position for CC? A: I haven't received any news about it yet. Thanks!
 * USC (Media)? Q: "media" means medievalist? A: No, it is a position for a specialist in 20th and 21st Century Film. Q: I am the one who listed this position as Peninsular (above). Now I realize the ad reads "20 and 21 C Spanish film and culture, and welcome applications from scholars who work in Spanish literary, visual, and cultural studies and/or across disciplines and national tradition." How do you read "Spanish"? As Peninsular or as somebody who works in Hispanic cultureS/literatureS (broad sense) ? A: I don't know for sure, but I interpreted it to mean Spanish language film due to the ambiguity. If they wanted Peninsular only (I hopefully reasoned) they would have stated so, but the "across national traditions" made me think that ambivalence was what they had aimed for in their posting. Good luck!. Thank you for your answer. I erased USC Peninsular above so people don't get confused.
 * NYU? A: I don't know when NYU plans on contacting people for interviews, but not everyone on the committee has finished reviewing applications, so it might be awhile. (This is for the colonialist position- I don't know if the same is true for the medievalist, since it is a different committee.) A: Thanks so much.
 * NYU (Center for LatinAmerican and Caribbean Studies)?
 * Washington College instructor position?
 * Portland SU? (for Medieval/Early Modern) Insider info: The meeting of the search committee wasn't until today (Dec. 9), so people should be hearing shortly regarding MLA. A. Interviews scheduled already.
 * Hamilton C.?(for Medieval/Early Modern) A. I wonder if the position is going to be for the visiting professor they have this year. A. I doubt it. The position you're talking about is I think pretty long term (3-6 years), so they won't need to figure out a way to keep that professor around for a little while yet. In the meantime, they've needed to hire a a Golden Age person for a long time. The search failed last year, so they opened it up to juniors, and now I would suspect that they're probably having a long discussion about how they want to go so they get the right result this time around. Of course, you could still be right... I'd just rather be a bit more optimistic. (see above, interviews scheduled)
 * Stony Brook?
 * Columbia (Latin America)?
 * Columbia (Portuguese)?
 * Bates?
 * Northern Kentucky?
 * Siena College?
 * Gonzaga? there is still time to apply!!! come on...do not be soooo anxious...Original question writer here: My apologies, this is the section where you are supposed to see if people have heard anything, insider info, ideas about when they might decide, even if the deadline has not passed yet. That's all.
 * U. of Kansas (Latin America)?
 * U of Oregon?
 * U of Colorado, Boulder?
 * California, SU Stanislao? Q: Which CSU, which position? Stanislao, Portuguese
 * Creighton U? See above. The email arrived on 12/10 in the evening.
 * John Jay C, CUNY?
 * Worcester Polytechnic? - I know they sent out acknowledgements last week, but their deadline was mid Nov---anyone know anything?
 * Angelo State?
 * Saint Bonaventure?
 * Florida Gulf Coast University? Isn't this due next year (Jan/Feb)??
 * Denison, Right before the thanksgiving break they contacted one of the people listed under my recommendations, but I have not heard from them at all
 * Johns Hopkins, Comparative from 1750 to the present?
 * Arizona State U? Comparative Ethnic, Transnational or Hemispheric Literary/Cultural Studies
 * Vanderbilt?
 * U of Mass. Dartmouth? 
 * Puget Sound?
 * Swarthmore College? VAP
 * U of North Carolina Charlotte (Linguistics)?
 * Case Western Reserve U? (Their deadline hasn't even passed! I doubt they're interviewing at the MLA, given their late deadline.)
 * Trinity College (Early Modern)?
 * U of Pittsburg (lecturer Latin Am-Peninsular)?
 * Rockhurst U?
 * Northern Michigan?

Q&A or comments:
'''1. Can we try keeping this alphabetical... '''

A. Es mas facil ubicar la informacion si esta ordenada cronologicamente, que por orden alfabetico...

A. No sé por qué sería más fácil cronológicamente...parece que lo estamos haciendo por orden alfabético.

A. Look at other disciplines in past years. The ones that do it alphabetically AND have a lot of activity, it gets to be difficult to monitor different positions. When you apply to 30/40/50 places, it's easier to keep track of MLA and campus interviews by the date they get placed here.

A. The "Submitted applications" section should definitely be kept in alphabetical order. Anything else would be best kept in chronological order.

