Report on the MLA’s 2004 Survey of Hiring Departments

About the 2004 Survey of Hiring Departments

In the fall of 2004 the MLA surveyed departments about the outcomes of searches to hire new full-time faculty members that the departments may have conducted in the academic year 2003-04. Departments invited to participate in the survey included all 1,307 departments that placed ads in the 2003–04 MLA Job Information List (JIL), plus a sample of 1,182 departments drawn from those departments that have records in the MLA file of departmental administrators but that did not advertise in the JIL in 2003-04. We surveyed a 20% sample (n=576) of the 2,880 non-JIL departments in four-year institutions and a 50% over-sample (n=606) of the 1,213 departments in two-year colleges, because so few two-year colleges place ads in the JIL. Of the 1,307 JIL departments, 716 (55%) responded; of the 1,182 non-JIL departments, 298 (25%) responded. Of the 606 non-JIL departments in two-year colleges, 135 (22%) responded. The overall response rate was 41%.

The MLA received the data file for this study in January 2005. In all, 811 departments reported on the outcome of 1,470 searches. An additional 203 departments (20% of the respondents) reported that they did not conduct any searches. The departments that had listings in the 2003–04 JIL (the JIL group) conducted 1,277 searches. Of the 298 responding departments that did not have listings in the 2003–04 JIL (the non-JIL group), 120 (40.3%) conducted at least one search. These 120 departments conducted a total of 193 searches. Departments in the non-JIL group that conducted searches included 71 (52.6%) of the 135 responding departments in two-year colleges and 49 (30.1%) of the 163 responding departments in four-year institutions.

Overall, 371 English departments conducted 745 (50.7%) of the 1,470 searches covered by the survey; 275 foreign language departments conducted 452 (30.7%); the remainder were conducted by departments that combine English and foreign languages (50 searches [3.4%] by 32 departments), comparative literature departments (18 searches [1.2%] by 13 departments), interdisciplinary departments or programs (56 searches [3.8%] by 37 departments), or programs that identified themselves under some other classification (149 searches [10.1%] by 83 departments).

This report focuses on findings for departments that classified themselves either as English or as foreign language departments.

How many positions did departments seek to fill?

The 811 departments that reported searches conducted an average of 1.8 searches each for full-time faculty members. Of the 811 departments, 53.1% conducted 1 search, 28.4% two searches, 9.9% three searches, and 4.7% four searches; 3.9% of the departments conducted five or more searches. The maximum number of searches conducted by any one department was 11 (one case).

The sixteen two-year college English departments in the JIL group conducted the most searches—an average of 2.6 each. The 299 four-year English departments in the JIL group had the next most—an average of 2.0 each. The 275 foreign language departments, two- or four-year, conducted 1.6 searches each on average. The 96 two-year departments conducted 1.7 searches each on average—2.2 searches for departments in the JIL group and 1.6 searches for departments in the non-JIL group.

What percentage of the positions departments sought to fill were tenure-track assistant professor positions, what percentage full-time non-tenure-track positions?

Of the 612 positions that four-year English departments in the JIL group sought to fill, 73.2% (448) were advertised as appointments at the level of tenure-track assistant professor; 15.2% (93) were advertised as full-time non-tenure-track positions. The assistant-professor searches resulted in a hire 87.5% of the time, and 97.7% of these appointments were made as the positions were advertised, at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor. There were 5 searches (1.3%) advertised as tenure-track assistant professor positions that resulted in hires at the rank of associate professor and 4 (1.0%) that resulted in non-tenure-track appointments.

Of the 416 positions that four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group sought to fill, 63.7% (265) were advertised as appointments at the level of tenure-track assistant professor; 25.2% (105) were advertised as full-time non-tenure-track positions. The assistant-professor searches resulted in a hire 80.8% of the time, and 95.3% of these appointments were made as the positions were advertised, at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor. There were 4 searches (1.9%) advertised as tenure-track assistant professor positions that resulted in hires at the rank of associate professor and 6 (2.8%) that resulted in non-tenure-track appointments.

