US History, 2009-10


 * Note: see that link labeled "Discussion" at the top right of the page? Go there for, you know, general discussion.

Non-Academic US History

 * Department of State Supervisory Historian as General Editor of the publication series Foreign Relations of the United States.
 * "The General Editor directs the scope, research, planning, selection, editing, and release of Foreign Relations of the United States"
 * Federal Judical Center assistant historian; primary responsibility: the compilation and maintenance of historical reference sources on the Federal Judicial Center’s Website (Washington, D.C.)
 * Got an email from them on Sept. 28 requesting a writing sample (10/15)
 * Currently conducting interviews (10/17)
 * Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command HISTORIAN, YA-0170 -2 (Hawai'i) working as expert conducting studies and interpreting military history in the context of US servicemen and civilians who remain unaccompanied-for as a result of past conflicts
 * Deadline September 1.
 * I would assume you mean "unaccounted for"
 * I think that's what they meant, although the job ad does say unaccompanied-for...
 * Ah, the joys of Microsoft spell-check-caused errors.
 * This unit seems to be the subject of some media attention (in the New York Times).
 * Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command - ORISE Historian at Hickman Air Force Base, Hawai'i full time appointments for one year; may be renewed for up to two additional years.
 * Scholars chosen will participate in JPAC’s on-going applied research and development projects accounting for all US service members lost during war (since WWII).
 * Sounds more like a fellowship.
 * Received rejection letter (10/5). Apparently Ph.D. in modern US History not a sufficient qualification for consideration (!?!).
 * It's not what I heard from them on having a US history degree. Did they let you know specifically that your Ph.D. was not enough? (10/26)
 * Yes, rejection statement said education qualifications not sufficient (11/6)
 * Thanks. I then expect the same response (11/14)
 * Thanks. I then expect the same response (11/14)

Specialization - Open

 * Nassau Community College-- NEW JOB! Wikia exclusive! Chronicle ad pending! Instructor (possibly TT); ability to teach basic U.S. history surveys, America Since 1945, and U.S. Foreign Policy.  Minimum qualifications: MA plus 30 credits in History. Ph.D. preferred.  College teaching experience and ability to teach online courses desirable.  Salary, approximately $52,000, position begins September, 2010, dependent upon budgetary considerations.  Candidates should apply to: Dean Ann Muth, Assistant to the Vice President for Affirmative Action, Nassau Community College, One Education Drive, Garden City, NY 11530.
 * Interesting. What materials should we send to Dean Muth?
 * SC: Good question. The standard minimum will suffice: coverletter, cv, 3 recs, transcripts.  Official inquires about the position and application process can be directed to our chair, Dr. Phil Nicholson ( nicholp at domain ncc.edu ) But make sure applications go to Dean Muth, above.
 * Thanks. Also, what is the deadline?   SC: That hasn't been established yet; it depends how long it takes the admin before the Chronicle and NYTimes ads go out, which will also include other departments.  Suffice it to say that there's no way the SC will be considering applications before the Spring semester begins in late January.
 * I like this! Cut out The Chronicle altogether....
 * Northern Arizona University; TT asst prof in history to teach undergrad in secondary social studies program
 * Deadline October 15
 * Anyone heard anything?
 * Request for more materials (early Nov.)
 * I was asked for letters of rec (which the initial application did not require--they only wanted references) in late Oct/early Nov....has anyone been asked for writing samples or materials in addition to letters? (11/23)
 * Yes, I was asked for a writing sample, syllabi, etc., at the beginning of Nov. (11/30)
 * Barnard. TT asst prof in U.S. and comparative urban history.
 * Deadline November 1
 * Posting is pretty sparse. Anyone have any sense of what they're looking for?
 * Don't know what they're looking for, curious to know how many applied and if anyone has heard anything? (Nov 8)
 * I have yet to hear anything. Would be surprised if they'd even sent acks after only a week.
 * This job is also listed under [|Urban History]
 * recv'd ack (11/8) --  snail mail ack? -- yes
 * Did the ack give any info about the timeframe for the search? (11/12) - No, but it does say they'll "let you know where you stand" (11/13)
 * How many here applied? lots; I heard they have a room full of the applications.
 * I am sure they have many applications. I was asking how many people HERE, ie participating on this wiki, applied? 14
 * Have others recv'd acks? I have yet to get one?
 * I haven't gotten one either.
 * It is far too early for anyone to complain that they've not received an acknowledgment letter. Your time is valuable, use it wisely.  (11/15)
 * Received my acknowledgment letter on Nov. 16. Applied right before the deadline.  (11/18) Me too (11/18) ditto
 * Any one heard anything more? (11/30)
 * Still nothing? (12/4). I assume they're interviewing at the AHA?
 * Anything further? Most other posts with a Nov 1 deadline have made interview calls (maybe the 12 people responding here just aren't among the interview finalists...). (12/09)
 * received ack (12/11) dated 11/30, looks like the same one as others received earlier, applied just before deadline
 * Do we know for sure they're even doing AHA? (2 members of the dept are presenting there, and Dorothy Ko is on the organizing committee this year, but the job ad didn't indicate). (12/13)
 * Phone interview scheduled by email (12/13).
 * Congratulations to poster above! (they contacted you on a Sunday??)
 * Thanks. SUnday night, actually.  Was surprised too.
 * Good luck to above poster. Anyone else hear anything? no
 * Brigham Young University Open rank and field.
 * Deadline December 1, 2009
 * Interview scheduled (12/11)
 * University of Missouri - Columbia / Tenure-track Assistant Professor of U.S. Environmental History
 * Deadline October 28, 2009
 * The department will consider all applicants, but would prefer one whose scholarship is focused on the post-1850 era.
 * Received a kind rejection. Isn't that an oxymoron?(11/8)
 * I received a reject note four days after their deadline, one day before receiving an letter that they had received my application. I have the feeling that the hiring committee has already made their chose before the deadline. (11/12) -- Heard they met on the 29th and first reject letters were sent that day or the next.
 * Heard from the proverbial friend of friend that they received sixty "good" applications that fit the field.
 * Request for more material (11/11)
 * Receive very nice letter - they actually acknowledged my application and have received request for more info - 11/13.
 * Also received request for more information.
 * Rejection letter received in Southwest (11/18)
 * AHA Interview Scheduled (12/8)
 * Ohio State University - Mansfield/ Tenure-Track position in U.S. History
 * Ack materials received (10/29) X 4
 * Got an email from the search committee chair today saying my file was incomplete - one of my letters probably got lost in the mail. Fortunately they're still accepting letters...but they wouldn't tell me which one was missing. I'm just going to have all of them resent, I think.
 * I can't even imagine how many apps they must have received for this position considering that the more specialized openings are drawing upwards of 300.
 * I heard that they got 450+ applications--I am curious as to where you received this information? I'm not disputing it, but inquiring minds want to know (11/23)
 * Awesome. I'm thinking of starting up my own business:  "Hey SCs!  Swamped by desperate PhDs?  Don't sweat it, we'll vet it!"  Seasonal work only, of course....
 * I'm going to vet here since frankly more people read this page than the vetting page...schools like OSU-Mansfield should be reprimanded for not indicating any specifics about what they are looking for, and inevitably wasting a lot of people's time. We need to organize goddamit, so schools stop treating us like we are disposable.
 * To previous poster: The word you seek is VENT (to let off steam), not VET (to check, to verify, as the poster above used it)
 * To the poster who thinks that OSU should have provided greater specificity for the position: You apparently do not understand the nature of regional campuses in the Ohio system. Whoever gets this job will mostly be teaching survey courses. The broader the range of survey courses that person can teach (both halves U.S., both halves world, perhaps Western Civ) the better. Regional campuses in Ohio mainly provide the first 2 years of college, though that is starting to change somewhat with degree completion programs being implemented at various campuses. This is a job that requires a generalist; specific fields are not so important compared to the breadth of of the courses the candidate can offer.
 * Agree with above, but OSU-Mansfield does offer a BA in history. It looks like a neat little department, and I suspect whoever lands this gig will be allowed - expected - to teach a wide variety of courses, even above the survey level.  But hey, if it turns out they only want surveys, I'll give 'em surveys!
 * Anyone hear anything on this one? AHA/phone? I've heard nothing either way! (x3) (12/14)
 * Pennsylvania State University - Fayette Tenure-Track in American History emphasizing African-American, American Indian, or Latin-American history
 * Did anyone else find the deadlines for this position confusing? On one posting it is listed as October 15 and on another, February 28th.
 * The deadline has been extended, which is not unusual for PSU.