A. I applied to 100 jobs last year, and the chronological order didn't help me.

A. 100 jobs? The help you need dependeth not on the order of the Wiki. :)

A. LOL. Just keep the alphabetical as usual. Chronological makes no sense.

A. As usual??? Makes no sense??? take a look at last year's wiki. It was chronological http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Spanish_2008-2009 as well as the year before http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/SpanishPositions

A. Change can be good. Let's embrace the changes.

A. SOOOOOOO... "Submitted Application Status" in alphabetical (this category will be compressed and/or disappear anyway as more significant news starts to arise), and everything else in chronological order? That sounds good to me, even though I was initially one of the above voices of support for alphabetical order.

A. Great! Gotta love some consensus!

A. Why some people is deleting comments? Censorship here? OH, PLEASE! Lets go by the chronological order.


 * PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL.*

A. 1) 100 positions? I applied to 10 last year, and still got a t-t position. This year I am part of a search committee in Spanish, and reading all materials we can easily discard those that "apply to everything" because they have no clue what this position is about; they did not spend time personalizing their dossiers because they were too busy applying to 100 positions. Get some help, as someone said. La gente a veces tiene que "apply to everything" porque tiene que comer, alimentar a sus hijos. Como se puede ser tan soberbio...y pensar que gente como tu esta en los search comittees...ahora si que veo que me equivoque de profesion...por favor, un poco de respeto con todo el mundo.

A.) According to your "logic" then you should have only applied to one! What a braggart!

A) Where do you work? Just to avoid applying there...

A) The problem, at least for me, is that many job descriptions are really vague, and it is not really clear what do they want in concrete. Sometimes, it seems, that is because even the insitution is not really defined and are differences among people. Other it is because they are not really clear in what they want.
 * 2) Some people is talking the way our kids is learning (Bush dixit).

A.) For the record in case this comes up again next year, now that the wiki is getting numerous updates every single day, it is much easier to track your interested positions chronologically. You notice 4 new MLA interviews and 2 phone interviews and you only have to pan up a few spots to make sure you haven't missed anything. Much easier than hunting down 8 universities in a list of 100 schools.

A)For next year camarades: I agree with the previous answer. A chronological list is easier to check after a while, it does not matter how many positions you've applied.

'''2. ¿Qué significa AA? '''

A. AA es la forma de "Affirmative Action."

A. Alternate meaning: Alcoholics Anonymous. You may need their help after a year on the job market...

A. Thanks. Yes, I recently learned about the high incidence of AA and NA in academia.....note to self....

A. Anxious Academics. I do not know if it is me or the universities are taking much more time to contact people this year. By this time last year, I had 2 interviews scheduled for the MLA.

A. Anxious Academics is right! I have 2 MLA interviews as of now, but so many schools are still completely MIA...no ackn. letters, nothing, nada. I guess next week we will all be overloaded with responses? Maybe not.

A. I agree that things seem to be going a little slower (and of course lower). Thanksgiving was late this year--that could be part of it, and also a higher number than usual had their deadlines between the 20th of November and the 1st of December.

3. What about including open positions for Spanish language/literature in European universities?

A. If you have some news on them, go ahead and put it up! There is nobody moderating this Wiki, just add it yourself.

A. Here's one: &nbsp http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/AAG219/college-lecturership-in-spanish/ &nbsp; And you may be able to find more in days to come at www.jobs.ac.uk.

'''4. Anyone know what happened to the "MLA interviews scheduled" information from last year's Wiki? Or have some record of it? Although I remember more or less, I would be interested to know when interviews really started to come along. '''

A. They started appearing right after thanksgiving, if I am not mistaken... That part got deleted after a while in last year's wiki. But check the year before last (someone already posted the link above) you'll see it's after thanksgiving that things start moving quickly.

A. Yes, after thanksgiving is the usual. Dont get so anxious... yet...

'''5.Any advice as to possible answers for the question&gt; How would you teach X or Y course? (first timer here!) '''

A: If you have already an interview, and know which classes they teach usually and might want you to teach, you should prepare a short class description, with readings and some activities that may help you to give concrete examples. If you want to go further you can always prepare a full syllabus, but that may be too much. Hope it helps.