Only 19 four-year non-JIL departments reported conducting searches in 2003-04 (11 English and 8 foreign language departments). The 19 departments conducted 31 searches (16 English, 15 foreign languages). Of the 16 searches that the 11 English departments conducted, 12 (75%) advertised for a tenure-track assistant professor; the remaining 4 (25%) advertised for full-time non-tenure-track positions. Of the 15 searches that the 8 foreign language departments conducted, 6 (40.0%) advertised for a tenure-track assistant professor; the remaining 9 (60.0%) advertised for full-time non-tenure-track positions.

Of the 111 searches conducted by the 59 English departments in two-year colleges, 47.7% (53) were to fill positions advertised as tenure-track assistant professor appointments; 25.2% (28) were advertised as either full-time non-tenure-track instructorships or some other type of full-time non-tenure track appointment.

Of the 16 searches conducted by the 11 foreign language departments in two-year colleges, 75.0% (12) were to fill positions advertised as tenure-track assistant professor appointments; the remaining 4 positions were either for full-time non-tenure-track appointments or for appointments for which the rank and tenure status were open or undefined.

How many searches ended successfully with a hire?

Of the 612 searches that the four-year English departments in the JIL group conducted, 87.4% (535) ended with a hire. Of the 72 cases where these departments' searches did not result in a hire, 32 were because candidates refused the offer (these 32 cases represent 5.2% of all 612 searches); 21 were because the search attracted an unsuitable candidate pool (3.4% of all 612 searches). In 10 cases the position was withdrawn for lack of funding (1.6% of all 612 searches); in another 10 cases the position was withdrawn for other reasons. There were 4 cases (0.7%) where searches failed because the administration disapproved of the candidates departments wanted to hire.

Fifteen of the 16 searches that the four-year English departments in the non-JIL group conducted ended with a hire.

Of the 416 searches that the four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group conducted, 82.2% (342) ended with a hire. Of the 74 cases where these departments' searches did not result in a hire, 35 were because candidates refused the offer (these 35 cases represent 8.4% of all 416 searches); 18 were because the search attracted an unsuitable candidate pool (4.3% of all 426 searches). In 13 cases the position was withdrawn for lack of funding (3.1% of all 416 searches); in 8 cases the position was withdrawn for other reasons (1.9% of searches).

Thirteen of the 15 searches that the four-year foreign language departments in the non-JIL group conducted ended with a hire.

Among the two-year college English and foreign language departments, both JIL and non-JIL, 115 (90.6%) of the 127 searches ended with a hire. Of the 12 searches that did not result in a hire, 6 failed because of an unsuitable candidate pool, 5 because the position was withdrawn for lack of funding, and 1 because candidates refused the offer.

When searches ended with a hire, in 99% of all cases—English and foreign languages, JIL group and non-JIL group—respondents profess that their departments were either very satisfied (87%) or somewhat satisfied (12%) with the outcome. Among the departments in four-year institutions, when a search ended with a hire, respondents in the JIL group said that their departments were very satisfied for a somewhat higher percentage of searches than respondents in the non-JIL group (four-year JIL group = very satisfied in 87.9% of searches; four-year non-JIL group = very satisfied 79.4% of searches). Two-year college responses were more even (two-year JIL group = very satisfied in 84.0% of searches that ended with a hire; two-year non-JIL group = very satisfied in 83.7% of searches that ended with a hire).

How many applications did departments receive?

There were fewer than 50 applications for 36.8% of the searches conducted by the four-year English departments in the JIL group; 33.3% had between 50 and 99 applicants, 29.9% had 100 applicants or more. In the non-JIL group, 93.8% of the searches conducted by four-year English departments had fewer than 50 applications; none had 100 applicants or more.

There were fewer than 50 applicants for 62.5% of the searches conducted by the four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group; 27.2% had between 50 and 99 applicants, 10.3% had 100 applicants or more. In the non-JIL group, 100% of the searches conducted by four-year foreign language departments had fewer than 50 applications.

