Selecting a Search Committee

The hiring official will determine who will serve on the search committee and submit the names to the HR office for review through Careers as part of the posting request, or through jobs@umw.edu after the job has been posted.

Normally, members of the committee should be at the same or higher role than the position being filled.  Exceptions may be requested and made for human resource professionals or individuals with a particular expertise required for the position.   The committee should try to encompass any other core areas the position will deal with primarily.  Occasionally, an individual from outside the University may be asked to serve on the search committee as well due to their level of expertise in a field.

All committee members are expected to fully participate in the search, review the candidates, and to maintain and adhere to state and federal mandates and university policies and procedures as these pertain to searches.  The committee is expected to be effective in supporting the university’s commitment to excellence and diversity.

Search committees are to be diverse in both gender and racial/ethnic diversity.

A diverse search committee makes a true multidimensional and multicultural analysis of candidate applications possible.  Excellence cannot be achieved without different points of view resident multiple intelligence and different experiences and expertise.  These elements also help to mitigate any natural bias found in individual decisions. 

Diverse committees enhance your ability to provide the optimum assessment of all candidates and provide each candidate equal opportunity to feel comfortable and welcome in the process.  This also reflects the University’s commitment to our student body and community in being all inclusive.

Search committee members do not have to be from the same department, so use the opportunity when possible to bring in someone who has a unique skill-set or may interact with this position on a regular basis.  panel members from outside of the UMW community may also be considered, such as local teachers for an education job, or a fire chief for an inspector ob.  HR is also available to help in identifying potential search committee participants.