A: It is impossible to prepare possible syllabi for all courses being taught in every university you apply. But have at least 2 or 3 syllabi ready for courses you would "ideally" teach. Now, have you taught anything at all? If yes, then you're fine. Think of activities that worked really well, lesson plans that you were proud of, and modify them accordingly to the question they pose. Explain 1) methodology to prepare the class and syllabus (language/literature: what is the main drive force behind the course?) and 2) exemplify how a typical class would work with examples of things that worked in your classes. Important always: specific examples: that will keep them asking you more

'''6. Why am i checking this website obsessively? '''

A. The same reason I am, it gives you a sense of control over something you have no control over. LOL. Good luck on your job hunt! :) This must be AM.

'''7. nothing much on this wiki this year... besides a reduced market, maybe not enough people know about it '''

A. Nothing has happened yet, hence nothing on the Wiki. (11/29)

8. Someone deleted an exchange about postdoc. Please don't do that. In any case, here goes again the link http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Humanities_and_Social_Science_Postdocs_2009-2010

'''9. *Colleges scheduling MLA interviews by e-mail? What a lack of glamour... '''

A.Seems pretty reasonable to me--it's just a first round interview, not a campus visit. Search committees don't want to spend their time playing phone tag with a dozen people.

A. Lack of glamour? why? A. There's nothing glamorous about a job search process, i think.

R. Well, if you're one of the 8-10 people who made the cut (among 80, 100 candidates?) I assume you deserve a phone call. We're worth more than a few cents, I think...

A. Don't take it so personally. Think of it from an administrative standpoint: you have to schedule a day and time with all of these people...if you're lucky, maybe you get some of them on the first ring...you leave a message with the available times with the rest...then play phone tag and try to sort out their preferences one by one. Or, you just email everyone, get their preferences in writing, plug them into your document, and it's a done deal. Basically, I'd get over the idea that you "deserve" anything as a candidate in this market, or that menial administrative tasks are any indication of your "worth" as a candidate. As you'll soon be painfully aware, you're not the one calling the shots! Good luck regardless, but I'd recommend getting over the desire to be some kind of sought after gem; it's only going to make you seem like a prima donna. And BTW, 80-100 might be a low estimate; I'm aware of positions that got 250+ applications last year. May we all be thankful to get an email scheduling an interview!!!

R. I agree with you: candidates should not take the process personally. On the other hand, I don't consider myself a "sought after gem," so that's not the issue here. My point was that all candidates (not just myself) deserve at least a phone call instead of an email that says "ok, see ya in a crowded hotel, good luck, and don't get stuck in the elevator."

A: Dang! I could care less if my interview message comes via e-mail, phone, smoke signals, whatever! At this point I just want to know.

'''10. What is a muleteer? (see visitor type section above). Is this a Quijote reference or do you mean that you travel between various part-time teaching gigs and get paid next to nothing? (If it is a Quijote reference, then at my current job I feel as exploited as la pobre Maritornes, but this year hope to "marry up" or move up professionally-speaking and become more like the astute Dorotea!) '''

A. I took it as a bit of sarcasm regarding the over-the-top specificity of the "self-identification" section with regard to seemingly irrelevant factors...for example, native speaker vs. non-native speaker vs. heritage speaker. But perhaps that was just my reading. And by the way, how many of us have green eyes? Brown eyes? Blue?

A. Please also include your over-the-top specificity for your coffee at Starbucks.

11. U Penn: Did anyone else have problems with their referees not receiving the automated email requesting letters for U Penn? 3 of mine received it a week ago and uploaded their letter, but my advisor says she never got the email. And the website gives no contact info for technical help- just the provost's office. Ay ay ay.//Yes, I am having the same problem, only 2/3 of my letters are up on their internal HR site. SAME HERE... .// Me too, problems with referees not receiving automated email requesting letters. If you ask your referees to send letters directly to dept., they (clerks) do not upload letters in your file.

'''12. What does "2x" mean? '''

A. It means 'two times', but read it as 'two people' (i.e. two people agree, two people have been contacted...etc)

A: It means (at least as far as I understood it in other entries throughout the wiki) "por 2" so that 2 persons had been requested an interview, it is a way to not repeat the same.

A. It makes sense when two people have scheduled interviews, are contacted, etc., but it's not particularly helpful when used as in "I second this question." Adding "x2" to a question doesn't clarify or add urgency, but rather confuses the issue of whether this is a response or a question. (x2)

'''13. It is my first time on the MLA. Does anybody have recommendations? What should I take with me? Thanks!!! '''

A. for 1. ideas on how to answer the staple questions (course offerings, dissertation summary and new project) 2. confidence, 3. ear plugs 4. notebook, the common sense stuff. there are plenty of tips in the Chronicle of Higher Ed, which probably explains why no one has taken the trouble to respond to your query. Good luck!