Among the two-year college English and foreign language departments, 26.0% of searches conducted by departments in the JIL group received fewer than 50 applicants, 16% received between 50 and 99 applicants, and 58.0% received 100 or more applicants. The pattern is reversed for two-year college departments in the non-JIL group: 58.7% of searches received fewer than 50 applicants, 24.0% received 50 to 99 applicants, and 17.3% received 100 applicants or more.

Did departments interview candidates at the MLA convention?

A majority (59.9%) of searches that four-year departments in the JIL group advertised as tenure-track positions included interviews at the MLA convention. MLA convention interviews were part of 63.3% of tenure-track searches conducted by four-year English departments in the JIL group and 56.8% of tenure-track searches conducted by four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group. In cases where the position was advertised as a tenure-track assistant professorship, MLA interviews were part of 65.0% of searches conducted by four-year English departments in the JIL group and 59.2% of searches conducted by four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group.

In addition, 25.3% of non-tenure-track searches that four–year departments in the JIL group conducted also included MLA convention interviews. The figure for English department searches is 24.2% and for foreign language department searches 27.4%.

Only 4.1% of the searches conducted by departments of all types in the non-JIL group included MLA convention interviews—7.5% of searches conducted by departments in four-year institutions, and 1.8% of searches conducted by departments in two-year institutions.

In what month did candidates hired accept offers?

Searches by departments in the JIL group that resulted in hires concluded most often in February (19.9%), March (28.1%), or April (21.2%). For only 1.5% of searches was the position accepted before January 2004; for only 2.8% was the position accepted in January. 13.7% of searches concluded in May 2004, 12.7% after May.

In the case of searches for tenure-track assistant professors that four-year departments in the JIL group conducted, 34.6% of positions were accepted in March 2004, 26.1% in February, 20.2% in May. Only 3.5% were accepted in January 2004, 0.9% before January. In 14.7% of the searches these departments conducted for tenure-track assistant professors, positions were not accepted until May 2004 or after.

Searches four-year departments in the JIL group advertised as non-tenure-track appointments and that ended with hires concluded later in the year—perhaps because they receive lower priority. 26.2% of such positions were accepted after May 2004, 21.3% in May, 23.6% in April, 16.3% in March, 9.1% in February, and 3.4% in January or before.

Searches conducted by two-year college departments follow a later calendar. In the two-year college departments in the JIL group, 78% of the searches that ended with hires concluded in May (48.0%) or after May (30.0%). In the non-JIL group, 76.9% of searches concluded in May or after, but the percentage where the hire was completed after May was much higher (60.6%).

What academic degrees did candidates hired have?

84.8% of candidates hired to a tenure-track position in four-year departments in the JIL group had the PhD in hand at the time of hire; 8.1% were ABD; 5.5% held an MFA; 0.9% held a Masters degree. For four-year English departments in the JIL group that hired tenure-track assistant professors, 82.6% of candidates hired held the PhD, 9.2% held an MFA, 5.5% were ABD, and 2.7% held a Masters or some other degree. For four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group that hired tenure-track assistant professors, 85.6% of candidates hired had the PhD, 12.9% were ABD, and 1.4% held some other degree (none hired held a Masters degree).

When four-year departments in the JIL group made non-tenure-track hires, 53.4% of candidates hired held the PhD, 21.2% held a Masters degree (other than an MFA), 6.4% held an MFA, and 16.5% were ABD.

In the case of tenure-track hires made by two-year colleges, 45.6% of candidates hired held a Masters degree other than the MFA (the figures are 61.8% in the case of hires by two-year departments in the non-JIL group and 20.0% in the case of hires by two-year departments in the JIL group); 34.4% held the PhD (16.4% for the non-JIL group, 62.9% for the JIL group); 14.4% were ABD; and 4.4% held the MFA.

