Interviews & Campus Visits
Phase 4
Purpose of This Phase
Interviews and campus visits allow departments and candidates to engage one another as scholars, teachers, and colleagues, while also serving as a critical moment of recruitment.
What Happens in This Phase
Committees conduct initial interviews (often virtual, on Zoom) and plan campus visits for finalists. These visits typically include meetings with faculty, students, and administrators, as well as teaching or research presentations.
Key Faculty Decisions
Committees typically decide:
- What questions and activities best illuminate candidates’ work and potential
- How to structure visits to reflect departmental culture and values
- How to gather and weigh feedback from multiple constituents
Required Steps
- Use of consistent interview questions across candidates
- Adherence to approved interview protocols
- Approval of School dean before extending invites for campus visits
Recommended Practices
- Designing virtually identical visits that balance assessment with sense of welcome and transparency
- Preparing those who will meet with candidates
- Communicating clearly with candidates about expectations (i.e. research talk, teaching demo, meetings, etc.) and timelines
Tools & Resources
- Sample invites for Zoom and on-campus interviews
- Interview Question Bank
- Best Practices for Zoom Interviews
- Campus Visit Planning Checklist
- Candidate Feedback Forms
Supports & Contacts
- Faculty Search Partner
- Administrative Support Staff
- Dean’s Office