A: If you have an interview, congrats for the interview!! let's start from the most simple: you should think in bringing clothes that would really take the question of dressing out of your mind, and of your interviewers. You also should think in bringing something that might help you to distract, a book that you might want to read, music, that is, something that helps relaxing you and does not add to your stress, as well as bringing your materials for the interview. Check the school, see what they might want you to teach, be prepared to give them short class descriptions of those clases, as well as your dream class. Have a nice description of how you teach a class, what is your research. Prepare a few questions for them. Check the MLA or the Chronicle, and ask your advisors for more developed advice. Finally, enjoy Philly, which is a great city. Buena Suerte!!

'''14. Do grad students that are only going to the MLA Convention for an interview have to pay the registration/membership (i.e. I know that the interviews in the large cattle-call room require a badge but what if you just have 1 hotel suite interview - do you think the interviewers know/care?)? '''

A: Congrats for the interview! After that, if you have all the information about the room hotel and that, I do not think they might care. However, that implies probably that you would not be able to use any of the information center of the convention if something happens. I would pay, just to take the doubt from my mind. That is, if you are having an interview you want to really focus on important stuff and not on an imaginary "what if" that only distracts you and put you more nervous. Also remember that you can still get another interview and if it is in the massive and hellish room you would need to have your registration for sure, so again, I would take the problem of my mind and pay. Good luck!

'''15. Okay, today is Monday Dec. 7.  STILL waiting for that phone to ring. Almost in panic mode/full-scale tears and depression mode. When should I give up on the phone ringing? Or, when is the latest they could call in your experience? Have already tried distracting myself with exercise, work, reading, and shopping. Please advise. '''

A. I think the search season is just now getting underway. My sense is that this year the calls are going to come mostly this week and next. So I think we've all really got until the 18th or so before we need to start thinking the worst. My fabulous predictions, by the way, are based on how late we're all getting acknowledgement receipts of our applications this year as opposed to years past, as well as bits and pieces I'm hearing from people on search committees. So hang in there. Don't distract yourself, though, just make sure you've got all your interview materials lined up and ready to go! Good luck!

A: I do agree with you. I have also heard from people who's been called during the MLA. It is not normally the case but it can happen... If you compare the job list with the wiki, there are plenty of institutions who haven't called yet so we have to be patient...good luck!

A. They can call you even at the 24th. So, you get the idea.

A. I agree with the first response--there are too few things up on the wiki to despair yet... Looks like things are taking longer. Also: 1) thanksgiving came late this year and 2) many applications were due between late November and early December--more than usual.

A. I'd like to be optimistic and think they are late this year, but Cuidado. There are a lot of searches cancelled and they didn't send notifications, yet.

A. When you say that positions were canceled, which ones are you referring to? Is it a rumor that is circulating or you know something in particular? Speculation does not help here and there are many people getting anxious about that.

A. Cuidado: this doesn't seem helpful. Why don't you add this information (about canceled searches) to the wiki.

A. Yes, sorry for the confusion. Disregard posting above. I posted the "searches cancelled". I was just repeating what a big fish from a R1 told me.

A. Also, keep in mind that many places are dealing with end of semester stuff right now. And the market seems to be smaller this year.Waiting for the phone to ring here too! It is very crappy that they keep us all waiting so long - whatever the reason! It is stressful and pretty much just drives us all nuts! Good luck all!

15b. Original question-writer here: Thank you everybody for your reassuring answers! Feeling better already. Hope to see you (even though I will have no idea who you all are) at the MLA. Buena suerte.

'''16. Friendly advice: don't take anything that this Wiki says too seriously, or as an indication of the be-all-end-all truth of any particular search. No search is over until a contract is signed or a cancellation is official. Now that "insider information" has started to rear its head, reliability can quickly go out the window. I know of multiple people who have written things off rashly because of something they read on the Wiki, and later gotten a position. Take it all with a grain of salt! '''

A. True that, friend.

A: Yep, I know some more examples as well...so, do not despair...there is plenty of time...

