Spanish 2008-2009

List Information
Welcome to the Spanish Job Seekers wiki for 2008-2009! This is intended as a collaborative space for all job seekers to pool their resources. ¡Suerte!

''If you know anyone involved in the Spanish job search this year, please tell them about this page. The more people who use it and update it, the more useful it will be.''

WIKI COUNTER I'm on the market and I'm... ... ABD, but defending real soon now: 27  ... ABD, not defending real soon: 2  ... I am about to file my dissertation (no defense where I am): 1 ... a Ph.D., but still at my degree-granting institution: 1 ... in a post-doctoral position (ABD or with degree in hand): 3 ... a visiting assistant professor or adjunct position: 10  ... in a tenure-track position: 5  ... in a tenured position: </li> ... in a non-academic position: 1 </li> Actually, I'm just lurking: 1 </li></ul>

Offers Made
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 *  Carleton College (thirdhand knowledge, from a competing candidate)
 *  U of North Texas (12/15)

Campus Interviews Scheduled
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 *  Carleton College (Nov. 2-4, mid November)
 *  Muskingum College (first week of December)
 *  U of North Dakota (second week of December)
 *  U of Otago
 *  SUNY Albany (12/4, email)
 *  Stephen Austin State U (phone call 12/11)
 *  Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12/13) Jan-Feb
 *  Rutgers University at Newark (phone call, Luso-brazilian position, week of Dec 15th)
 *  Loras College (12/12) Feb

Phone Interviews Scheduled
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 *  Carleton C (Oct)
 *  SUNY Albany (mid Nov; campus visits in Feb)
 *  U of North Texas (11/14)
 * <li> Muskingum College (11/17)
 * <li> McKendree University (12/1, 12/3)
 * <li> Mercer University (11/17-21)
 * <li> U of Missouri - St. Louis (11/11)
 * <li> Northern State University - SD (11/14)
 * <li> South Carolina Aiken - SC (11/20)
 * <li> Meredith College (11/22)
 * <li> Macalester College (Nov)
 * <li> U of Otago (Nov)
 * <li> Doane College (Nov)
 * <li> Loras College (12/08 campus visits in Feb)
 * <li> Stephen F Austin State U (12/4)
 * <li> University of Wisconsin Green Bay (Nov)
 * <li> University of Utah (12/4 phone call)
 * <li> University of West Georgia (12/15)
 * <li> Temple University (Early Modern; 12/17, no MLA; campus visits in mid-January/February)
 * <li> College of William and Mary (12/5, email)
 * <li> California State Los Angeles (12/5, email) 12/8-12/9
 * <li> U Wisconsin, River Falls (12/5, email)
 * <li> U of Wyoming (12/6, email)
 * <li> Texas A&M U Corpus Christi (12/6, phone call)
 * <li> Illinois State U (12/8, phone call)
 * <li> UNC Charlotte (12/8, email)
 * <li> Utah State (12/8 email)
 * <li> University of Massachusetts, Amherst (12/9, email)
 * <li> Bennington College (12/11, e-mail)
 * <li> Texas Tech (secondhand knowledge; a friend had a phone interview with them today)
 * <li> Wells College (12/9, e-mail)
 * <li> Calvin College (12/12, email)

