20th and 21st Century American

Last Updated: Monday, Dec. 11, 6:17 P.M. EST PLEASE UPDATE DATE/TIME MANUALLY WHEN YOU ADD SOMETHING

Arizona SU

(Late 19th/Early 20th) Deadline: Dec. 7 E-mail acknowledgment of application; affirmative action form completed: Dec. 3 (4)

Bates Deadline: Nov. 1 Acknowledgement 11/18 by post (2)

Bryn Mawr Deadline Nov. 1

Buffalo State Deadline: Oct. 19 Ack. 10/19 Phone interview scheduled Rej letter dated 11/19, postmarked 11/27 (3)

Cal Poly Post-1865 American Lit., sub-specialty in Modern American Fiction or American Colonial Lit. preferred eDeadline: Oct. 22 Ack. 10/26 E-mail to set up an 'informal' conversation of 20 min with one search ctte member by phone (12/4) Placement Director at my institution tells me that last year these 20 min interviews were a precursor to selecting candidates for MLA interviews. Telephone 'informal' chat 12/6.

Cal State, San Bernardino Deadline: Nov. 1 Request for more materials, early Nov. Request for more materials 11/14 MLA interview scheduled by phone call 12/6 (can you clarify exactly what? I was asked for biographical info. like education/ place of birth, etc.) A: Offical transcripts, letters of rec., writing sample and teaching materials. Request for more materials, dated Nov 14, received Nov. 19. Q: Did you get the acknowledgement? Isn't education listed in the CV? And isn't it illegal to ask about place of birth? A: Yes, I got the acknowledgement also. Apparently, it is not illegal to ask about place of birth; they wanted to know if I was originally from California; the form also asked me to list all of my degrees and some other stuff that I can't remember. Comment: This is strange; why should whether you come from CA matter? I was only asked for official transcripts and my ref. letters; they didn't ask for a writing sample or anything about my citizenry, and I'm not even American. Comment/Answer: For what it's worth, I got mine snail-mail. I was asked for official transcripts and letters, but they also "suggested" a writing sample and teaching materials; maybe we're all getting different letters? Comment: I got a similar letter to the one mentioned above: "suggested" writing sample an teaching materials. Comment/Question: I also got the "suggestion" letter. Could the biographical info. material be the EEOC form? MLA interview scheduled: 12/6

The Citadel Deadline: November 1 Request for writing sample/dossier: 11/9, 11/7 MLA interview scheduled 12/8

Colorado State University Deadline: November 15 [Asks for "evidence of strengths in teaching." I sent only teaching evaluation info and was asked for syllabi and teaching philosophy on 11/9.] (5)

Fairfield U 20th C Poetry Deadline: Oct. 26 MLA interview: 12/7

Florida Int'l U Deadline: Nov. 15 Has anyone received acknowledgement of application? Mail Acknowledgment 11/20 (2)

Guilford College Deadline: 11/05 Rejection dated 11/28, postmarked 11/30 (7)

Hampshire C Deadline: Nov. 1 Acknowledgement 11/15 (4)

Hartwick College (NY) Deadline: November 16 email ack. rec. 11/12 (2) Dossier request by e-mail (12/8)

Howard Deadline: Nov. 15

Manhattan College 20th/21st C. Ack. 11/15

U of New Orleans Deadline: Nov. 2 "Seeking an Americanist in modern and/or contemporary literary and cultural studies w/specialization in one or more of the following areas: African-American literature, New Orleans or Louisiana lit., or lit. of the Americas" Dossier request: 11/7 MLA interview: 12/2 (2) Can UNO seekers posted here move this info to the earlier UNO post in the "U" section below?

Northwestern U Late 19th/Early 20th C Deadline: Nov. 1 Email ackn. rec'd 11/15 (3) Affirmative Action rec'd 11/30, 12/7

Penn State Erie Deadline: Oct.8 Ack. 10/23 Phone interview sch'd 11/15

Philadelphia U Contemp. American Lit. and Writing Deadline: Nov. 9 Ack. 12/3 (3)

S.F. State Two positions, Asst. or Assoc. Prof. Deadline: November 12 Ack. rec'd via post 11/19 (2) Q: Will they ask for writing samples?

St. Bonaventure University "20th-century and contemporary American literature, with competence in multicultural American literatures" Deadline: Oct. 15 Phone interview 11/19 Campus visits concluded 12/04

Simon Fraser U Assoc. Prof. 20th C Deadline: Oct 31 Q: Any word on this job?

Swarthmore Deadline Nov. 1

Syracuse 20/21st Century Literature Deadline: Nov. 15 request for additional materials 11/13 (2); 11/21 (2); 11/26 (3); 11/27

Tufts Deadline: Nov. 1 Ack. rec'd via post 11/19, 12/1 (2) 12/8 MLA interview scheduled according to Other Ethnic American wiki 12/6 MLA interview scheduled 12/6 Q. Is it wiki-polite to ask interviewees who is on their interview committee?