 * Roger Williams College, RI -- Assistant Professor of American Studies / United States History.
 * I applied for this job and wondered if anyone had any information about the school or this search, etc for an old veteran of the job wars. Thanks.
 * This one is also posted on American Studies, though there's no news yet there either (12/5)
 * The job asks for someone in either American Studies or US history, as the department is a combined History/American Studies department. One thing I noticed about the department, judging from the website, is that it seems to conceive of American Studies as American cultural and social history and to think of history in more social science terms.  (And, it's not Roger Williams College, it's Roger Williams University and has been since 1992.  Most schools that make the change from college to university are pretty insistent upon that change being recognized.  I hope no one applied to "Roger Williams College.")  12/5
 * Rejection letter received via email. Email said short list of candidates chosen for AHA interviews. (12/8 X2... Durn)
 * Any info on how many applicants? Just curious.
 * Has anyone invited for interviews been notified? I got no rejection, no news...  I hate limbo.  And, yes, I know that means this whole year will suck.(12/8) (x4 - on both the lack of news and the hating limbo!)
 * Was the rejection email personalized, or sent to a bcc'ed list?
 * It was personalized, and sent by the secretary for humanities, so they might be going out in small batches. (12/10)
 * Any new news today for the people who didn't hear yesterday? (12/9)
 * No news. As I'm getting a little OCD about checking this wiki, I pretty much guarantee that you will know when I do! (12/9) (x2 About the OCD)
 * Email from search chair 12/9: 400 apps for the job. They are still working through all the apps and are arranging phone interviews.
 * This is good to hear, but how did you get the e-mail from the chair yesterday? Did you e-mail?  *Yes I emailed. Seems as if they sent out some immediate rejections (maybe to ABDs? who knows) ... but everyone else still seems to be "in the mix." The chair indicated that they were just beginning final exams etc and were really slammed, but that phone interviews would be forthcoming.
 * Hmmm ... I am confused. One person above reports that a reject email says they are doing AHA interviews, another reports phone interviews? Can anyone clarify? Anyone have an interview? (12/10)
 * anyone have their references requested? the original call for applicants just asked for reference contact info, not the letters themselves. (oh and if it helps, i'm abd and haven't been rejected yet...) (12/10)
 * rejection email today (12/10), stating that the SC had completed the initial screening process, narrowed the applicant field, and is in the process of determining the final list of candidates to be interviewed. Good luck to the rest of you!! (x3)
 * Received email informing me that I am on long list but that they are still "paring down the number preparatory to scheduling phone interviews." (10/11) (x4 -- unsolicited, and thanks to those wishing good luck. 12/11)
 * Did you solicit this information? Has anyone else who hadn't heard from RWU, then, received a similar e-mail?
 * I just received rejection email similar to above, non solicited. God luck!!!!
 * Still nothing either way... Maybe they forgot me? (x6 - ARGH! This is killing me!)
 * Glad to know it's not just me, at least!
 * Got a rejection email this afternoon. this rolling rejection thing is cruel! (12/11) X2 -- considering the number of apps they had, they handled this search cordially and professionally. Can't tell you how many jobs I've applied for where I heard ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Good luck to all interviewees, this looks like a rewarding position.
 * Is anyone still waiting on news one way or the other?
 * Yes! (12/14) (x11)

Wheaton College (Illinois)) -- U.S. History with world history expertise (assistant OR associate level)
 * Rutgers University - Newark U.S. History, Assistant Professor
 * teaching and writing that will contribute to Rutgers’ new Ph.D. program in American Studies. Particular interest in critical sexuality studies/ queer history, legal history, or U.S. Latino history.
 * Ack. materials received (9/21)
 * Anyone know the teaching load here?
 * 2-2 load
 * someone i know got a request for writing samples and syllabi
 * ack. materials received (10/12)
 * this would not be me (10/12) (x3) - me too - I call bullshit on the above, given that the deadline was only on 10/10 (10/14)
 * I posted the above and you can can "call bullshit" all you want, but it won't make my statement any less true (10/14)
 * ASA Interview scheduled (10/27)
 * I'd be interested to know if they really are interested in legal history for this hire. The other possible fields and the fact that they're interviewing at ASA suggests to me a somewhat different direction.  (Just a hunch, of course.)  (10/28)
 * Any campus interviews scheduled yet? (11/17)
 * A friend of mine got a campus job talk, does queer and black contemporary urban history (11/07)
 * Looks like I might have been right about the legal history angle (or lack thereof). (11/18)
 * Offer extended 12/09
 * University of Texas - Arlington position in the history of migration on the level of assistant professor
 * Deadline December 4, 2009
 * ack. materials received, "search committee plans to conduct interviews at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association. If you are selected for an interview the committee will contact you in early December to schedule a meeting." Attached AA/EO form via snail mail (12/10)
 * University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
 * United States and the World
 * Focus on democracy and justice
 * This is either a joint-appointment or an appointment in the Social Change and Development Program. It doesn't seem to be a History appointment (11/15)
 * Has anybody received any communication at all?
 * Boise State Assistant Professor, US gender/public history
 * Deadline November 1, 2009
 * Anyone know the teaching load here?
 * What is the deal with the gender component? The AHA listing does not mention gender, and the H Net listing only has it in the title. Any thoughts?
 * I spoke with the search committee chair - it is a position in Gender and public history (not necessarily combined - but the successful candidate will be able to teach public history and courses on gender).
 * At a recent conference a rumor circulated that this might be an inside hire...someone there may already be teaching these courses, even though they don't appear on the website. (10/12)
 * Email ack. received 2 (11/5)
 * Contacted for interview. All first round interviews are going to be done via video-conferencing in mid-December. (12/1) x 4
 * Were you contacted by phone or by email? (12/2)
 * contacted via email (12/2)
 * So, was gender history the primary factor in this search? (12/6)
 * Don't know. I have gender and public. (12/6)
 * University of Hawaii at Hilo / Assistant Professor / U.S. history
 * Deadline December 1, 2009
 * Is this the same job advertised last year? Last year's Wiki had some posts implying that Hilo often advertises but never hires.
 * It seemed as if they had made a hire. A new faculty member was listed in the faculty page at the start of the fall semester but then taken off that list. Yet that person is still listed as teaching for the department. It was confusing then as it is now. Anybody knows what exactly might be going on? (12/4)
 * So...is it the same job?
 * Has anyone heard anything from them yet? Confirmation of receipt of app? Anything? (12/14)
 * Nothing here (2)
 * Deadline November 1, 2009
 * Received email acknowledgment shortly after deadline, but no additional news (11/20)
 * Rejection letter (12/7 X 2)

Yeshiva University - Assistant Professor, American History
 * Deadline November 15
 * Any pre-Thanksgiving news?
 * Nope. No ack, no nada. Then again, materials sent 9 November.  I'm thinking small department + applicant deluge = long wait on processing. (11/25)
 * Email ack. (11/25) (x4)
 * Anyone got news on this search? If AHA interviews are on, they should be notifying soon, right? (12/11)
 * The ad was so broad that they must be sifting through a mountain of applications.
 * Request for interview at AHA (or Yeshiva one day prior to AHA) via email 12/13.
 * Congrats! Purely out of curiosity, would you mind indicating specializations? (12/13)
 * 19th century U.S; women's and gender history; legal history

Cal State Long Beach/ Assistant/Associate Professor U.S. History received an equal employment postcard several days ago (12/10)
 * Isn't this a World History job? (11/1)
 * This one says: "Job open until filled (or recruitment cancelled.)" Wow, thanks for reminding me that the world sucks.
 * Unless I missed something, this is a South Asian history position. Is there a US history position at CSU-LB too?
 * Misericordia University, Assistant Professor of American History
 * Anyone hear from them or know what the time frame is? (12/10)


 * Deadline was December 7. Has anyone heard anything? (12/8)


 * University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg, Assistant Professor of United States History
 * Deadline was December 1. Has anyone heard anything? (12/8)
 * Yes. Last week I got an acknowledgment letter (dated 11/30) telling me that my application was not yet complete.  It also expressed that, despite what the original ad stated, they will not be conducting AHA interviews (this seems to be trend among many of the schools to which I applied) and will instead hold phone interviews.  No indication of when that might happen though.  12/10

Early America
Are there always this many more Early America jobs than 19th & 20th?

-I've noticed a surge in early/colonial in the last couple of years. Don't know if this is a momentary increase, or long term trend.

-Don't know if this is why, but certain positions are easier to fundraise for, e.g., Early America and Civil War. These positions may come from earmarked funds. (10/2)

-I don't know why but damn there are a lot of colonial jobs this year! (10/11)

This is the second year in a row that it seems like there were a lot of Col/Rev posts--but having applied last year, a lot of them are the *same* posts--canceled due to funding, and now they're back.

-It's supply and demand. There are obscene numbers of people getting PhDs in 20th century US, and it's almost as bad for 19th century. There are many fewer doing early America. That means the competition for jobs is not as stiff, which in turn means it's easier for someone to leave their job for a better job. More turnover = more openings. I have never heard before that early American jobs are easier to fundraise for, and I have no idea why that would be the case. Assuming you are talking about outside funding, then the resulting jobs would presumably be endowed chairs, but I don't think any of the early American jobs on this list fit that description. The job market is small enough that the distribution of jobs can fluctuate a lot from year to year, so a lot of it is statistical noise. Different fields are stronger in different years. The bottom line is that if you got a PhD in 20th century US history, you went into an extremely oversupplied field, and your odds will not be good in any year. (11/18)

- Whatever the explanation, the number of Early America jobs is kinda obscene. 19th and 20th century may be more crowded, but the number of jobs in those fields is unusually low this year.