When two-year colleges made non-tenure-track hires, 70.0% of the candidates hired had the Masters degree, 12.0% were ABD, 6.0% held the PhD, and 6.0% held the Bachelors degree, 4.0% held the MFA, and 2.0% some other degree.

In what year did candidates who held the PhD and who were hired for tenure-track assistant professor positions receive their degrees?

When candidates who held the PhD were hired by four-year departments in the JIL group to positions advertised as tenure-track assistant professor positions, 34.0% of those hired received their doctorate degrees in 2004; 41.5% of candidates hired received their PhD degrees in 2001, 2002, or 2003 (2001=8.2%, 2002=14.3%, 2003=19.0%). 24.5% of candidates with PhDs who were hired to tenure-track assistant professor positions received their degrees in 2000 or before. The percentages do not differ between four-year English and foreign language departments in the JIL group.

In the case of two-year college hires to any position (whether tenure-track or non-tenure-track), when candidates hired held the PhD, 15.8% received their degrees in 2004, 42.1% in 2001, 2002, or 2003; and 42.1% in 2000 or before. When candidates hired held the MA, only 3.8% received their degrees in 2004; 43.4% received their degrees in 2001, 2002, or 2003; and 52.8% received their degrees in 2000 or before.

What were the prior employment situations of candidates hired to tenure-track assistant professor positions?

When candidates were hired as tenure-track assistant professors by four-year departments in the JIL group, 18.1% already held tenure-track positions at other institutions. Of this 18.1%, 11.1% received their PhD degrees in the year 2000 or earlier and 5.8% in 2001, 2002, or 2003. Another 33.1% of those hired to tenure-track assistant professor positions by four-year departments in the JIL group held full-time temporary positions, 8.2% held part-time positions, 3.9% held postdoctoral fellowships, and 34.4% were categorized as still in graduate school. There were 1.3% hired who had been employed outside of academia, and 1.0% who were not employed.

Among four-year English departments in the JIL group, when candidates were hired as tenure-track assistant professors, 19.8% already held tenure-track positions at other institutions, 30.6% were hired from full-time non-tenure-track positions, 10.8% from part-time positions, and 4.5% from postdoctoral fellowships; 32.3% were classified as still in graduate school. There were also 1.0% hired from employment outside of academia, and 1.0% hired who were unemployed.

Among four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group, when candidates were hired as tenure-track assistant professors, 16.2% already held tenure-track positions at other institutions, 35.2% were hired from full-time non-tenure-track positions, 4.8% from part-time positions, and 2.4% from postdoctoral fellowships; 37.6% were classified as still in graduate school. There were 2.4% of candidates hired from employment outside of academia and 1.4% hired who were unemployed.

Among all the two-year departments, when candidates who were hired held the PhD (35 cases), 17.1% already held tenure-track positions at another institution, 31.4% were in full-time non-tenure-track positions, 34.3% were in part-time non-tenure-track positions, and 8.6% were classified as still in graduate school. Two candidates were hired from employment outside of academia, and one from a postdoctoral fellowship. When candidates who were hired held the MA (83 cases), 6.0% already held tenure-track positions at another institution, 28.9% were hired from full-time non-tenure-track appointments, 55.4% from part-time non-tenure-track positions; three candidates were classified as still in graduate school, three were hired from employment outside academia, and two were not employed.

What percentages of men and women candidates were hired to positions at various ranks and tenure statuses?

There were significant differences in the percentage distribution of men and women hired when departments filled positions at different academic ranks and tenure statuses. Across all the four-year departments, candidates hired for positions leading to or carrying tenure were 53.7% women and 46.3% men, whereas candidates hired for full-time non-tenure-track positions were 66.2% women and 33.8% men. (We do not know the gender breakdown of the applicant pools, although we do know from the U. S. government’s Survey of Earned Doctorates that women have received 55% or more of doctorate degrees in English and modern languages and literatures since 1984 and 58% or more since 1993).