MLA Interviews Scheduled
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 * <li> University of North Carolina-Greensboro (call 11/17)
 * <li> Hendrix College (email and call, 11/19)
 * <li> Union College - Visiting (11/20)
 * <li> CSU Long Beach (11/21)
 * <li> U of Colorado Denver (email 11/21)
 * <li> Iowa State University (11/22, email)
 * <li> U of Chicago (11/24, email)
 * <li> Seattle U (11/26; 12/1)
 * <li> U of Scranton (11/24)
 * <li> Butler (call before Thanks Giving)
 * <li> Randolph-Macon (11/30-12/2)
 * <li> Marlboro (11/28)
 * <li> East Carolina (12/1)
 * <li> Northern Illinois University (12/2)
 * <li> Rice U (12/2)
 * <li> Lafayette College (12/2) and (12/2 email, too)
 * <li> Meredith College (12/2)
 * <li> Tulane (12/2) -- FOR BOTH POSITIONS?
 * <li> Drury (12/2)
 * <li> Texas State, San Marcos (12/3 email) (also 12/3 email)* (12/5 email)
 * <li> Washington and Jefferson (phone call, 12/3)
 * <li> Augustana College (phone call, 12/3)
 * <li> Baker University (12/3 email)
 * <li> University of Michigan (12/4 email)
 * <li> Tufts (12/4 phone call)
 * <li> Grinnell (12/4 phone call)* (12/3 phone call)
 * <li> Scripps (12/4 phone call)
 * <li> Angelo State (12/4 email)
 * <li> Rice Univ (12/4 email and phone call)
 * <li> Virginia Tech (12/5 email and phone call)
 * <li> Dartmouth C (12/5 email)
 * <li> Trinity C (12/5 email)
 * <li> University of St. Thomas (12/5 email)
 * <li> UNC-Chapel Hill (12/5 phone call)
 * <li> West Virginia University, Latin Americanist and Peninsular (12/5 email)
 * <li> Dominican University (12/5 email)
 * <li> Southern Illinois U Edwardsville (12/6 email)
 * <li> University of Iowa, Spanish Am.Lit. (12/7 email)
 * <li> Claremont McKenna - Peninsularist(12/7 email)
 * <li> Gettysburg C (12/8 phone call x 3)
 * <li> Colorado College (12/8 e-mail)
 * <li> University of Arkansas at Little Rock (12/8 e-mail)
 * <li> Guilford College (12/8 email)(12/9 email)
 * <li> Central Michigan ( 12/9 phone-call)
 * <li> Adelphi (12/8 email)
 * <li> Grand Valley State (12/8)
 * <li> Ohio Wesleyan (12/9 email and call x2)
 * <li> UC Riverside (12/9, call)
 * <li> Washington and Lee (date unknown)
 * <li> Saint John Fisher (call 12/10)
 * <li> Dickinson C (call, 12/10)
 * <li> Texas Christian U (call, 12/10) (call 12/10 open)
 * <li> North Central College (email, 12/10)
 * <li> University of Indianapolis (phone 12/11)
 * <li> Holy Cross (email 12/11)(email 12/11)
 * <li> University of Colorado at Boulder (phone 12/11) Medieval and Contemporary
 * <li> Ursinus College (phone call 12/11)(phone call 12/12) (phone call 12/15)
 * <li> Kenyon College (Phone Call 12/11, 12/12)
 * <li> Alfred University (Phone Call 12/11, 12/12 phone x2)
 * <li> Lynchburg C (email, 12/11)
 * <li> Middlebury C (email and phone, 12/11)
 * <li> Middlebury C (Portuguese, email 12/12)
 * <li> U of Richmond (phone call, 12/11)
 * <li> Southern Oregon University (phone 12/11)
 * <li> Sewanee: The University of the South (phone 12/11, 12/12)
 * <li> Hiram College (call 12/11)
 * <li> Oklahoma State University (call 12/12)
 * <li> Boston U (12/12)
 * <li> University of Texas-Austin (email 12/12)
 * <li> Saint Anselm (e-mail 12/13 x2)
 * <li> Muhlenberg College (call 12/13)(email and call 12/13) >Position?< Peninsularist
 * <li> St. Bonaventure (call 12/13)
 * <li> Princeton U (e-mail 12/14) Latin American Position
 * <li> Saint Michael’s College (e-mail 12/14)
 * <li> Alfred U (phone call 12/14)
 * <li> Colby College (phone call 12/15) Peninsularist
 * <li> Colby College (phone call 12/15, phone call 12/15)"B" Colonial/19th C LA
 * <li> Saint Joseph's College (email 12/15)
 * <li> U. of Florida (email 12/15 x3)

Rejections
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 * <li> Carleton College (letter, rcd. 11/21; email, rcd 12/7)
 * <li> Seattle U (letter, 11/26, also 11/26, 11/27,11/28, 12/02, 12/03 and 12/12)
 * <li> The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (letter, 12/03)
 * <li> Rice University (email, 12/09)
 * <li> Grinnell College (email, 12/10)

Canceled Searches
[NOTE: When you list a school, please go ahead and indicate whether or not you received a phone call or an e-mail. Please list in chronological order. Thanks.]


 * <li> Albion C
 * <li> George Mason
 * <li> Catholic U (converted into Visiting Professor search)
 * <li> Connecticut College
 * <li> U of Virginia
 * <li> Miami U of Ohio
 * <li> Villanova (letter)
 * <li> UC-San Diego (Portuguese, 11/19, email)
 * <li> Converse College (letter, 11/22)
 * <li> Saint Joseph's University (around 11/25)
 * <li> University of California, Irvine (letter, 11/26)
 * <li> Claremont McKenna (Latin Americanist; email, 11/27)
 * <li> UNCG - Not the latin americanist position.
 * <li> University of Pittsburgh (letter, 12/1 and 12/10)
 * <li> Florida State University---colonial latin american (letter, 12/04)
 * <li> Rowan U (email, 12/2)
 * <li> University of South Carolina - all three positions (no contact - on website)
 * <li> SUNY Stony Brook: "suspendida", reliable 2nd hand knowledge
 * <li> Dartmouth: postponed (email, 12/9) -- professorship of Portuguese. For this year, it's still up as a visiting position.
 * <li> U of Washington (email, 12/10 x 3)
 * <li> U of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Peninsular 18th-19th. Second hand knowledge: a professor from that department told me.
 * <li> University of Massachusetts, Amherst (email, 12/13) They canceled the search the same week that they scheduled campus interviews??? Yes, they did.
 * <li>Muhlenberg College (email 12/15 x 3), Latin American Position

Search-Related Comments, Questions, Tips, FAQs, Etc.
'* If you are inquiring about a specific search, please delete your question after information has come out. If not, the wiki will become too cluttered.'

