Soooo, how does one interview prospective professors?

[bicentennial_baby]

I've been recruited to be in an interview group for prospective History professors at my University (the group is composed of Juniors and Seniors). I'll be interviewing 2 different candidates, this week and next. Any ideas on good questions to ask?

:hi:

[Redstone]

1. Ask them: "So, whatcha got?"

That would break the tension, if nothing else.

Redstone

[Book Lover]

2. Wait, wait, wait

Your school runs interviewees past a student panel? <headspinning>

OK, I think my world is steady again... Um, is this for a tenure-track position? And what is your field of interest in history?

[rockymountaindem]

3. You took the words outta my mouth

Here we've been encouraged to go to prospective profs' presentations, but our comments aren't solicited.

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Well, in addition to the tenured faculty and Dept heads and such...

They like to get a feel for how students react to this person and their teaching philosophy, personality, etc.

I don't know about the candidates yet, I get the info tomorrow. And I'm not a History major. I'm a graduating Econ major, and I TA'd a History class last semester. My Prof trusts my judgment, so he asked me to help out. :)

What's wrong with a student panel?

[Book Lover]

9. Well, to be perfectly honest, and you are not going to like hearing this

I can't see how students can be adequate judges of a person's qualifications to join university faculty. If you've TA'd, you likely have a better idea than most students what percentage of a professor's life is spent teaching, and what amount is spent doing the fun research stuff (or at least what the ideal percentages are). I've spent a few days every month on various college and university campuses as part of my job for about three years now, and this is the first I've heard of this. Maybe I'm misunderstanding the amount of weight the hiring committee places on the student panel interview. Or maybe I am exposed to the most bitter faculty (very likely :-) )

[bicentennial_baby]

11. We're not there to judge their qualifications, but more

to judge how they interact with students, their feelings about our school, what their goals are as far as their future with us. I don't think a huge amount of weight is given to our work, but I do think it's nice that they consider our opinions. I think this Dept in the past has had a problem with hiring people who were far more academic/research-based, and not able to/not interested in connect(ing) with their students, which is an integral aspect of being a successful Professor, imho. :)

[Book Lover]

17. I have to agree that it is nice that they solicit trusted students' opinions

but I think I may be on the other side of the "more important to connect with students" position. In my experience, people get their higher ed degrees and then stay in academia to do research, not teach. Students are the distraction from their real work. Then again, why hire someone to do a job if they won't be good at one crucial part of that job?

As for questions, I would ask about their potential syllabuses and course plans, and preferred teaching methodology. Good luck! I am sure you'll find it interesting :-)

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Ask them how they would structure a survey course

then ask them what their expectations would be from a history major in an upper class course. As a current student that ought to give you a pretty good gauge on how they view the prof-student dynamic.

[Muttocracy]

7. second that and

ask them simply what they'd like to teach

how would they will (or have they if they're already a prof) engage students in research / outreach / whatever.

something about how they would fit into your department / college / whatever (would they add new things, reinforce existing strengths, duplicate)

some kind of interdisciplinary question?

Have fun.

(to all - I know of grad students serving on faculty search committees at big research universities; it was more grad student input sought than undergrad - and some of us did influence one search based on comments that we had a strong preference in one case)

(edit for a word left out)

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Thank you!

You've given me a lot to think about. :)

I think one thing is that there isn't a very large Grad population to pull from at the moment. But, my Prof has been teaching here for 40 years, and I trust his judgment in who he has chosen for the task. :)

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Excellent suggestions, thanks!

:hi:

[mentalsolstice]

6. You're in economics, right?

I'd ask them about short-term predictions, and how they would suggest stimulating the economy. Otherwise, I'd ask specific questions about acceptance (of different skin colours, ethnic difference, sexual orientations, religious belief)...

[Muttocracy]

8. how on earth do you ask about that? would anyone say, nope I'm a racist? n/t

[Muttocracy]

10. ask search committee for a list of illegal questions

not trying to be funny - there are some questions that you are not supposed to ask in job interviews (e.g., family situation including spouse's job situation). People get stuck answering those questions, but it's nicer not to ask them in the first place.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. Oh, I'm not planning on going there...

