I'm probably mistaken, but it sure looked like what I describe in the
cases I know best (and I do know for a fact that individuals will be
asked to apply by their friends in a department). Otherwise it's hard
to imagine that some programs would be as successful as they've been
at maintaining a distinctive character over a decade or more. I'm
obviously not talking about gender or ethnic discrimination here. I'd
also be very happy to be wrong.
Mark
At 04:42 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote:
>Hiring can't work like that, Mark, as national searches are standard
>for full-time faculty positions.
>I'm sure it's possible for one person to manoeuver one favorite into
>a job but it wouldn't be easy, as hiring is done by public
>advertisement, committee, and obligation to avoid any form of
>discrimination. I don't think there is much similarity between
>current fulltime hiring practices in academia and the former old
>boys' network. Anything's possible of course (including being hired
>with the support of the original old boy by the University of
>Mississippi, which is what happened to this arriviste, on her first
>job search).
>Mairead
>
>On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 4:30 PM, Mark Weiss
><<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>Nothing is "always to the good." Change is the only constant,
>obliging us to learn and grow.
>
>
>Mairead:
>
>God knows I'm not resistant to change. My worry is that this
>particular change involves the establishment of a bureaucracy where
>none existed before, and that bureaucracies tend to make further
>change more difficult. I do recognize that the regularization of
>standards has helped excluded groups, but I have a hard time
>imagining that those now included will be willing or able to
>dismantle the system once it's served that purpose.
>
>You mention that the under 50 cohort is almost entirely MFAs. If the
>requirement of an MFA hasn't yet become a requirement for hiring
>(and for accreditation), as it virtually is at most institutions,
>you can assume, I think, that it will operate very much as the old
>boy network used to--a vacancy will produce calls to one's schoolmates.
>
>This discussion is I think relevant to a British and Irish
>perspective because academic institutions there seem to be heading
>down the same path.
>
>Best,
>
>Mark
>
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