-I've been thinking the same thing in the past few years: why all the early US history jobs?!!!

The real reason that there are so many early jobs right now is this: 1) many/most of the searches were closed last year and 2) for years, many school have been waiting to replace jobs left open by retirements or departures. If you look at the history of many of the best jobs open this year, they have been without a tenure-track appointment for years.


 * University of Arkansas / tenure-track assistant professorship in Early American history (to 1800) to begin in August, 2010
 * Deadline November 1, 2009
 * Acknowledgment of materials and EOE survey received (10/26)
 * Request for writing sample and AHA interview scheduled via email (11/23)  x3
 * Ball State University / Tenure Track Colonial and Revolutionary America
 * Acknowledgement of materials (11/9)
 * Contacted for phone interview in mid-January (12/2)
 * Catholic University of America / Assistant Professor, Colonial America
 * "Additional competence in either the early modern Atlantic world or the early Republic is desirable, but not necessary."
 * Review of applications begins November 16, 2009
 * These seems kind of last-minute (first posted October 27; compare to the Colby job not too far below that was posted about three months before the deadline). Does anyone know why?
 * The answer is that it took until late October for the administration to know for certain that the university's budgetary situation allowed for the hiring of more new faculty. Not so uncommon in this time of fiscal uncertainty.
 * Received letter acknowledging receipt of my application (11/12)
 * Received a second acknowledgement letter (11/21). 10-12 applicants will be notified for AHA interviews around the end of the first week of December. Three or four candidates will be invited to campus in February.  Offer will be made shortly thereafter.  Will inform all candidates once offer has been accepted.
 * Received rejection letter (12/7)
 * AHA interview arranged by telephone and follow-up e-mail (12/4)
 * Rejection letter was received via snail mail in Midwest on 12/7
 * Rejection letter received via snail mail on west coast on 12/12 (x2)
 * Claremont McKenna College / Assistant Professor, Early American history (to 1815)
 * Deadline November 16, 2009
 * Any ideas as to what they want when they ask for "brief descriptions of courses?" Do they want a few sentences or a few paragraphs?
 * Received email requesting completion of AA form, and stating that they received over 250 applications. Damn. The email also notes that they will hold AHA interviews and then bring "several" candidates to campus. [12/7]
 * To the Previous Poster: Did the letter say whether they had already begun scheduling these AHA interviews? Or, to anyone else, has anyone been contacted for an interview yet?
 * Their email stated, "We plan to arrange interviews with a group of applicants at the AHA and to invite several candidates to campus in early 2010." Unless someone has heard very recently, I do not think these have been scheduled yet. (12/10)
 * As of yesterday (12/14) faculty were still wading through applications.
 * Colby College / tenure-track position in Early American history at the rank of assistant professor
 * Deadline December 1, 2009
 * Email ack. received (12/3)
 * AHA interview scheduled via phone (12/4)
 * They only took 2 days to read all of the files?
 * I'm assuming that they read job applications as they arrived during the two months after they posted the ad.
 * Florida Gulf Coast University / Assistant Professor, Colonial America
 * Deadline January 16, 2010
 * "Assistant Professor in Pre 1865 American history. Teaches a 3/3 load, including U.S. history surveys, and undergraduate and graduate courses in area of specialization."
 * Apply online: https://jobs.fgcu.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1257191950039
 * Framingham State College / Assistant Professor, United States to 1877
 * "Teaching responsibilities include both halves of the United States survey and upper-level courses. Preferred areas of specialization include Colonial, Early National or New England history."
 * Deadline December 1, 2009
 * I already mailed my stuff but wanted to check something on the original listing, and it was gone from both AHA and H-Net. I don't want to start a crazy rumor, but is there any chance it has been cancelled?
 * AHA Interview scheduled by email (12/10) X2
 * Georgia Gwinnett College / Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, Colonial U.S. history: "Subfield is open; but a focus on Native American relations preferred. Ability to teach Georgia History is desirable. Successful candidates will be expected to teach the American History surveys as well as courses within their specialties."
 * A new college in the Georgia university system; history department is just rolling out. Institution does not offer tenure, instead employs faculty on 1 year or 3-5 year contracts.


 * Georgia Southern / Assistant Professor, Colonial / Revolutionary America
 * Deadline October 28, 2009
 * Anyone know if this is an inside job? Ms. Monica Hunt, "Temporary Instructor," teaches colonial America here.  There are quite a few "temp. instructors" in this department it seems.
 * Ack. materials received (10/23/09)
 * I interviewed with them years ago. Seems like a great department.  Go for it. (10/27)
 * Received phone call to schedule phone interview (12/3)
 * University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign / Full-time tenure-track beginning assistant professor position in American history, colonial through the early national periods (1600s to 1815)
 * Deadline November 16, 2009
 * Contacted for a copy of complete dissertation.
 * Scheduled phone interview by email (12/8).
 * Illinois State University tenure-track assistant professor in U.S. Colonial History
 * Specialization is open, but candidates should be able to teach courses on the revolutionary and early national periods
 * Indiana University South Bend Assistant Professor, Colonial America.
 * Deadline November 16, 2009
 * Ack. received (10/21)
 * Indiana University Purdue University - Fort Wayne Tenure-track Assistant Professor in early United States history with specialties in U.S. Colonial and American Revolution
 * Deadline December 1, 2009
 * AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/4)
 * University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Assistant Professor Colonial American History and the American Revolution.
 * University of Mississippi / Assistant Professor, U.S. History (American Slavery)
 * The Department of History at the University of Mississippi seeks a specialist in the early history of American slavery.
 * Deadline November 6, 2009
 * AHA interview scheduled by email (12/10) x 2
 * Norfolk State University / Assistant Proressor, American Colonial History
 * University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Assistant Professor, Early Revolutionary America
 * Ack. received and chapter requested (11/18)
 * Deadline November 15, 2009
 * AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/4)
 * Northwestern University / Colonial and Revolutionary America
 * Deadline November 1, 2009
 * Ack. that materials received (10/23)
 * Any news on this one?
 * Additional materials requested (12/2)
 * Have they scheduled AHA interviews yet? (12/11)
 * NU does not go to the AHA.


 * University of Notre Dame / Early American History (to 1815)
 * Deadline October 1, 2009
 * (10/06) Acknowledgment of materials and EOE survey received
 * 11/19 Heard a rumor they've started asking for more materials -- anyone know if this is true?
 * 11/20--Yes, I got asked for more materials (a week or two ago)
 * 12/4 - AHA interview scheduled x2
 * 12/14 - Rejection letter received by snail mail
 * Pennsylvania State University, Abington. Faculty Position - Early American History
 * Call says review begins November 15th, but it was posted on H-Net on the 16th
 * EO information request received.
 * AHA interview scheduled via email (12/14)
 * St. Ambrose University Tenure Track, Assistant Professor, Early American History, with emphasis on the Colonial, Revolutionary, or Early Republic period
 * Deadline October 15th
 * Anyone hear anything on this search? (12/4)--nope, nothing (12/4)
 * Received snail mail invitation to schedule AHA interview (12/11)
 * You've got to be kidding me. Snail mail?!
 * Strange but true. I have also received one.  (12/14)
 * Got one today as well (12/14)
 * Syracuse University Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Early American History
 * Deadline November 1 2009
 * By my count this is the third time that they have run this search. What's the deal?
 * Ack. e-mail received (10/27)
 * Two years ago it was a senior hire. The candidate they offered it to strung them out for several months and then stiffed them. This year the search is being chaired by someone different than the last two years.
 * Received e-mail requesting further materials. (11/19) x2
 * News? Interviews? Updates?
 * Received invitation for AHA interview by e-mail. (12/12)
 * University of North Alabama/ Tenure Track Early America
 * University of Tennessee - Knoxville Tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in colonial and revolutionary American history
 * Review of applications will begin on November 2, 2009
 * Acknowledgment of materials and EOE survey received (10/26)
 * Contacted by e-mail to schedule an AHA interview (11/30)
 * Texas A&M University - College Station - / Assistant Professor, United States in the World during 18th and 19th centuries
 * Deadline November 6, 2009
 * Acknowledgment of materials and EOE survey received (10/28)
 * Request for dissertation chapters and to schedule AHA interview (11/25) (x2)
 * Utah Valley University / Assistant/Associate Professor, Early American History
 * deadline November 20, 2009
 * H-Net Ad
 * Request for AHA interview by e-mail (12/14)
 * Saint Francis University/ Assistant Professor, Colonial and Revolutionary History


 * Wake Forest University / Assistant Professor, American Colonial and Revolutionary history
 * Deadline Nov. 1, 2009
 * "The teaching of Colonial surveys and World Civilizations is required; the ability to offer US Constitutional History would be welcomed."
 * Acknowledgment of materials and EOE survey received (11/18). Applicants chosen for AHA interviews will be contacted by early December.  AHA interviews will be scheduled for Thurs, Jan 7 and Fri, Jan 8
 * AHA interview scheduled and writing sample requested (12/4)
 * Does anyone know the teaching load for this job?
 * 2-2; 3-2; 2 preps a semester; classes capped at 25
 * So, a 3-2 with two preps during the three course semester?&nbsp
 * A total of 9 courses over 4 semesters with the option of distributing courses as 2-2 and 3-2 or 3-3 3-0 (or some other configuration with a 0 semester). Either way, no more than 2 preps a semester