I'm not too worried, my fellow TA from last semester is in my groups, and she's done this before. I'm going to email her. :)

[Nevernose]

15. Why should anyone waste their time studying history?

Most of us already know the answer to this question, but it brings out fascinating, often insightful, answers. And don't take the Santayana cop-out, either.

What do you like best about teaching? Why?
Least? Why?

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

Don't forget the whys -- they tell you what a person is really like.

What are your general philosophies regarding the mechanics of teaching, the grading and late policies and office hours?

What have you published? What are you planning to publish? How would you help a student who is interested in publishing? IS publishing really all that important?

How do you know when you're being successful as a teacher, aside from tests and grades?

What kind of commitments -- both professionally and especially personally -- do you intend to make to this school and to this community?

Throw a few real world problems into the mix. And they can't be hypothetical. No, "Suppose a student comes to you and says..." Present the problem in a real way. "Doctor Fartenblaster? I missed the quiz and missed two weeks of class, I know, but I was living in a shelter because my apartment complex burned down. What can I do to salvage my grade?" If Dr. Fartenblaster wants documentation of the meth lab explosion, he's probably a dick that doesn't deserve your recommendation.

The politics should be irrelevant. Some of the best, fairest teachers I know are uber-conservatives, and some of the worst, most biased teachers I know are almost as liberal as I am. May god forgive me for saying this, but, as with Dubya and Vladimir Putin, try to look into his soul.

[bicentennial_baby]

16. Great questions, thanks so much!

Wow, those are great! You rock! :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. A professor who didn't demand proof of a meth lab explosion is one I wouldn't trust at all.

I would certainly take incredible advantage of him/her, but I wouldn't trust at all.

[Nevernose]

23. Most people, even students (who are only semi-people at any rate),

are telling the truth.

A real professor can sort the lower classmen from the upper classmen, and sort the fuck-ups from the serious; it's all a judgment call, anyways. The important thing is figuring out how much of a stickler to the "rules" they'll be, how much they're willing to bend depending upon circumstance. Bad things happen to good people; how willing is the teacher to accommodate them?

There's also a very good chance that some asshole on the other end of the building blew his apartment up while running a meth lab while I was in college, and I was too busy finding a place to sleep for a week while the fire department declared the building safe for occupancy, and some asshole professor demanded that I not only bring him original copies of a newspaper covering the story, but proof that I lived in the same building in which the very vague newspaper articles said the fire occurred. And I had an A in his class, at least before some asshole blew himself up. Hypothetically speaking,of course. :grr:

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Wearing an ocelot costume and constantly referring to them as "potential murder victim".

[bicentennial_baby]

19. !

:yourock:

[Rabrrrrrr]

21. It's the only way to ensure they're really committed to teaching at your school.

[Generic Brad]

22. If history repeats itself, what can you tell me that I have not already heard?

If they really know their subject, they will not be able to give you an answer.

[Adsos Letter]

24. History?

Ask 'em this:

How does epistomology inform your historical method?

How does the debate over subjectivity/objectivity inform your historical method?

How do you feel about the increasing return to narrative history, such as the works by David Hackett Fischer?

ESSAY QUESTION: Given the vast amount of sources often cited in detailed studies, how does a reader go about determining how well you have chosen and interpreted your source material, as well as how honest you have been in your choices and interpretations, given the limited amount of time available for readers to research works with extensive bibliographies and citations? (You may use 2 bluebooks).

Most important question: Will you take a bribe? If so, how much are we talkin'?

While he is ruminating upon these you should engage in a presentation of Hegel's criticism of dialectic, sotto voce.

:D

[Fire Walk With Me]

25. Ask them if they were on a 3-hour tour and ended up stranded on a desert isle

could they build a radio out of coconuts and vines?

Some professors can. Get huffy if they refuse to answer the question.

[MonkeyFunk]

26. ask 'em if they'll put out

for a good evaluation.

Turn the tables on 'em, I say.