'''Q: With the economy in turmoil, is there a real chance that MLA and/or final interviews will be canceled? Will institutions try to save a buck by doing more over the phone? Is there precedent for actions like these?'''

A: I spoke to the chair of my dept. and he said that anything is possible and that they can cancel a search at anytime, including after campus visits. So I guess we need to prepare for a long, uncertain and nerve-wracking process. The only "good" thing is that it is expected for many places to post visiting positions in spring. So there will be a second round.

A: There is always a second round. I have known several colleagues and friends who have received very attractive positions in the spring after having an unsuccessful fall.

'''Q: I'm new to this. If places have already scheduled MLA interviews, does that mean they definitely won't be contacting you?'''

A: From what I know, if those universities established MLA interviews some weeks ago, it is possible you did not make it for the MLA interviews. But I got the email for an MLA interview 3 days ago, before another person I know who also got it today.

A: That an institution has already scheduled MLA interviews with candidate is an indication that you may not be considered for the position, but it is relatively common for institutions to extend invites over the course ofseveral days, for various reasons. In other words, there may be a chance you get an interview, but the odds aren't the greatest.

A: In some cases, departments make an "A" list to interview at the MLA, and a "B" list as backup to interview by phone during the spring if the MLA interviews don't work out. It's not over until you get the rejection letter/e-mail.

'''Q: I have recently received an e-mail from an institution saying that i did not make the list for the MLA interview but they would like to keep my application active. What does that mean?'''

A: It possibly means you are in the B list... Read above. Good luck!

'''Q: Has anyone heard anything from U of Toronto? Thanks. (12/11)'''

A: Nada x 2 (12/11)

A: I just received an acknowledgment of receipt and a questionnaire. (12/11)

A: Could it be that they don't operate on the MLS schedule? (12/14)

A: What do you mean by "MLS schedule"? I can assure you that U of T will have four candidates visiting the campus since mid-January, for that's how they operate and the search is not canceled.

A: I think the poster above meant to write "MLA schedule". On QWERTY keyboards "A" and "S" are close to one another.

A: Thanks, I did mean MLA. Does the person who first responded have information that the search is indeed going ahead? If you don't mind sharing, it would be helpful information. Thanks.

'''Q: Just trying to get a sense of where I stand and whether now is a good moment to panic for only having 1 MLA interview scheduled so far. How many does everyone else have? (12/11)

A. No se preocupen mucho por el número de entrevistas. Yo sé de gente que el año pasado tuvo al rededor de 15 entrevistas y sólo recibió una oferta de trabajo. El número de entrevistas no garantiza nada.

A. if it makes you feel any better, I have 0 (zero) interviews. And I have four friends in the same situation.

A. I've got 3 interviews so far, last year I had 2 total. This is going to be a BRUTAL year and hyper competitive. The good thing is that w/ less interviews, you'll have less loose ends bogging you down and depressing you. That will make it easier to get over this whole process and begin making yourself a better candidate for next year.

A. I like your approach. (3) '''Thanks!! Viene por sangre y sudor, eh.'''

A. I've heard of people that have gotten invitations to interviews until the 23rd of December.

A. I expect that most searches are running late this year, given that renewed conversations about budgets had to happen before committees could start evaluating files and contacting people. At least, that's what happened at my school. Also: fewer interviews = greater prep time for each. (5 interviews total; 2 at the MLA)

A. Actually, this year is a lot better than the late 90s if you look at the numbers the MLA published. 1600 jobs in foreign languages vs around 900. Even with the searches that'll be cut from the crisis, it's still about 50% more and ph. d. programs are small. Good jobs come up in February and later. It's a matter of sticking with it. A. I also have only one interview and my CV is not bad at all. It seems some positions were cooked even before publishing them e.g. Albany and Carleton.

A. 1

A. Don´t panic. 4 by now. I have second-hand knowledge of at least 4 universities I applied to who are going to establish the MLA interviews by the middle-end of next week. Of the 18 universities I applied I know of 4 for MLA, 1 rejection, 1 cancelled. So there is still time to see...I am ABD, if that helps.

A. I have 5 interviews (in the MLA field) and I sent 14 applications, but 2 jobs were canceled, which makes it 12--two of which are in a non-MLA field. Last year I sent 40 apps. for the first round and I got 10 interviews, but only 7 seemed to be serious interviews in the end, so the number of interviews does not mean too much. It's the quality of the interview that matters. This time I was more choosy, applying only to places which I would seriously consider. Also, having more interviews can work against you if you fail to remember the details for each of the schools and their programs during the interview.