 * West Texas A&M/ Tenure Track, America to 1820


 * Deadline 12/1
 * Whittier College / tenure-track assistant professor position in colonial/revolutionary North America
 * Reviews begin November 16, 2009
 * AHA interview scheduled via phone (12/4);
 * ditto, received call on Saturday afternoon (12/5)
 * Williams College / tenure-track assistant professor in political history/leadership studies
 * Email received requesting writing sample for "long-short" list
 * Recd. AHA interview, contacted via email on approx. (12/10)

US-19th Century

 * Kent State University - Stark 19th century, preference given to secondary fields in Latin American or Social History. This one was posted on Nov. 18.  Somehow I missed it.
 * Deadline 15 January 2010.
 * University of Illinois-Chicago open rank, preference for an Associate or Full Professor. Appointee is expected to be involved in the department's Ph.D. concentration in the history of Work, Race, and Gender in the Urban World
 * Anybody heard anything from this one?
 * not a peep (12/14)
 * Keele University (UK) "Lecturer in US History (Nineteenth Century)" [this is a tenured position, ~Associate Professor equivalent]
 * "The ability to teach courses on slavery, race relations and ethnicity would be a particular advantage".
 * Deadline 16 Oct 2009.
 * Rejection letter received, not on short list, 11/27


 * Kennesaw State -- Director of the Center for the Study of the Civil War (12/1 deadline)
 * http://www.kennesaw.edu/facultypositions/Ads%202009/Humanities/DirectorCenterstudyofCivalWEra_PVA59604.html

any more news? (12/15)
 * Princeton University/ Assistant Professor, American History/ Civil War Era
 * I definitely see myself getting this job. Pencil me in now....
 * Does anyone know what the deadline for this job was? Its H-Grad entry is cryptic and the jobs website they list does not show the job.
 * My understanding was 15 Oct 2009.
 * Any word on this? updates? 11/13 heard request for more materials
 * yes - the department recently sent out requests for more materials


 * three finalists chosen
 * How/when did you find this out? (12/15) how notified? invited for when?


 * University of Florida Tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor. The “long” Nineteenth Century (from 1790 to 1920), with an emphasis on race or ethnicity.
 * Any ideas if this is a replacement (and for whom?) or a new position? Sounds like a great job with lots of potential.
 * Not a replacement; this is a new line.
 * I'm not in this field, but I would approach this one with caution. Last year, the administration ordered the department chair to fire one or two assistant professors due to budget reasons, but they still went ahead with last year's search to create the impression that all was well with the college budget.  I don't know whether those firings ever came to pass (I'm not in the department but have a friend who taught there), but morale was pretty low (the dept. chair, as far as I know, stood up for the faculty as much as possible). It's certainly not a reason not to apply -- just word to the wise.
 * I have also heard that there were severe financial problems at Florida and that this stopped a search in the history department. I have also been told that morale is low. However, it does not mean do not apply. There are some excellent senior historians there.
 * Hey everyone. I'm a currently enrolled graduate student (in 20th century US) so I can give you a bit more scoop. As I understand it, the department went through a "doomsday scenario" where they had to submit a plan for a 10% budget cut. That plan did indeed involve the firing of two assistant professors, two lecturers, and numerous cuts to faculty travel and graduate student funding. When the college made its cuts, the history department was untouched with the exception of one retirement and one lecturer who took a TT spot elsewhere. Those positions went unfilled, but no other cuts happened.
 * Any news here? 11/30
 * AHA interview scheduled by phone (12/9)
 * University of Scranton Tenure-track Assistant Professor.  U.S. History from 1820 through Reconstruction.
 * Deadline November 18, 2009.
 * Hey isn't this where the Dunder-Mifflin summer interns go to school? 9/24
 * Faculty are given honorary Dundies after getting tenure.
 * I read through the school's mission statement. Thoughts here, if the prospective applicant is not Catholic, nor even terribly religious?
 * I would imagine that a commitment to social justice and a true liberal arts education is more important than a specific religious affiliation.
 * To the poster who asked about the Catholic mission statement: I interviewed with this department for a different job a couple of years ago (didn't get on campus, but they were really nice people). This is a fairly liberal Catholic school that welcomes faculty of many faiths -- there's no religious "test" or oath, etc., that you'd need to sign to teach at this school.
 * Acknowledgment of application received by mail. (10/30)
 * The search committee has begun to review applications and will meet on Monday 11/30 to select 10-15 candidates to interview at the AHA. (11/23)
 * I heard there were over 200 applicants for this position--gotta love those odds. 11/25  -- what was your source for this? (11/27)
 * 200-plus is not bad at all in this year's market. (11/30)
 * The committee met this afternoon and will contact candidates for AHA interviews over the next few days. (11/30)
 * Received email on 12/1 re: scheduling AHA interview--presumably other interviewees will find out today too
 * University of Toronto-Mississauga [] US history "focused on the years before 1865."
 * Does anyone know if Yonatan Eyal is still there, or has he left and this replaces him?
 * He is there as a VAP and this is very likely an inside hire.
 * He doesn't seem to be visiting... he is listed as "assistant professor."
 * The search committee sent an email to my department asking graduate students in my program to apply. That, to me, says it is not an inside hire.  Hope that helps. (10/21)
 * Received email request for more material. (12/13) x 2
 * As far as I know, Yonatan is not in a tenure track position right now. Does anybody know anything more about his status?
 * My best guess, based on fragmentary second-hand gossip and common sense: he is a candidate, he may well have an edge because of his background in the department, and there may be some faculty members in his camp, but that does not mean he has this one in the bag. The majority of the tri-campus department (which is huge) might well decide they like someone else better than the insider. The bottom line is that the presence of an inside candidate does not predetermine the outcome of a search. (12/15)


 * Wellesley College Tenure-track, first- or second-level assistant professorship in nineteenth-century U.S. history
 * was there an indication in any of the job ads for this that they wanted 1st or 2nd level assistants? What is the distinction between the 2?
 * typically a second level asst. prof. would refer to someone who is currently employed in a tenure track job, already has a book contract or book out, and is looking to move up in the world.
 * has anyone heard anything on this one? An ack of the online submission? Anything?
 * No, I have not heard a thing. Perhaps HR thinks that your knowing that you completed the online submission is enough? (11/23)
 * Contacted via email for AHA interview (12/8) x 3


 * University of Virginia posted November 20 - due November 30
 * did this just come out of nowhere?
 * Seems like it, open rank, 10 days to apply....interesting...
 * The deadline is not exactly Nov. 30. The ad says that they will begin reviewing applications on that day.  That indicates flexibility.  If you applied on Dec. 7, they're not going to throw away your application.  Furthermore, I doubt there's any conspiracy here.  The department likely just got funding approval for the position and set a suggested deadline of Nov. 30 so the committee would have time to review the applications and set up interviews for the AHA.


 * York College of Pennsylvania Assistant Professor in U.S. History with a specialization in Civil War and Reconstruction
 * sounds like last year's call to me
 * Sure does. Anyone got the low down on what happened here? Last I heard, it had been filled.
 * The person hired dropped out in late July.
 * Do we know why? Was it a better offer or something about the job?
 * Probably a different offer, but bailed very late after signing contract. Search has been reopened as a result.
 * Perhaps more appropriate for the discussion page, but what exactly are the consequences of bailing after a contract has been signed?
 * Normally there is no legal consequence, though technically there might be, for the candidate. For the institution there is another matter, as seen by the fact there is a search.
 * Does anyone know if they've contacted people about interviews yet? Are they still planning on conducting interviews at the SHA?
 * SHA is over, does anyone know if they interviewed there? 11/19
 * Contacted for AHA interview earlier this week (11/19)


