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Faculty Searches

The excellence of our faculty is critical to Northwestern’s position as a leading research and teaching university. The University appoints the strongest possible candidates to its faculty, individuals who show outstanding potential or accomplishment in scholarship, research, and creative work and who meet similarly high standards in their teaching. By attracting exemplary teachers and scholars with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, the institution strives to create an inclusive environment that fosters personal and intellectual growth.

Faculty Search Guidelines

These guidelines have been prepared to assist all faculty, deans, department chairs and search committees in carrying out searches for qualified candidates. In addition to providing information on faculty hiring procedures, these guidelines stipulate best practices designed to assist committees in conducting effective searches. Search committees should also contact their school dean’s office for school-specific policies and resources related to faculty hiring.

We invite you to review and utilize the guidelines and resources on these pages.

  • Preparing for a Search
    Forming the search committee, defining the position and cultivating a broad applicant pool through a thoughtful outreach and advertising strategy. 
  • Review Process
    Using consistent criteria and agreed-upon strategy to review applicants and create your short list. 
  • On-Campus Interviews
    Information to provide to all candidates ahead of campus visits and best practices for conducting the visits and evaluating the candidates. 
  • The Offer
    Requirements for the search committee recommendations and review by the Office of the Provost.
  • Follow-Up Procedures
    Documenting your search and best practices for notifications to non-selected or unsolicited applicants. 
  • Appendices and Additional Resources
    Tips sheet for the Search Compliance Representative role, a list of advertising venues for faculty recruitment, templates for candidate evaluation rubrics, legal considerations for conducting interviews, information on the Faculty Recruitment System and more.