Q: How many applications?

A. 40

A. 10. a friend encouraged me to apply more, and I sent another 6. So, total 16 and 8 of them were already canceled… but I’ve never been in SFO :)

A. 85 so far.

A. 10. One interview, one cancelled and one rejection so far.

A. 32

A. upwards of 30

A. 21 and I will apply to 3 or 4 more, so 25 could be my final number

A. 95

A. I just hit 40, although there are a few visiting/clinical positions I will be applying for after the New Year that will bump the number up.

A. 18 (with 4 MLA interviews by now). People in my department applied to around 40 (I thought that´s crazy but oh well). I intend to apply to a couple more due in January (no MLA). Who is applying to 85??? Wow!!

A. 1, for the dept head position at Western KY. But since I haven't heard a word since acknowledgement in Oct, and the deadline was Nov 3, I think the position will be canceled, or they aren't interested in a Spanish candidate.

A. I sent out 22 applications and have 3 interviews at the MLA. 2 rejections, 3 canceled, 1 converted to a visiting. 2 in "B list", 5 acknowledge my app., nothing from the rest.

A. 12; would've been more but I was defending the diss during application season.

'''Q: Do anybody know why some institutions (not necessarily the prestigious ones) do not even acknowledge receipt? What does it mean? Is it despise of just lack of organization? (12/12)

A. Don't take it personally. No one despises you. At worst, they're indifferent. If your entire academic career has been at top-rate institutions, you may not realize how understaffed and under-resourced many small colleges and universities are. Searches are led by faculty with high teaching loads and high administrative loads. If they don't have secretarial help, they may not have time to send out letters. The good news is that you haven't gotten a rejection letter either.

Q: Has anyone heard anything from Reed, Berkeley, Puerto Rico, or Texas Panamerican?

A. Berkeley contacted me and a friend on 12/2 requesting that we send express mail our dissertations in progress. They told us they would make an MLA interview list on the week of 12/15.

A. Puerto Rico. I did not receive acknowledgment of receipt, but I know that in previous years Univ of Puerto Rico contacted people after MLA.

A. Berkeley got about 195 apps -- give them time to read! They might start calling candidates to schedule interviews this week.

'''Q: What kind of questions should we ask the interviewers at the MLA meetings? is it common to ask about tenure requirements and such things on this early stage?

A. Check this link http://www.mla.org/job_interviews

A. Having had several interviews last year, my impression was that many committees did not want me to ask any questions. This seemed especially true if they were behind schedule or if it was apparent in the course of the interview they had decided that I wasn't the right candidate. In general, the best advice is to try to read the committee and play to WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR. I don't think that NOT asking a question means you are not interested in the job (often the interview will consist of a long description of the job and institution that answers many of your legitimate questions anyway). And frankly, even though they may ask at the end if you have any questions, this only creates the illusion that you are able to interview them to see if the job will be a good fit - in reality, at this point the interview is over (for the committee) and your questions are irrelevant as they eliminate people from their pool of candidates. You should probably save questions for any possible campus interviews (which you will accept regardless of how they answered you questions).

A. I disagree with the poster above. One of my MLA interviews enthusiastically requested that I come with questions. If there's no time for them in some interviews, that will be clear from the committee's attitude, but when that's not the case our questions are a good chance to show how much we've familiarized ourselves with the institution, department, and curriculum, and show ways in which we see ourselves fitting in there. Also, questions that could lead to answers that might turn off a candidate (salary, tenure review policies, class size) are best saved for later, at least until they invite you back to campus. Let them think you love them for now. Q. Does anyone know anything about Queens College CUNY?

A. Applications were due Nov 28th. I was just called yesterday afternoon for MLA interviews for Univs whose applications were due around Nov 10-15. Give them some time. I am waiting too! edit: I got my ack. letter Dec 8th, but did not heard anything afterwards.

A. I got a letter (acknowledgment of receipt) yesterday. Letter dated December 3. (x2)

Q: Has anyone heard anything about Columbia?

A. Didn't even get a receipt email.

Q. Does anyone know anything about Wofford College?

Q. Does anyone know anything about Wittenberg U?

Q. Does anyone know anything about Princeton (Latin American and Luso-brazilian)?

A. Latin American (see above in MLA interviews scheduled). Please review all information before asking.

A. Luso-Brazilian - haven't heard anything except receipt of materials, but they posted a Lecturer in Portuguese position on higheredjobs.com last week, so the tenure-track job is probably going to get canceled.

'''Q. Anything about Calgary?

A. Acknowledgment of receipt on 10/29, and another letter saying that the search committee was reviewing several applications on 11/18.

'''Q. Has anyone heard anything about the College of New Roschelle or EMU?