The Latinx cluster-hire committee invites proposals from the University community to recruit faculty members working in Latinx studies to their respective units, departments and/or schools.

This call for proposals is the next step of the Latinx Cluster Hire Initiative, first announced in June by Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Ann E. Cudd.

The first round of hires, based on three searches, will occur in the 2020-21 academic year, and the initiative is planned to continue over three years to fulfill the goals of the initiative.

The committee is interested in intersectional and multidisciplinary approaches that emphasize racialization, ethnicity, equity, citizenship, border studies and participatory or policy-relevant research. With support from the Center for Latin American Studies, the committee aims to create and support an initial cohort of nine tenure-stream Latinx-focused scholars. 

The Latinx Cluster Hire Initiative is spearheaded by the Office of the Provost, and the committee is chaired by Ariel Armony, vice provost for global affairs and director of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS).

Proposal process

Units are encouraged to submit either individual proposals or proposals for multiple hires in collaboration with other departments and schools.

Proposals should specify the units involved; leadership consulted as part of the preparation process; and the ways hiring one or more scholars in Latinx studies will provide value to the unit, department or school; meet the goals of the Latinx Cluster Hire Initiative; and advance the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Units planning on submitting a proposal may send an email indicating potential interest to John Stoner, executive director of academic affairs, UCIS, at stonerjc@pitt.edu, by Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. This is not a requirement but will help the committee anticipate the breadth of interest across the University. Statements of interest should include one or two paragraphs outlining units’ interest in participating in the process, as well as how a Latinx-focused position would benefit their department.

Formal applications must be submitted by Feb. 15, 2020. In addition to the information required on the form, proposals must include two PDF letters of support (three if the proposal is for multiple hires). Proposals should be submitted online.

Hiring timeline

The Latinx Cluster Hire Initiative will take place in four phases:

·      During the first phase, from December 2019 to February 2020, interested stakeholders submit proposals to the committee.

·      The second phase will begin in February and March 2020 when the Latinx Cluster Hire committee selects proposals and makes hiring recommendations to the Office of the Provost.

·      Phase three will begin in March or April 2020 with the creation of individual search committees at the department or unit level. At that time, the first round of hiring will begin with the advertising of open positions; the hiring process will proceed as usual, informed by the best practices of cluster hiring.

·      The hiring of cluster colleagues, in the order approved by the Office of the Provost, will be the fourth and final phase.

Read more about the initiative in @Pitt and in the University Times.