 * University of South Florida - U.S. and the World, 19th and 20th Centuries
 * This looks like exactly the same call as went out last spring. Failed search? anyone know?
 * Last year was for a VAP, which was filled, this year is for a tenure earning line.
 * Does that mean inside hire? (10/20)
 * I doubt it means an inside hire. I suspect they want the best candidate. Worrying about inside hires is not worth your time. Apply and see what happens (10/30)
 * Ack. letter received. Says they will select 12 candidates for phone interviews in mid-December and invite 3-4 finalist to campus in January. (11/9)
 * Good of them to spell out process. I wish everyone did that. (11/15)
 * Anyone else heard anything?? (11/20)
 * Phone interviews are being scheduled for the 2nd week in January (11/20)
 * Did you receive an invitation for a phone interview? Anyone know why they changed their plan to have phone interviews in December? (11/21)
 * Yes phone interview for 2nd week in January. My ack. letter did not mention December just that they would interview "about twelve candidates" by phone and invite 3-4 to campus in mid-January. So not sure if it was a change.
 * Do those who have been invited to interview mind revealing if they are defended or not? (11/24)
 * ABD; defended a couple of years ago (11/25)
 * Am I the only one who senses something off about this search? (11/25)
 * I don't know that anything seems off just yet. My understanding is that they deliberated whether or not to interview at AHA, ultimately decided not to, so are holding phone interviews as soon after the AHA as possible. (11/25)
 * I'm confused. Have people actually been contacted for an interview already? It is not even December yet. If so, when where invitations made? And, are we talking about two separate people, as ABD =\= defended a few years ago (11/28)
 * I'm also confused. My understanding is that people are just reiterating what's written in the ack letter--phone interviews are scheduled in Jan and that no one has been actually invited.
 * No, I think interview invitations have gone out. (11/30)
 * I doubt that the invitations have gone out. My ack. letter indicates that decisions about phone interviews will be made in mid-December, and that all candidates will be kept up to date as the process moves along. I don't yet have any reason to trust the wiki more than the SC. (11/30)
 * Official rejection received via snail mail. They've already short listed people...lots of applications from qualified candidates...etc etc etc.  (12/03)
 * Got the same rejection letter; curious if anyone on the wiki made it onto the list, as the letter cited "the publication record and teaching experiences of many candidates" being a crucial factor in the decisions. Isn't this an assistant prof position? Now, i'm no slouch but I"m also just beginning my career - how can I compete with this? who are these published experienced people? (semi-rhetorical question, i realize this is an anonymous forum). But i'm curious. (12/03)
 * Interview invitations have gone out. They are scheduled for mid-January (12/03)
 * To the poster two above, forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but if you are ABD or were not a PhD last year and are now you will be competing with far more experienced people for assistant professorships this year. So many jobs were canceled last year that many newly minted PhDs were left unemployed or underemployed.  Imagine that army of people spending the last year polishing their publishing and teaching records.  They're going to be the ones hired this year.  I don't know when things will even out, but there will be even more pressure on ABDs and new PhDs to have good publishing records.  If you don't get a job this year, my advice is to publish like mad as soon as you can.  (12/04)
 * Same rejection letter as mentioned above, indicating teaching experience and publication record were key factors in creating their shortlist. With 13 classes and 2 articles under my belt, that's a discouraging letter to get for an entry-level position. (12/7)
 * I interviewed for this position back in March when it was for VAP. I was told outright by the search chair that they wanted to hire an inside candidate and that whoever got the VAP would be groomed for TT-- in fact, they had planned last year to conduct the TT search but budget considerations meant they could only guarantee a year.  He was surprisingly candid about it all.  Obviously didn't get the position, applied again anyway for the heck of it, and got a rejection letter last week.  (12/8)
 * Thanks to poster above for sharing info. At least now I can stop it with the whole "no news is good news" delusional thinking. (12/8)
 * Poll: How many have received NEITHER a rejection NOR an invitation? (Tally: 3) (12/13--playing with delusions, again)
 * Same rejection letter as above, but dated 12/11. Maybe they are sending them out in groups. (12/14)
 * Ah, sweet, sweet rolling rejections. I love the way you move, keepin' my head a-spinnin' and mouse a-clickin' the refresh button on this wiki... (12/15) (x2 on sweet, sweet rolling rejections...)

US-20th Century
* The deadline was Dec. 1. Any news? (12/15) *AHA Interview extended by email (12/15)
 * - Sam Houston State University - Assistant/Associate professor, War and Society in 20th Century America


 * Texas A&M University - Kingsville / 20th Century US History / Assistant Professor
 * Due: January 15, 2010
 * AHA Interview x 1
 * Really? a month before the application is due?   Or does the above refer to SHSU?
 * Augustana College


 * Sioux Falls, SD
 * Due: November 1, 2009
 * received questionnaire (due back 11/10) by email; says committee will meet November 10 to create list of finalists; says they will offer before Christmas
 * on-campus scheduled (11/12)
 * so is it all over then? has an offer been made? accepted? (12/11)


 * Queens College, CUNY / Post-WWII US Women's History / Instructor
 * Deadline November 20, 2009. Very few applicants so far.
 * Teaching only position?
 * Primary responsibilities would be teaching, but I I believe some CUNY instructorships can be on the tenure-track. Verify with committee chair if this position is one of those.
 * Does anyone know what the teaching load would be here?
 * 3/3, with a one-month intersession in January (11/2)
 * received letter today, they've offered the women's history job to another candidate
 * Sounds like an internal hire w/ the women's job: it was scarcely advertised and a candidate was chosen 3 weeks later with nobody reporting interviews on the wiki (a 3-week period that included Thanksgiving and finals). Oh well, best of luck to the person who got it--sounds like s/he put in time for it.
 * Queens College, CUNY / US & World History
 * what about the other tenure-track US/world position at QC? Anyone know the status on it? Latest update I had was ack back in Nov.
 * Applied for US/World position. Told today (12/09/09) that I was on short list and scheduled a campus visit.
 * Anyone hear from either Queens position? (12/10)
 * For the US & World job: rec'd rejection letter, dated 12/7, by snail mail (X2). Letter says they have offered the position to another candidate (12/14).
 * Minimal advertising + quick decision = another likely internal hire.
 * So two days after sending out a letter stating that they had offered the position, they informed another person that he/she was on the short list. My powers of historical analysis may be off, but what the heck? (12/14)
 * I'm on the search committee for the US/World job and I apologize for the confusion. A finalist has not been chosen. The search is still ongoing and interviews are being conducted this week. There was a clerical error--the secretary mistakenly sent out the wrong letter to the candidates who did not make the short list stating that the position has been offered to a another candidate.  I assure you this is not an internal hire. (12/15)


 * Florida International University, 20th Century US History/Assistant Professor
 * Deadline: December 18, 2009
 * email ack (11/30)
 * email saying no AHA interviews will be held, there may be phone interviews, but most likely next contact will be for on-campus, those visits will likely take place in late Jan. or early Feb. (12/9) very informative and helpful (x2)