A. And to think I based all my job-search decisions off of this thing!

A. In my 3 years on the wiki, I've had pretty reliable experience with it w/ the exception of last year's UC Berkeley position and faux insider info.

'''17. Hey people! What about a meeting with all of us at the MLA? :) '''

A. Sure, I am game. Drinks? Coffee? A: Totally up for it. Let's do it!!! A great idea my friend!

A. Look in your convention program and crash any of the many Cash Bars. Atleast that is how a poor graduate student rolls.

A. So which cash bar should we meet up at? How will we know each other? Should we all wear giant name tags that say "Obsessed Wiki Checker" (OWC for short)? Or should we all bring our favorite books with a red rose tucked inside?

A. Dale!

A. OWCA: the "A" means we are anonymous. No one really wants to see who is on this thing.

A. If you don't want to go, don't do it. You hater.

A. I say we include a seppuku-clause. (Not a Santa Claus)

'''18. Does anyone else feel like they should have applied to more VAPs and full-time non-tenure positions? I'm starting to think that I was too narrow in my search based on my current nonexistent interview schedule. '''

A. Past tense?! There are still plenty of visiting jobs and non-tenure-track jobs whose deadlines haven't passed, and there is always a round of announcements that come around for such positions in the spring. I was in a similar position to you last year, and I am in a nice visiting position now. There's no need to think that you're done because you already sent out your "main" bunch of applications--it ain't over 'til it's over!

A. Personally, yes and no. I'm starting to think that maybe I should have applied for some VAP or Instructor positions, since currently I only have 2 interviews (hey, it could be worse, I am lucky in a sense). I just don't want to move my family and my entire life halfway across the country for a year, despite the fact that a VAP would be beneficial to my CV. On the other hand, I wonder what would happen if everyone decided to boycott all VAP and Instructor positions for a few years? Of course it would never happen, we all need jobs. But I wonder if some of these universities would finally realize that the system of relying on VAPs and Instructors is so damaging to so many. There are both positives and negatives in these positions, as some have even scored TT positions as a result of their VAP-ship. Ah, maybe I'm just bitter : )

AZ. What you're talking about is the union. And that would be a great idea--but it's hard for many reasons to get "knowledge workers" on board. Still: to the OP: it's early for VAP positions now. Those are usually more of a spring-thing.

A@: In my opinion, VAP is a good idea for people who want to build a CV, get experience and be able to work for a good future TT position elsewhere, that they might not get a chance without that experience.

AZ. Yes. There are many good things about being a VAP but let us remember: part of why enrollments are going up--in this sand and mohawk based economy, no less--and t-t lines are yet decreasing is precisely the casualization of university labor of which the VAP is a fundamental part.

A@. Entiendo, realmente de ninguna manera quise defender la flexibizacion laboral que implicaria la expansion de VAP, ni decir que es bueno que las posiciones TT se dejen de lado, pero a veces una posicion VAP tiene sus ventajas, si es que uno no quiere asentarse todavia, quiere ganar experiencia ya que no le da el cuero todavia para buenas posiciones TT. Seria un desastre que predominaran las VAP y no los TT, en eso estamos, creo, de acuerdo.

'''19. I think it would be a good idea to have a section on the specializations and stuatus (beg. assistant, abd, etc) of those who got interviews at the different institutions so those of us who did not get anything can have a clearer idea of what where those institutions looking for, for next year. '''

I agree. that kind of information would help me in preparing my application for the next MLA.

Me too, i think it is a great idea to share this info so others can prepare.

Me three.

A. Fat chance, to put it bluntly--people don't want to out-and-out give themselves away to committee members as participants in a website that can be perceived as gossipy and detrimental to the profession. When committees see false information on this Wiki, they get pissed, and they have a bad impression of the Wiki overall, even if you're just an innocent and helpful participant. At any rate, think about it, they're looking for what you think they're looking for: more experience, better experience, more publications, etc. Work on all that, and you won't need help preparing your applications. I'm not trying to be snide, but I don't see people who have opportunities self-identifying in any way that might, just might, jeopardize those opportunities. (A. Good gosh, while I understand your concerns, it's hard to read what you wrote and not interpret it as snide. So much for congeniality. I couldn't agree more with the post below.) (Yeah, I might have expressed it a little harshly; I'm really a congenial person, but a few years of obsessing over this thing can make you jaded :) Hope I didn't offend anyone, but remember, the market's not sympathetic either! I also agree with the post below, which I address beneath it. Happy holidays and good luck.)