Union College Did someone erase Union College or was it moved to a different page? A: I haven't seen it elsewhere. A friend of mine received a writing sample request about two weeks ago (12/3) Scheduled MLA interview 11/26. Received e-mail saying they had too many applicants to interview, so they will keep my file on hold "should their situation change." I think that's like being afraid to break up with somebody and telling them you just need some space, instead. (4) (12/7) I know; the rejection letter was like a wimpy breakup! For what it's worth: I have a TT job at a place where I received two such breakup letters. They broke up with me before MLA then called, then broke up with me after MLA and then invited me to campus, then offered a job. One never knows!

U of California, Berkeley "Ph.D. required by the end of the first year of appointment" Deadline: October 26 A writing sample (~20 pp) was requested in the ad as part of the original application package Ackn. postcard rec'd 11/13 Additional writing sample request 11/8 Affirmative Action request on 11/22

U of California, Davis (Open Rank) "United States Literature 1870-Present" Deadline: November 9 Any acknowledgment letters? Yes, on 11/21 by post (3) Did it say something like "if you haven't already sent your placement file, please do so ASAP"? If so, what is a placement file? A: My letter said this too. I took it to mean the letters of recommendation. This was required as part of the initial application. AA: Thanks for the reply. Guess it's just a standard letter that they send to everyone? I had my dossier sent a week before all my other application materials, so it shoulda arrived by now.

University of Cincinnati Contemporary American Fiction Deadline: Nov. 8 Writing Sample and dossier request 11/12 (2) MLA interview scheduled 12/3

University of Colorado, Boulder (Digital Media, with expertise in a second literary and/or creative field) Deadline: October 20 MLA Interview scheduled, 12/10

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Deadline: 5 Nov. MLA interview scheduled (by phone call) 12/5 (3), 12/7

U of Hartford Deadline: Nov. 1 Ack. 10/31 Apologies: earlier note about dossier request listed here was for another position. Is this actually the Hillyer College position? Hillyer College at the U. of Hartford (generalist/multicultural lit): MLA interview scheduled 12/8

U of Houston Contemporarary Poetry Deadline: Nov. 1 Request for more materials 11/5 MLA interview scheduled 12/2

Universite Laval Open rank TT, American literature MUST be bilingual French/English Deadline: 15 February 2008

U of Mary Washington Deadline: Nov. 1 Rejection (snail mail) 11/19 Dossier request (e-mail) 11.25 Rejection (email) 11/28 (5) Note: rejection letter said, "We have selected another candidate who is more closely suited to the position at this time." Think this means the hire is concluded? A: Certainly sounds like it. They have selected another candidate. They wouldn't send out rej. letters unless they had made a concrete decision. No? A2: No. They've selected other candidate(s) as for now. I imagine they think it considerate to send out the rejections ASAP. Personally, I appreciate this. Unless we get a confirmation that the position has been filled, we should probably assume that they're still deciding who to interview. Seems like the fact that "another candidate" is in the singular implies that they have already made their choice. Was it definitely in singular? That's my two cents, anyway. A3: Maybe they only have one rejection letter, and they use it in all cases?

U of Nebraska 20th C American Poetry Deadline: Nov. 2 Writing Sample request emailed 11/16 MLA interview (scheduled via phone) 12/10

U. of New Orleans Nov. 1 Request for more materials Nov. 6 (3) Rejected November 9 Email Rejection Nov. 12 MLA Interview scheduled 12/05 Q: Are any of you Afro-Am specialists? Any with NOLA ties? A: Yes, on the Af-Am, but no NOLA ties here.

U North Carolina - Greensboro Deadline: early Nov. MLA interview scheduled 11/20, 12/05

USC Deadline: Nov. 1 Email acknowledgement: Nov. 6

U. of Southern Miss. Deadline: Nov. 19 MLA interview scheduled 12/5 (2)

U Virginia Deadline: early Nov. Is this the American Studies position? If so, email acknowledgement and AA link received 11/15 (although dated 10/17!)

U of Western Ontario Am Lit and Culture, 1865 to the present Deadline: Nov 1 Ack. 11/23 phone interview: 11/30 (2) May I inquire as to whether you are Canadian? I am curious how strictly they are giving preference to Canadian citizens/residents. I'm a U.S. citizen; have heard of the preference to Canadians though... Hi Canaadian departments are obligated to give preference for Canadian applicants because of institutional hiring practices nationally. However, that can be worked around, because MANY successful applicants are non-Canadians (ie. American Ivies grads). I'd take the thing with a grain of salt; it's so easy to say, "Oh, there wasn't any Canadian good enough."

U of Wisconsin-Parkside American Lit., preferably Colonial to 1920 Deadline: Nov. 1 Phone interview: Nov. 20

Washington University, Saint Louis "Professor or Associate Professor in American literature and culture 1900-present" Writing sample/teaching philosophy request 11/3

Westminster C

Willamette Deadline: 11/5 Ack. 11/7 Received writing sample, recs, transcript, sample syllabi request on 11/16. According to "Other Ethnic" list MLA interview has been scheduled 12/10

Whitworth University Deadline: 10/26 Request for MLA Interview, 11/27 Q: Are you Christian? I got a request for a "statement of faith" and, as an agnostic, haven't heard back. Q: from god or sc? A: Is there a difference?