*Same search - last year's was canceled
 * George Mason University / 20th-century U.S. History / Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor
 * Any word on preferred fields?
 * Should ABD's simply not apply because of the "Advance Assistant" call? Or give it a shot? Please advise.
 * If you are a good fit, yes, do apply. There is no harm. But do not build up your hopes with this one if you are ABD. That is my advice.
 * The ad reads: "George Mason University invites applications for a tenured position in American History." Unless you think you are ready for tenure as an ABD, I wouldn't waste everyone's time.
 * I agree with the statement above. This position is for a more senior application.
 * Here's where I disagree: a few years ago a major institution with a top 10 phd program did a search for a senior americanist. they brought in 3 huge names but for a variety of reasons the search failed. My friend had applied for the job (I can't remember the exact wording of the ad). Long story short: they re-opened the search the next year at the jr. level and someone on the committee had been impressed by my friend's application and moved him right to the on campus stage and he ended up getting the job before. He's a big name but before that he, like many of us, could barely buy an interview. the moral of the story: apply. Sure its probably a nonstarter. But you can't a job you don't apply for.
 * No ack, no nada (10/18)
 * Any guess or knowledge about how they will proceed with this? Straight to on-campus? (The ad does not mention AHA) (10/18)
 * Still waiting for even an ack., which doesn't appear to be forthcoming anytime soon. Is it just me, or does this tend to happen more often with online app's?  (10/26)
 * requested writing samples (10/26)
 * Are you an assistant or associate? (10/27)
 * I got a request for writing samples. I'm an advanced assistant (up for tenure this year) (10/27)
 * Looks like I'm out of the running, so best of luck to the poster immediately above. (11/2)
 * To the 10/27 poster... you are up for tenure and you are applying for a job at another school, doubtlessly taking an interview spot away from an ABD or a recent PhD who has yet to find a tenure track job? On behalf of those of us who have been on the market for 3+ years and has yet to land more than a one-year post, I say thanks.
 * The job description asks for Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor. Surely if they were interested in ABDs or recent PhDs, they would have asked for it, no? Were those of us in tenure-track positions not to apply because the dept. must be confused about their preferences? But in any case, where is it written that once one has a tenure track job, one must remain in it permanently, even if one finds oneself unhappy in it?
 * I agree with the last poster. In addition, it is worth mentioning that this job ad specs note that they are seeking someone for a "tenured position," which means no ABD or virtually no early assistant would even qualify. One could quibble with the criteria for the job, but I think it unfair to quibble with those applying appropriately in light of the given specifications of the job ad.
 * Any interview invites here? (11/14)
 * Not for me. I began to wonder if we have to wait over Thanksgiving - or perhaps all invitations went to people who are not on wiki (11/23)
 * No news from Mason as of 12/1, anyone hear anything?
 * Contacted by the chair via email for AHA interview (12/08) Same here (12/08)
 * I also want to comment on the above debate. The advanced assistant professor is not taking a job from someone who is ABD. They are merely moving up and presumably opening a new position at their old school that would be more likely to hire an ABD. I have a job but I am not on the market so I am sympathetic to both sides. However, if that person went on the market to negotiate for better pay at their home institution and then during the summer pulled out of a job offer at George Mason once their own school matched therefore ruining that search...well...I get it but the ABD still rightly thinks you are a douche bag.
 * It's really in no one's interest to use such crude language and hostility. If you're nasty to people here then people will be less inclined to use or trust this wiki.  I cannot believe you used those words.  Totally unprofessional.  I would not want someone who thought that appropriate language in a professional forum as a colleague of mine, that's for certain.  And don't think you're totally anonymous here.  There are ways of figuring out who you are if someone is so inclined.  12/15
 * Crude language aside, the poster has a point. I have been on the market for multiple years while working in VAPs (which I am lucky to have, don't get me wrong) and every year a professor from my home institution applies for every modern US job out there so he can land a counter offer. If you are a search committee and you are extending 12 conference interviews in a flooded market and you see a professor and a degree recipient from the same school, who are you giving the interview too? I'm sure that isn't solely the reason I haven't landed that elusive TT spot yet, but it certainly hasn't helped.
 * I found the use of the term "douche bag" to be a needed bit of comic relief from what is an increasingly depressing read over here at the ole wiki. To  threaten that person with what essentially sounds like a cyber witch hunt is, in my view, much more "unprofessional."   12/15
 * Forgive me if I don't find references to vaginal cleansing used in an insulting and derogatory way to be in any way funny. And I was not threatening that person.  I was merely explaining to him or her that the internet is not anonymous and anyone concerned about his or her professional future should be aware of that.  Furthermore, if someone used the phrase douche bag in a conversation with me in person, I would walk away.  Such language is disrespectful.  Do you really want people not responding to this wiki?  I've contributed a great deal here and I won't do that if people aren't courteous.  12/16
 * Johns Hopkins University / 20th Century US.
 * So, how is this different from last year's search?
 * Canceled econopocalypse or canceled failed?
 * The way I understand it, canceled failed although it could be a combo of the two that they didn't want to push for a (non-unanimous?) candidate in the midst of a severe downturn.
 * No, it was the "econopocalypse." The deans cut off all searches at the university (except for endowed lines) right before the dept. vote.
 * Yes, definitely "econopocalypse." They were excited about who they had.
 * Where did last year's pick wind up? Is s/he going to try again after a VAP or something?
 * I have heard this department has "issues" and is not that supportive of tenure-track faculty. This might be wrong information. Seems like a lot of new people left over the last five years?
 * I heard that a few assistant professors have been invited to apply, so it's possible they're looking for someone more advanced than a new PhD. Don't know for sure if this is the case or not.
 * do you know what fields these profs are in? what field was the unsuccessful hire in last year?
 * I could be mis-remembering the talks last year, but I think at least two of the candidates did conservative politics, and maybe one did something with U. S. foreign policy.
 * The search chair is different this year, as is the applicant pool. Some assistant professors were invited to apply in August, and some of them have been asked in the last several weeks to submit in-progress book manuscripts. (10/9)
 * might be to replace paul kramer, u.s.-phillipines imperial diplomatic and social relations...
 * I know I won't get this job, but at least they could send me an ack. for my materials. (10/18)
 * Agreed. They should send acks. Also, as above, any guess or knowledge about how they will proceed with this? Straight to on-campus like last year? (Again, no mention of AHA interviews in the ad) (10/18)
 * Ack. received (10/20) x6 Email mentioned 300 applications!
 * I whined, and they heard. Ack. received (10/20).
 * Haven't received ack email, but did get email from HR office asking me to complete survey.
 * Has anyone who applied through normal channels (who were not solicited in August) had a request for additional materials? (10/28)
 * Not me. Something tells me that this is not one for mere mortals.  (10/28)
 * Three on-campus talks scheduled, one for late Nov. (10/31)
 * Because of last year's cancellation this search seemed predestined for last year's finalists plus some hand-picked invitees from the start. Ah well. (11/2)
 * I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this one. (11/2)
 * FYI: none of last year's finalists were invited; one finalist defended very recently. (11/3)
 * who?
 * Has an offer been made? (12/3)
 * Offer made (12/9)
 * Polite rejection email received 12/10 (x3)
 * Congratulations to the person receiving the offer.
 * Yes, congrats. Also, did not receive the email rejection, so I assume they are holding on to their long/short list (12/10).
 * No email rejection here, either, but I'm not holding my breath. (12/13)
 * rcvd my rejection email this morning - lol. but at least they wrote which is more than you can say of most places (12/14) (x2)

*Nassau Community College-- NEW JOB! Wikia exclusive! Chronicle ad pending! Instructor (possibly TT); ability to teach basic U.S. history surveys, America Since 1945, and U.S. Foreign Policy. See above under "Specialization Open" for more details.
 * University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Richard Krasno Distinguished Professorship in 20th-Century U.S. foreign relations, foreign policy, or international relations.
 * Any word on this search? (12/15)


 * Texas State University-San Marcos Assistant or Associate Professor-Twentieth-Century U.S. History, 1900-1945.
 * email ack, 10/29
 * Texas State will not be interviewing at the AHA. Prospective candidates will be contacted for telephone interviews.
 * Acknowledgment received by post. No mention of AHA or how things will proceed.  12/7 (x2)
 * Telephone interview scheduled for January (12/14).
 * Texas State has an additional US history search for a women's/gender position - any era. Applicants for the 20th century position who specialize in this area may contact the search committee chair for the women's history position in order to be considered for the new search: Texas Sate University - San Marcos - US Women's/Gender History


 * Trinity University Assistant Professor, tenure track position in US history since 1900.
 * anybody has any idea what specifically they might be looking for?
 * received a letter from the search chair today acknowledging my application. Very classy. (10/16)
 * received a letter confirming that my application materials arrived. I agree, very classy and reassuring.  (10/20)
 * received letter confirming application. Agree with all of the above (11/15)
 * Anyone heard any word on this one? (11/25)
 * contacted by phone for AHA interview 12/10 (x4).


 * University of the Pacific / Assistant Professor, 20th century U.S.
 * Deadline November 1
 * Women's History / Preferred sub fields: public history, gender or transnational history.
 * Looking at their website, it seems like they have a VAP who does 20th century U.S. and women's history. Does anyone know what the situation is?  Inside hire, perhaps?
 * Received ack. email (10/15)
 * Received ack. email (11/03) (2)
 * contacted via email for AHA interview (12/6)
 * I'm assuming all interviews have been scheduled for this . . . anyone receive an official rejection yet? (12/14)
 * I have not received any official rejection (2)


 * Old Dominion University / Assistant Professor, American History - Due October 1
 * Does anybody know what the SC is looking for? Is this an inside hire (VAP listed on faculty page?) (8/18)
 * The post says hire must be able to teach Virginia history survey course.
 * If it's an inside hire, it's probably to promote one of the instructors to assistant professor status. The instructor who teaches most sections of the Virginia History course has been an adjunct there since 2003 and, in 2008, she became an instructor. As of 2008, she held the MA degree. Perhaps she is about to receive a PhD and the department is ready to take her on as tenure-track faculty. Just a guess. (If it matters, the emeritus professor who teaches at least one section of Virginia History has been retired since at least 2000.) (9/02)
 * It seems quite clear from the ad what OD want here. If you cannot teach VA history, then you should probably not apply. My hunch is someone with research on VA history is probably the best fit.
 * I know people who have responded to a job ad that did not describe what they do, and they got the job. Happens all the time.  Apply for everything.  You never know what the committee might want once it sits down to meet.  Their possible inside hire might jump ship, prompting the committee to look at different qualifications in their applicants.  You never know.
 * That is true but as someone who has read hundreds of applications, it is clear from this announcement that OD wants a particular type of hire. Yes, apply for everything but I am convinced this is for a VA historian. Good luck to everyone!
 * The problem here is they are requiring a VA history syllabus up front... This suggests they really do want a VA historian. I'm certainly not wasting 2 hours to create a Virginia syllabus that will be useless for any other job.
 * No one ever disputed their wanting a Virginia historian. They make that quite clear.  If you can make such a syllabus, apply.  If it's a waste of time, as it is for me, don't.  They've obviously deliberately limited the position (because it's likely an inside hire), guaranteeing fewer applicants than otherwise.  If you can come up with a Virginia syllabus, I say go for it.  The pickings are slim.
 * I can't imagine a non-Virginia historian coming up with a credible syllabus in two hours. And why hand them something they can use regardless?  I say send them a "local interest" history course syllabus if you've ever taught one, to demonstrate you have the ability and willingness to design a Virginia course for them if you wind up in the running.
 * I don't know about this particular job, but generally when a school says "must be able to teach history of [insert state school is located in], the school is not necessarily looking for a research fit but someone who can credibly pick up a course on state history that the department has to offer for secondary education majors. This is common at Southern schools where most K-12 school systems require a year of state history between 7-10 grade. For instance, many chairs will assume if you study the region, you can teach the state history course. Other chairs simply assume if you are an American historian smart enough to be hirable, you can teach the course.
 * And the inside hire paranoia begins again. This applies to other jobs like the Georgia State job in question-lecturers very, very, very rarely get promoted to t-t jobs (VAPs are a different story). It is not surprising that a large state university like ODU has a position for a state historian, many such universities make a local history class required for majors. To second a point made above, the ad looks very unconspiratorial, they simply have a tenure line for a historian of Virginia.
 * maybe this is a little to inside baseball: But does anyone know if James Sweeney, the long time VA historian (been at ODU 40 years), is retiring and this is to replace him? That's what it sounds like to me. But don't know if that's true or not
 * PHONE INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED FOR 11/16 and 11/18--I do not have a research subject related to VA history, but I got an interview. Who knows.
 * And I stand by my comment: "Apply for everything." The job market as it stands favors the employer, not the potential employee.  Let the employers do the sifting.
 * shame on ODU - be clear about what you want. Has it been so long that you forget what it is like to apply for tenure-track jobs?
 * I doubt ODU intended to deceive. These ads are written by committee and often reflect attempts to accommodate the various agendas of faculty on the committee or conflicting senses of what kind of hire a department needs to make.  That is why, again, I insist that you must apply for everything--within reason.  If you're training is in US history and a job calls for an Africanist, don't bother.  But if you feel that you fit at least one or two of the expressed requirements, apply.  It's in your best interest to put out as many applications as possible and to recognize that even if a job description stresses one thing a committee might look at its pool of applicants and decide to go in another direction.
 * Any pre- or post-Thanksgiving news here?
 * Are they running behind schedule? Has anyone heard anything?--I had a phone interview but have heard nothing since (12/9)
 * I heard secondhand that someone in my department has been invited to campus.
 * I also heard second hand that campus visits were underway. (12/10)