A: It's not altogether accurate to think that committees judge only based on the quality of a candidate's CV. Committee often have profiles (theoretical, regional, even in terms of a candidate's "pedigree," etc.) in mind, even when they don't specify. They have distinct cultures and want someone that will complement what is already there. They also may have an internal or external candidate already in mind. Job searches are not always necessarily about the *best* candidate (and what is *best* can differ from faculty member to faculty member), and often about internal dynamics in committees --- they are a delicate balancing act, with lots of variables involved. It's better to understand the market from this perspective, rather than approaching it as a pure meritocracy. In other words, it's like any other job --- a mixture of your hard work, and lots of factors you can't really control. Whether or not people want to "out" themselves on the wiki --- that's a separate issue.

A. All true. My point (above) and your point here drive at the same issue, as far as the original question is concerned--all you can do is make your CV as good as possible; everything else is beyond your control. Knowing whether people were ABD, beginning Assistant Profs, or whatever, is not going to improve your chances because there is no predictable formula to this decision-making process.

'''20. Is anyone else surprised at how many places have the same job posting 2,3, or even 4 years in a row? I can't believe some of the places that are interviewing this year still have not found someone!'''

A. Which places are you talking about? Is that normal?

A. I don't know if it is normal...is anything about this process really normal? ;-) Off the top of my head, I can think of Western IL, Worcester Poly, East Stroudsburg, Charleston College, Lebanon Valley (I think it's the same job), Sienna College, Middle Tennessee, John Jay College... I'm sure there are a couple of others. They are all looking for basically the same thing they had advertised in the last 2 -3 years.

A: i think it´s quite obvious-- the rigid and expensive set-up doesn´t work, it´s not flexible enough and relies on too many blind protocols.

'''21. I read above that we are not supposed to get job offers before the MLA because it' the law. Is that true? Why is it like that? Thanks!''' A: there si not written law about it, especially if a dept. is hiring a senior person. The law (not universal, though), is that they have to do a national search. PERIOD. Therefore, yes, it is fair game to offer a position before MLA. A: These are guidelines, not laws.

'''22. What do you think about offers made before the MLA? How ethical is that?'''

(I mean, the Canada one, we'll they're not bound by these gringo laws... And I'd rather work at Western than almost anywhere else, so I don't think it's too big of a problem...)

A: Depends on the context of the offer. MLA guidelines state that offers should not be made before 1/22 in order to allow people to attend the convention and consider competing offers, etc. If an option is offered to the applicant after feeling out how receptive they might/might not be to an accelerated process, it is probably fine. If it is something unilaterally done by the institution, I would say that it should probably be discouraged out of fairness to the applicant.

Submitted Application Status:
(this seems entirely useless to me'; maybe once MLA interviews start kicking in we can delete this??? please do not erase anything, what is useless for you is useful for others / ditto! This is not useless information for some. Please do not erase. // Q: Has anyone recieve writing sample or other documents request so far beyond Vanderbilt and Indiana U? (23/11)//  //A: Warren Wilson, Amherst have requested more materials.

Q: Is this section still helpful to most, or is it ok to start deleting it since supposedly we are now moving on to the "Interviews Scheduled" stage? I think we should just leave it since I'm sure there is somebody who might need it. Besides, it takes less than a second to scroll past.

A: How about we move it to the bottom of the page? I'm doing this now.

A: Well, at least this solution allows people for next year to check it if they want to see when things started to happend. Also, there are still people putting new stuff here since there are schools that are a bit late in the process, so moving it instead of erasing seems a good idea.

'''If you adding info to this list please put it in bold, so it is easier to check the new data. Thanks'''

Albion College-letter with AA 09/11, 11/16, phone call scheduled to talk about the position (12/3)

Albright College - letter with AA form 10/1

Amherst College - letter requesting more materials 11/23

Angelo State University - Ackn. e-mail 9/25

Augustana College - Ackn. e-mail 10/26

Bates College - Mail ackn. with AA form, '''Ackn. mail 12/3 '''

Berry College - letter with AA form 10/07

Birmingham-Southern College - Ackn. e-mail 10/5, 10/27, 11/17

Brandeis University - Ackn. e-mail 10/22; Ackn. e-mail 11/9; Ackn. e-mail 11/24 (2)

