Higher Ed Professionals--Advice?

[Haven]

Hi, everyone!

This Wednesday I have a finalist interview for an English instructor position at a community college. I'm *really* excited for this opportunity, and I very much enjoyed meeting everyone during my first round interview. I like the college, and I think this will be a great fit. They met with 11 candidates during the first round, and I believe I'm one of two candidates called in for a finalist interview.

I felt prepared going into the last interview, in large part due to Elmorton's and Katamari's great advice in my thread about it. (Thank you!) However, I'm feeling very unprepared going into this finalist interview, though. All I know is this:

- I will first meet with the Dean of the Arts, Languages, and Humanities Division for 90 minutes.
- Then, I will meet with the Vice President of Academic Affairs for 60 minutes.

That's a long time! Does anyone have any insight about what types of things I can expect to discuss in these meetings? My current college does not do finalist interviews with a dean or VP, so nobody can help me there. My dept. chair was pretty shocked when I told her the situation, so that made me a bit scared.

Thank you so much for your advice and input.

 

[Sabine]

No idea, but just wanted to say good luck! Sounds like an awesome opportunity!

 

[laine]

Hi Haven! Lots of luck to you! When I met with the dean for my current position (at a small liberal arts college), the meeting was mostly him telling me about the job: expectations for my teaching and research, expectations and timeline for tenure, benefits, general info about the university.

When I was going through interviews, lists of questions for deans included things like their vision for the college in the future, where the college is headed, where the department is headed, whether they foresee any changes to the department or school (like increases in student population or a shift in focus from one area to another), how the department fits in with the whole school, how the economy/budget cuts have affected the school, questions about teaching and research expectations, benefits, etc.

The dean did ask me a few questions about my research, so it would be helpful to be prepared to talk about your teaching and research in terms that are easily understood by someone who potentially knows nothing about your field. Also, be prepared with a really short version and a slightly longer version.

Hope that helps! I'm sure you'll be great!

ETA: I don't really know anything about meeting with academic affairs, so I can't really help you there. Is there someone you could call/email from the department to ask?

 

[kama_s]

I have no idea, but it sounds like the interview might just be to see if you fit with the school in terms of personality. I would think they might ask questions you''ve already been asked before at the previous interviews.

In any case, wishing you lots and lots of luck! I''m sure you''ll wow their socks off!

 

[Indylady]

No advice, just dust!

 

[Haven]

Sabine, Kama, and Indy--Thank you so much for the dust! I am very excited and I''ll take all the dust I can get!

Laine--Thank you for that insight, I really appreciate it. I''m very glad you mentioned research, because I''ll now prepare a bit so I''ll be ready to discuss my research if it comes up.

My interview is this Wednesday, and I''m getting more excited by the day. Thanks so much for the support everyone. I''ll let you know how it goes!

 

[katamari]

Wow, Haven! Don''t be freaked out at all. Both of these positions are going to want to talk to you about bureaucratic stuff (while also making sure that you are a fit for the institution, of course), which I think you can see as a great sign! Plus, from everything I have been told, once you make the final interview round you are indisputably "hire-able," and the department is mainly looking for idiosyncratic compatibility and fit. These are things you cannot necessarily control, but I assume you have in the bag already just by being you.

Of course, since you want to prepare, here is what I would expect. The Dean will want to talk to you about tenure requirements and the department''s place in the institution. The Dean will have the clearest vision of what they expect from the hire in terms of committee work, courses taught, advising, etc. Read the ad a million times and have a solid answer for how you fit each element. Also, make sure you are flexible if it seems they want something beyond what the ad mentions unless it is something you would feel fully unable to do. Since you aren''t meeting with an HR rep (right?) I assume they will also talk to you about benefits and policies regarding travel support, continuing education, tuition reimbursement, etc. (Be ready for the illegal questions here, if they do cover benefits). The Dean will be thinking of your worth in terms of the overall institution more than the department, so they will care about research and other things that get you noticed beyond the classroom. It can get sticky with the Dean, since they are essentially politicians, if they want you to talk about university issues and politics--especially since you may not know where they stand. If the questions head in this direction, just do your best to be diplomatic and question them about it enough that you get a read on how they want you to respond. Make sure you have a lot of questions in case they only prepared for a 30 minute meeting. Asking about the budget, the role of the department in the overall university, expectations for students, and challenges in your department are all good things to bring up that will teach you a lot and keep the conversation going.

It is atypical to meet with a VPAA in my field, but we meet with Provosts and I can see the interview working similarly. With them, I would be most ready to talk about goals they have for students. I would totally emphasize your knowledge of the high school curricula in the state and how this especially prepares you for helping students make the transition to college and be successful. Student diversity will be a good topic that you can expect questions about in the interview. Also, issues of student success, attrition, recruiting (especially in the economy), etc. will be good things to discuss or to expect to discuss. I would ask lots of questions about student perceptions of the university''s strengths and the university''s goals in general.

Here are some links our DGS provided us with that might be helpful.

First, second, third, fourth, and fifth.

Just be yourself and you will do wonderfully! Adding some additional good luck, because it can''t hurt

 

[packrat]

Dust and Good luck to you Wednesday, Haven!

 

[Haven]

Packrat--Thank you for the dust!

Katamari--Thank you for all of that information. I''ve read through your post, and all the links you provided, and I''m feeling more at ease now. Thank you so much.

I hope that I''ll have good news to report soon!

Thanks for all the dust and advice, everyone.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

No advice but lots of luck!!!

 

[iheartscience]

Another no advice but tons of dust! I''ll keep my fingers crossed for you tomorrow!

 

[joelly]

Haven,

I don''t know what you should do but I think you must calm down and be positive about it. Stay cool and confident. You get this far which means you have it in you to get the job. Just need that extra nudge which I think you will present it with lots of enthusiasm and positiveness thats already in you.

Here are some fairy dusts going your way!!!

What day is this interview? That day pls be sure that I will send you positive thoughts from LA.

Good luck, Haven!!!!

When in doubt, remember that we Psers are cheering you!!! Haven! Haven! Haven!

 

[Haven]

Tacori, Thing, and Joelly--THANK YOU!!!!

Joelly, that''s a great pep talk, and I needed it, thank you! Breathing in . . . and out . . . in . . . and out.

I just got an email from my dept chair that they contacted her today for a reference. She said I "wowed them" so that''s encouraging. The HR rep told me that they only contact the top candidate''s references, so I''m *really* hoping that''s the truth! I''m going to tell myself it is the truth going into my interview tomorrow, at least.

Thanks again for all of your help and dust and support and advice through this whole process. I feel so much better going into this interview with all of your knowledge and dust. I''ll check in after the interview and before I go to work to teach tomorrow to report on how it went!

Thanks, all!

 

[MagsyMay]

GOOD LUCK!!! I know you''re going to rock it Haven!!

 

[WishfulThinking]

Good luck tomorrow, Haven!!!! I am so excited for you, it sounds like an amazing opportunity. I''ve been following your recent career escapades from afar and I am totally rooting for you. As someone who is toying with the idea of teaching community college someday you are both an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge! Good luck!