The survey covered only a small number of senior searches—that is, searches to hire at the rank of professor or tenured associate professor. These account for only about five percent of all hires that the responding departments reported. The survey findings nonetheless offer some suggestive if limited evidence of how men are more likely to be hired to more senior positions. The tables on the following page show the gender breakdown of hires from the searches conducted by four-year and two-year departments and the rank and tenure status at which the positions were filled. Beyond the rank of assistant professor, however, the number of tenure-track hires by two-year colleges that are covered in the survey is so small that the percentages become meaningless for the purposes of discovering patterns.

What was the citizenship status of candidates hired by various types of departments?

Students in foreign languages have been interested to know how many faculty openings are filled by individuals who are citizens of countries other than the United States or Canada. When foreign language departments in four-year institutions completed a hire to a tenure-track position, the individual hired was a US citizen in 50.0% of the cases and a citizen of a country other than the US or Canada in 39.4%. Citizenship was unknown for 7.2% of individuals hired.

Canadian students and departments have been interested to know how many vacancies in Canadian departments are filled by individuals who are citizens of Canada and how many by persons who are citizens of the US or countries other than the US and Canada. Of the 1,014 responding departments, 965 (95.2%) were located in United States institutions and 49 (4.8%) in Canadian institutions. Thirty-four of the 49 Canadian departments conducted a total of 70 searches, of which 63 (90%) ended with a hire. Nineteen English departments conducted a total of 45 searches, 40 of which resulted in a hire. Thirty-five of these hires were to tenure-track positions, 5 to non-tenure-track positions. Eleven Canadian foreign language departments conducted a total of 16 searches, 14 of which resulted in a hire. Seven of these 14 hires were to tenure-track positions, 7 to non-tenure-track positions.

Of the people the four-year Canadian English departments hired to fill the 35 tenure-track appointments they made, 24 (68.6%) were Canadian citizens, 7 (20.0%) were US citizens, and 4 (11.4%) were citizens of countries other than the US or Canada. All of the people hired to fill the 5 non-tenure-track positions were Canadian citizens.

Of the people the four-year Canadian foreign language departments hired to fill the 7 tenure-track appointments they made, 6 (85.7%) were citizens of countries other than the US or Canada and 1 (14.3%) was a Canadian citizen. Of the people the Canadian departments hired to fill the 7 non-tenure-track appointments they made, 6 (85.7%) were Canadian citizens and 1 was a citizen of a country other than the US or Canada. Given the very small number of cases, these percentages should be treated with caution.

Four-year English departments in US colleges and universities completed 514 searches, 420 leading to full-time tenure-track appointments and 94 leading to full-time non-tenure-track appointments. Of the tenure-track appointments, 379 (90.2%) were made to US citizens, 4 (1.0%) to Canadian citizens, 25 (6.0%) to citizens of countries other than the US or Canada, and 4 (1.0%) to persons with dual citizenship. There were 8 individuals hired (1.9%) whose citizenship was unknown.

What did the survey reveal about the ethnic and racial characteristics of individuals departments hired?

The tables on the following pages summarize departments’ reports about the ethnic and racial characteristics of individuals they hired to full-time faculty positions. Of the 443 candidates hired to tenure-track positions by four-year English departments in the JIL group, 77.0% were white, non-Hispanic; 3.6% were Hispanic; and 18.3% were non-white and non-Hispanic. (The race and ethnicity of the remainder were unknown.)

Of the 58 candidates hired to tenure-track positions by two-year English departments (both JIL and non-JIL), 75.9% were white, non-Hispanic; 5.2% were Hispanic; and 12.1% were non-white and non-Hispanic; the race and ethnicity of 6.9% were unknown.

Of the 233 candidates hired to tenure-track positions by four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group, 57.1% were white, non-Hispanic; 30.9% were Hispanic; and 10.3% were non-white and non-Hispanic. (The race and ethnicity of the remainder were unknown.) Apart from hires reported by the four-year foreign language departments in the JIL group, the number of cases is too small to make findings meaningful.