Clemson U - Ack. letter and AA form 11/16

College of Charleston - Ackn. e-mail 11/16

Colorado College - Ackn. email 9/30, 10/30 (3)

Connecticut College - '''Ackn. email and AA 12/7 '''

Emory and Henry College - letter with AA form 10/14

Franklin College - letter with AA form 10/27, 10/28, letter 11/18

Georgia State University - Ackn. email 11/16, 11/30

Georgia Gwinnett College Q: any news? A. This is a very weird place because they want several people for next year, some at different ranks, and they did not post any deadline. After that, they said they also wanted people for January. Plus, being a new university founded in 2005 you never know what their plan is. We will have to keep on waiting.// Thanks, is good to know this.

Grinnell- Ackn. email 11/11 (2); Ackn. e-mail; candidates who will be interviewed at MLA will be notified in early December (11/19);

Hamilton College - Ackn. email 10/23, 11/10, 11-19

Harvard email 12/1

Hastings College - letter with AA form 9/28

Illinois Wesleyan University - Ackn. email and confirming that the position has been transformed into a 2-year visiting 11/3 (X2)
 * new version of job add says 1-year

Indiana University - request of writing sample 11/13, ackn. email 11/19

Jacksonville U: ??

John Carroll University: Ackn email, 12/1

Kennesaw State U - letter with AA form 10/7

King's College - Mail ackn. 11/5, letter with AA form 10/12

Lycoming College: Ackn email 12/07 

McKendree U -- Ackn letter 12/12 

Middle Tennessee SU (MTSU) - Ackn.email 10/27

Missouri Southern State University - Ackn. e-mail 10/16

Monmouth College - Ackn. e-mail 11/2  (3)

Morningside College - Ackn. e-mail 11/5

Mount Royal University (Canada) - Ackn. e-mail 11/17

MMSU - Ackn. e-mail 11/11

Northern Kentucky U - letter with AA form 10/15

Portland State University - ackn. email and AA form 11/17 (3)

Penn State at Berks - Ackn. e-mail 10/16 (2)

Rice - Ackn. e-mail 11/02 (2)

Sam Houston State University - '''Ackn. letter 12/2 '''

Siena, 11/30

Southern Methodist University - Ackn. e-mail 11/05

Southeast Missouri State U- letter 11/13

St. Ambrose U- email with AA 11/17

St. Bonaventure U - Ackn. e-mail 11/9

Stony Brook, SUNY: ??

SUNY New Paltz - Mail ackn. with AA form 11/5 (3)

The College of Wooster - Ackn. e-mail 11/13

The University of British Columbia - Ackn. letter 11/17

Towson University - letter with AA form 10/23

U of Alabama: Ackn letter with AA 11/18, Ackn letter with AA (Linguistics) 12/11  

U of Alaska: Ackn. e-mail 12/10

U of British Columbia - Ackn. letter 11/23

U of Colorado Boulder - Ackn. e-mail 10/30

U of Delaware - Mail ackn. with AA form 10/29, 10/20, 10/23

U of Evansville letter 11/4

U of Kansas - Ackn. e-mail 11/2; Ackn. e-mail 10/19, Ackn. e-mail 11/10; Ack. e-mail 11/23

U of Kentucky - Ackn. e-mail 10/27

U of Massachusetts Dartmouth - '''Ack. e-mail with AA form (12/4 x3) '''

U of Michigan Ann Arbor - Ackn. e-mail 10/20 (3)

U of Missouri at Columbia - Ackn. email w.AA form (11/13)

U of Oregon - Ackn. email will AA form 11/17

U of Puget Sound, Ackn letter with AA 12/4 

U of San Diego - Mail ackn. 11/5; Ackn. e-mail 11/13

U of San Francisco--'''email ackn. 12/9 (x2) '''

U of Southern California - Ackn. email 11/10 (3)

U of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Q: any news?

Vanderbilt - email requesting more documents 11/11

Virginia Tech instructor - Ackn. e-mail 10/9

Warren Wilson College - Ackn. e-mail 11/9, AA 16/10, 10/29; email requesting more information (11/30)

Washington College - Ackn. e-mail 10/3, 10/29

Williams College - letter with AA form 10/06, letter 11/3

WPI - Ackn. e-mail 10/12, ackn. email 12/4, '''ackn. email 12/4 also '''