Target of Opportunity Appointments

Purpose

In service of ensuring the excellence of the faculty at Bates, the college has developed a process for Target of Opportunity appointments. Such appointments allow the college to take advantage of special opportunities to recruit outstanding faculty who have the potential to make extraordinary contributions to the life of the college and its academic program in alignment with our mission. This could involve bringing to the college new theoretical approaches, currently underrepresented specialties, or intellectual perspectives or viewpoints that expand the range of personal experiences and social circumstances. 

Procedure

With approval, departments and programs may choose to undertake a targeted search process—in lieu of or in advance of undertaking a national search. Units should engage in conversations with the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and other appropriate offices as soon as possible to ascertain how to best support the departments or program’s goals, including, for example, requesting resources for a new scholars series or to support campus visits for potential targets of opportunity. 

Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and anti-discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of any legally protected statuses in the recruitment of its faculty.  Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations.

Steps:

  1. To apply for a Target of Opportunity waiver, an academic unit must have an open, allocated tenure track line. The Academic Affairs Council (AAC) allocates faculty resources that support the academic mission of Bates College, including the allotment of tenure-track lines. More information about faculty resource allocation procedures, policies, and deadlines can be found on the AAC web page. 
  2. Once an academic unit has received an authorization to search for a tenure track faculty member it may request to utilize the target of opportunity appointment process. A request for a Target of Opportunity waiver is made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty (the VPAA/DOF) by answering the questions below. The request must be submitted electronically to the Dean of the Faculty Office (deanoffaculty@bates.edu).
  3. A request for waiver must contain a clear statement of:
    • the exceptional need for the waiver of search and an explanation of the distinctive qualities of the prospective candidate for this position;
    • the ways in which the candidate’s background, scholarship, and teaching might advance Bates’ efforts to expand the range of scholarly practice, expertise, and perspectives on campus.
    • the expected rank and title for this position, and assurance that the candidate would be eligible for an offer through a national search;
    • which courses are to be covered by the candidate;
    • the curriculum vita for the candidate.
  4. Following submission of the request for waiver statement from the chair of the search committee, the VPAA / DOF will determine whether to approve the waiver. The VPAA / DOF may contact the search chair for further explanation or clarification of the proposed waiver. Communication of the approval or denial of the waiver will be made by the VPAA / DOF to the search chair.
  5. The staff in the office of the Dean of the Faculty will create a private job listing on Interfolio for use in the Target of Opportunity process. Candidates must upload their application materials to Interfolio. 
  6. Upon review of candidate materials by the search committee, the search committee notifies the VPAA / DOF if they wish to proceed with a campus visit of the candidate.
  7. Following the campus visit of the candidate, the search chair emails the VPAA / DOF regarding the outcome of the search committee’s deliberations. The VPAA / DOF will determine whether to extend an offer to a candidate.