Wilmington College (OH) Amer. Lit. since 1900 MLA interview 12/4 (also requested dossier; ad asked only names & contact info)

Yale American/British/Anglophone after 1900 Postcard Acknowledgement: 11/2 Ackn. postcard 11/5 Request for dossier 10/26 Request for writing sample 11/20 Request for dossier 11/26 [note the significant gap between my request and the other request] Request for second writing sample, 12/10

Questions, Comments, Other As someone on the market for the first time this year, I have a question about this site. Does the number after the info, i.e., (2) mean two requests have been made? If I haven't heard from a school by the time others have been asked for more information, does that mean I have not made the first round? Any info would be helpful. Thanks. Yes, that number in parentheses refers the the number of people using this wiki who have been contacted (for interview, extra materials, etc). Of course, if others have been contacted and you haven't (I'm in the same boat), it isn't exactly the best news. But I don't think it means that you're out of the running necessarily. A lot of departments work in stages. Anyone else have thoughts? A. I agree: I don't think anyone's out of the running until he/she receives a rejection letter, right? People send in their applications at different times, so someone who sent his/her application in sooner than you just may have been reviewed sooner. Is it also possible that some applications are so strong that the committee doesn't need additional materials? (Wishful thinking, I know.) I'm thinking particularly of second writing sample requests; I doubt any school would interview someone on the strength of his/her abstract and letter alone. A: While it varies by department obviously, if a couple weeks go by without anyone getting further requests for materials from a given university (unless they already have everything, of course), I think you can probably count yourself out of a school (sigh). I still haven't gotten some rejection letters from last year. And regarding the last answer: I do know people who have been interviewed on the basis of just letter/cv. It was a bad college and a strange interview, but it does happen, especially with SLACs with little in the way of dedicated resources for job searches: when everyone is teaching a 4/4 to begin with, _plus_ you're short a couple people, and you're searching for someone outside your area, extra materials might start to seem overwhelming or even pointless, especially if you or your whole dept. are demoralized. �A: I must echo the remarks of the previous commenter. Schools do work in stages, but if they request writing samples from some, they will request samples from all candidates whose applications they are interested in pursuing (for legal, as well as administrative, reasons). If they've gone through several rounds of requests, and you haven't heard, the news is not good. Also, search committees will usually make up their interview list and then contact all of the candidates over a day or two. There might be a back-up candidate, in case someone withdraws, but this is unusual.

Here's my two cents (just to keep hope alive for some who are hurting as we all wait): I have several interview for MLA lined up. None of them asked for secondary materials. They are nor SLACS; They're IIA or better. Now, the places that have asked me for secondary materials did a while back (before their searches closed), and I am waiting in agony with the rest of you. My point: I don't think it can be reiterated enough that, while SCs have many similarities... they also have many distinguishing features that differentiate them. Don't lose hope (Most of the calling goes out starting this week up well into December!). Have some faith!

Forget faith. Have some bourbon.

Hear hear.

...or a big hot fudge Sunday...right after I get back from Wiki-Anonymous to help me stop checking this page so often...

Or a draught from the River Lethe. The problem with that, though, is I'd probably just go to grad school all over again. Eternal recurrence of the same.

By the Power of Grayskull, I demandify that you SC folks start making some phone calls! This I command!!! ... What? It worked for He-man :).

Is it me, or are the 20/21 c search committees responding more slowly than other periods? Is it because there are more of us? Because we are cooler and therefore always late to the party? Or am I just nervous and seeing phenomena where there is none?

I don't know if you're cooler or not, but there are definitely more applicants for 20c American than 19c! A: Maybe that's the reason but I definitely also have the sense that things in 20/12c Am Lit are slower this year than last. AA: Paranoid response: the people who are hearing back from some of these schools aren't on the wiki. This actually isn't as crazy as it sounds: if I wasn't on the wiki, for instance, there's 2 schools which would be blank at this point. It could just be that we're overall a bad sample, at least of the people who are actually getting responses. Non-paranoid response: Thanksgiving was early, so they planned on doing everything after Thanksgiving instead of being at least started before it. Alternate non-paranoid response: They're taking their time because the 21st C. just started, so what's the rush to study it? Sci-fi non-paranoid response: they're actually from the future, and they already know what's going to happen so they're in no hurry to inform us. Semi-logical answer: So many of these schools asked for reference letters & writing samples up-front because there are so many 20thc people, so they're only going to inform us for MLA interviews. Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

I just came over from another academic wiki and you people are the party. Lord, I wish my cohort would loosen up a bit.

So are they uptight because they're rigorously disciplined in the hopes of actually getting a job? Or are they uptight in spite of the fact that they're as doomed as most of us are to the perpetually twilight of the untenured? On that note, I need to grab a third drink and grade my freshman comp papers. (2)