 * Yale University / Assistant Professor, U.S. in the World - Due September 18
 * This is a rehash of last year's search, which came apart in March due entirely to infighting within the department. Final candidates wishing to conserve their precious time might make discrete inquiries as to whether this search is likely to come to fruition, or whether they will be unwitting participants in another episode of Yale History Smackdown.
 * Ah, and yet the siren song of having the word "Yale" on one's CV is hard to resist. As long as Yale continues to be Yale, they will get away with this diva behavior and still rake in a bumper crop of applicants.
 * This search is likely to fail again. The prof who chaired last year is the same chairing the search this year, and it was his particular vision of the position to which many profs objected.
 * Interviews scheduled for next week (10/20)
 * All visits are complete. Six candidates were brought to campus.
 * Six? By my count there were five.  (11/27)
 * offer made (12/3)
 * offer accepted. Jenifer Van Vleck hired. (12/7)
 * Yale PhD '09. Work deals with conceptions of globalism and the global in U.S. foreign relations. (12/9)
 * So Yale is hiring its own recent grad. Isn't that unusual in the profession? (12/10)
 * Yes, that is odd and quite rare no matter the department. In addition, that they hired a "global" Americanist given the job ad is a bit perplexing but no doubt Van Vleck is excellent. Many congrats (12/10)
 * Van Vleck's work may be great, but the ad said multi-lingual, multi-archival and I fear she does neither. It seems that Yale has a very Amero-centric view of U.S. & the World (12/11)
 * Am I the only one who thinks it is totally inappropriate to be discussing this woman and her credentials? Yale can hire the Queen of England if it likes.  That's the way it goes.  Just because Van Vleck got the job doesn't mean she should be publicly subjected to gossip (praise or otherwise) and hard feelings.  Time to move on.  12/11
 * no one would disagree with you that it's inappropriate to criticize the successful candidate (and it doesn't seem anyone is doing that), but the scrutiny is on the department's decision, not the person. (12/11)
 * Be that as it may, there is no doubt that she is criticized in the process of putting scrutiny on the department. The above comments imply that she was not qualified for the job, because her capabilities do not reflect what the ad specified.  Here's the thing, departments make hires that depart from what they placed in the job ad all the time.  They make their hiring decisions based on the candidates at hand, not on what they thought they wanted in some committee meeting months prior.  For that matter, job ads are often crafted by committee and, thus, reflect attempts to appease various egos and personalities.  No one on the committee really expects that the hire will fully reflect the ad.  I don't know what went on at Yale and I don't really care.  The bottom line is that it's Yale's decision and there's no sense in wasting time and energy worrying about things completely outside of our control.  12/11
 * Agreed with the above poster - but speaking as someone who attended these job talks (and at the risk of extending this discussion), I think there are some erroneous assumptions being made here about the nature of the candidate's present and future work, which is, in fact, both multi-lingual and multi-archival. (12/11)
 * If you want to start the Yale gossip wiki, be my guest. This wiki is to keep job seekers updated on positions.  Van Vleck has the job.  That's all we need to know.
 * Polite rejection dated 12/7. "You were among the list of very fine candidates..." Considerate.
 * While I agree that a specific discussion of the work of Yale's new hire is not appropriate, what does seem appropriate is a discussion of the issue that Yale hired one of its own grads - and a very recent one at that.  I've always been told by my advisors that hiring from one's own crop of grad students is taboo in our field.  Is the taboo lifting - meaning  we should all apply for jobs within our phd departments if our qualifications fit - or is this just an example of Ivy League nepotism?   (and hey - all of you ivy leaguers who swear that this doesn't exist - hold your fire.  this is an honest question.)


 * Boston College / Assistant Professor, 19th-20th Century, Asian, Latino, and/or Carribean immigration - Due November 1
 * Any word on this one, rumor or otherwise? (11/13)
 * Rumor is that they are specifically looking for an Asian American history person, but open to other possibilities depending on the pool. (11/18)
 * Requested dissertation (11/24)


 * Georgia State University / Assistant Professor, post-1865 U.S. History
 * the department website shows at least 3 lecturers that are in the posted field. maybe an inside hire?
 * Maybe be, maybe not. This is a PhD program and they probably want the best hire, regardless of inside or not. This is a great job, though some fields would help.
 * I vote for maybe not. Lecturers rarely get hired on as t-t (as opposed to VAPS, who occasionally do). To be blunt, why hire someone who is local (as most lecturers are) and already working for you on the cheap?
 * Oh oh, "pending budgetary approval." A repeat performance of last year?
 * Anyone know who is the Chair of this search?
 * Received an ack letter from search chair, Michelle Brattain (10/17)
 * There are plenty of highly qualified candidates lecturing right now, esp. given the job market last couple of years. The old rule no longer applies. I know several lecturers and VAPs who now have tt positions. I am one of them.
 * GSU has two "parts" to their dept. Regular TT professors, and a separate lecturer-track, which can be made permanent (sorta tenured.)  The catch to the lecturer positions is that you are not evaluated on research, thus making the switch to a TT job elsewhere harder the longer you stay.  That said, they get points for actually having a system that treats their lecturers far, far better than most, where one is usually disposable.  So yes, there are a bunch of lecturers there now who could go up for this TT position - whether or not the department sees them as jumpable to a different track though is anyone's guess.  Last: having been on campus in a previous season - everyone there is *wonderful.*  Whoever lands this is a lucky duck in my book.
 * has anyone been able to get the online applicant information form work? the link they provided in their ack letter doesn't work. i called the office today and the woman said she'd gotten lots of calls about this but didn't know what to tell me.
 * Googling the name of the form & GSU worked for me - you get a generic link, but it lets you fill in the specifics of the position. Don't know if that was right, but it's what I did.
 * spoke with a faculty member of the department. They received 350+ apps. Said the committee has no particular specialty in mind; they just want the best candidate. 11/14
 * Anyone interview requests go out for this one yet? (11/25)
 * AHA interview request via email! (12/10) x 1


 * Claremont McKenna College / Assistant Professor / post-1945 U.S. History - Due November 16
 * They currently have a VAP teaching in this field, but according to my source it's not necessarily an inside hire situation.
 * Are you kidding me? This is a straight up inside hire, especially in this job market.
 * Well, I know someone who teaches there (in another department, but they know many of the history faculty), and they did a little reconnaissance work for me. Apparently at CMC VAPs are kind of kept on the sidelines - my source talked with a member of the search committee, and he hadn't seen or spoken with the VAP the whole semester.  They got funding for this and the colonial position because they had intended to hire a senior person who ended up going elsewhere, so they decided to hire two junior faculty.
 * To the above poster...bollocks.
 * Okay, first of all, why the hostility? I'm only repeating what I heard from my source at CMC, who is one of my oldest friends and who I consider to be very reliable.  If you have some other information, by all means, add it.  If not, then I'm not sure why you're reacting so belligerently.  Chill.
 * I agree. You can't treat what you read here as infallible truth.  Either believe it or not, but juvenile outbursts are useless.  The poster made clear that the information was received second hand.  I'm perfectly capable of taking that for what it is and appreciate that he or she was upfront about that.  I'm going to be denied a lot of jobs in the course of my career and I'm not going to sweat the details.  No one else should either.
 * Does anyone know if McKenna is interviewing at the AHA?
 * Ack email rcvd 12/3. Over 250 applicatiosn rcvd and now reviewing files. Plan to interview at AHA and invite several candidates to campus in early 2010. (x5)
 * Anyone hear anything? I haven't (12/12) (x2)
 * Inside source tells me that as of 12/13, no decisions made on interviewees.
 * AHA interview request via phone (12/15) (x2)


 * Muskingum University / Assistant Professor / modern U.S. history - Due November 1
 * Received acknowledgement letter (10/30). Lots of nice details. They'll begin reviewing on Nov. 2, will be interviewing around a dozen semi-finalists at the AHA, and will contact for interviews by Dec. 15.
 * Set up interview at AHA (12/2) x2


 * St. Bonaventure University tenure track Assistant Professor specializing in modern U.S. history
 * Received acknowledgement email (10/27)
 * Did the email you received give any details other than the standard we've received your application? (11/1)
 * Not really. It was from the Dean's assistant, saying that my materials would be forwarded to the search committee. (11/2)
 * I emailed my dossier items to the Dean (Dr. Green) on 10/27--still no confirmation. How long did it take you to receive an email confirmation (11/2)
 * I emailed my items to the Dean on 10/22, and received the email on 10/27. So I wouldn't worry, unless you haven't heard from them by later this week.
 * Thanks for this info! You were right: it did take them about a week to get back to me. Submitted on 10/27, received email confirmaiton on 11/3. Like above, it was a  standard confirmation email from the Dean's assistant. (11/4)
 * The job ad says, "statement of teaching philosophy and scholarly..." Scholarly what? Article? or statement of scholarship?
 * I sent a statement of teaching philosophy and scholarly (that is, research) interests. The confirmation I received did not indicate that I had anything missing from my application.  (11/12) x2 (11/19)
 * Any word on this one?
 * Interview invite via email - offer the option of AHA or phone. (12/13) x5


 * Binghamton University, SUNY / Assistant or Associate Professor / 20th Century U.S. History - Due December 1
 * Looking for an "advanced assistant or early associate professor"
 * Heard that this department is looking for someone who does "transnational" history. Last person who held the job did US-South African comparative labor. Any harm in applying for this job if you're not at the "advanced assistant" level?
 * Heard there is no preference for transnational--they have many needs and many graduate students, the last guy didn't get tenure--they respect research
 * This department is in transition and has been consumed by internal strife for a good period. Things may be changing now that the previous chair of the department is out of that role. He led a spirited campaign to deny the last guy tenure. "They have many needs and many graduate students" in US history -- absolutley true. Transnational focus not a prerequisite for this job, but heard they might look to fill position with someone who does labor history or engages it in interdisciplinary contexts. LH has been a traditional focus of the dept.
 * It is clear the department is undergoing change. They have hired some excellent new people at the assistant and associate rank. Also, there is a new Dean of the College and that might indicate a new era. This is a great sounding job.
 * Request for writing samples (11/25) x5
 * They are moving fast. The deadline isn't until next week.  (11/27)
 * Email materials request (11/29)
 * I just got an email saying applications are now under review and finalists will be contacted mid-Dec. So what gives? Why were some people asked for writing samples before the deadline? I was not asked for additional materials but did receive this recent email.
 * I also just received an email stating review of applications had just begun and that interview arrangements will be made in mid-December (12/3).
 * Interesting. I applied for this post on 11/3, weeks ahead of time, and have received no acknowledgment of my application at all. Is it possible that some departments only engage with their top, say, 20 applicants?  If so, I'm out, but maybe I can give the above posters a big pat on the back.
 * I received a pre-Thanksgiving request for writing samples, but I did not receive the email about the review of applications or interview arrangements. I have no idea what that means. (12/4)
 * To the pre-Turkey day poster above, do you mind saying what stage you are at? (ABD, PhD but nonT-T, etc.) My guess--and this is only a guess--is that the SC asked for writing samples from ABDs and recent grads but not from TT people. I received the "review of applications have begun" email but not a request for a writing sample and am several years post-Phd. I could be completely wrong, though.
 * I am an advanced assistant in a TT job. (The job description asks for advanced assistants or associates).
 * Odd. It seems like a mixed-up search. I don't have much hope!
 * Advanced. They asked for representative samples including all books. Rather than mixed-up, it seems like it is moving fast but is not a search for ABDs or early assistants. It appears they did a first round of requests based on what came in well before the postmark deadline. I suspect they will have a second round of materials requests in mid-December. (12/4)
 * I wonder if the ack. email is only for those who will not be asked for more materials. Did anyone receive an ack. email and a request for more materials?  (12/4)
 * From the Ad it is clear they want someone more senior. If you have not been asked for more details it probably means you are not on the Long List. But that might change. I do not see this as mixed up at all. I see this as very organized and they know what they want. Of course, people should apply but the signals are pretty clear here. Someone with a book is going to be at adv. over ABDs for this position. Who knows, however, what will happen (12/4)
 * Email materials request (12/4)
 * maybe invitations to apply. (12/4)
 * Email rejection explaining only people with degree in hand and book in production will be considered. (12/7)
 * I also received an e-mail rejection (12/7) x 4-mentioned over 100 applications received. (12/7)
 * Did anyone with a degree and book in production receive an emailed rejection? Or are they asking all who fall into that category for writing samples?? I see a number of others have received requests for the manuscript or book.... (Mine also came on 12/4.)
 * Interesting. Looks like they are basically asking everyone who has a book out to send a copy. Hard to see much selectivity beyond a quick scan of the CV. My materials probably arrived last Monday or just before Thanksgiving. Got an aknowledgement email on Tuesday and a request for materials, including a copy of the book on Friday. Anyone who does have a book out or forthcoming not get a request for material? (12/8)--Curious x2--though I tend to doubt that the search committee is that insane, or cruel, or greedy for a bunch of free books!
 * I have a forthcoming book and finished my degree 5 years ago; received boilerplate email rejection, no request for additional materials. (x2---finished 2 years ago, book under contract)
 * AHA interview invitation via email (12/15) x2


 * Georgia Southwestern State University / Assistant Professor, post-1865 American History
 * request for interview (11/12) x2
 * On-campus scheduled (12/1)


 * College of Charleston, 20th Century South
 * due October 19
 * says they are conducting interviews at the SHA this weekend - any bites?
 * Interviewed at SHA. SC hopes to schedule on campus visits for late Nov. and early Dec.
 * Anyone called to campus yet? (11/13)
 * Nothing on my end (11/13)
 * Campus invite (11/13)
 * Good luck with the campus visit! (11/16)
 * Thanks to above poster! (12/2)
 * Offer made (12/13)


 * McKendree University Assistant Professor in U.S. History 1865 to the present
 * Review of applications begins immediately (job posted 11/19)


 * College of Wooster Visiting Assistant Professor in 20th century U.S. History in the Department of History
 * Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2010


 * Loyola University Chicago, Assistant Professor, 20th Century U.S., in urban social, urban cultural or urban political
 * Apps accepted from Oct. 15 to Nov. 30.
 * Got a note requesting copy of forthcoming book (11.30) (x3)
 * Invited for interview at AHA 12.7
 * University of Maryland Baltimore County, Asst. Professor, US-Asia
 * Anyone got news after the snail mail ack?
 * On-campus interviews already taking place
 * DeSales University, Assistant Professor of Modern American History
 * Deadline was November 31. Has anyone heard anything? (12/8) Just an ack note by snail mail. (12/10)  Phone interview next week.(12/11) X5
 * Deadline was November 31. Has anyone heard anything? (12/8) Just an ack note by snail mail. (12/10)  Phone interview next week.(12/11) X5

American West

 * Texas Tech University assistant professorship in pre-1900 U.S. West
 * Anyone heard anything from TTU?
 * I received an email a week or two again requesting additional materials. Is this the same job from last year? What happened to the last search? (11/27)
 * received email to schedule phone interview (12/2)
 * campus visit scheduled (12/10)
 * University of Oregon Julie and Rocky Dixon Chair in U.S. Western History
 * Is this even worth posting as it is an endowed chair?
 * no. (11/6)

Native American History

 * Georgia Gwinnett College / Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, Colonial U.S. history: "Subfield is open; but a focus on Native American relations preferred. Ability to teach Georgia History is desirable. Successful candidates will be expected to teach the American History surveys as well as courses within their specialties." *A new college in the Georgia university system; history department is just rolling out. Institution does not offer tenure, instead employs faculty on 1 year or 3-5 year contracts. ( also see listing above in colonial)
 * Brown University', The Brown University Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America (CSREA) announces a tenure-track position at the Assistant level in American Indian studies, which is a part of the Ethnic Studies  program housed at CSREA. We are seeking an interdisciplinary scholar with grounding in the humanities, social sciences or other relevant academic background who will lead the development of American Indian studies and contribute to the growth of comparative race and ethnic studies at Brown.
 * Asked for intro to book ms. sometime in November and told that applications would be reviewed in early December.
 * Email confirming completed application (12/2)


 * Have they contacted anyone for interviews yet?


 * UNC
 * Saint Francis University -- Assistant Professor, Early American History
 * University of New Mexico Assistant or Associate Professor of American Studies with expertise in Native American Studies