Recruitment
Affirmative Action Executive Order 11246 requires Western to undertake proactive steps to achieve a diverse workforce when women and people of color are underutilized with respect to their availability in the labor force. Federal law also requires proactive outreach to people with disabilities and veterans who may be interested in positions at Western.
Before the recruitment documents are finalized and the position is advertised, the EO Office conducts a search briefing for all search committee members. Calling the EO Office to schedule this briefing as soon possible after the search committee is constituted expedites the approvals necessary to advertise the position. At the search briefing, an EO Office staff member discusses nondiscrimination and affirmative action requirements relative to the particular search, offers suggestions regarding the recruitment documents as appropriate, reviews best practices, and answers questions.
White Paper
Best Practices: Recruiting and Retaining Faculty and Staff of Color
As Western continues to seek more effective strategies to build a diverse workforce, we have looked to other higher education institutions across the nation who have been successful in doing this. This document, a "work in progress," reviews a number of best practices and strategies that have been effective in recruiting and retaining a more diverse faculty and staff. Among other strategies, funding initiatives, cluster hiring, and mentoring programs are described. This paper also reviews existing initiatives at Western that could be enhanced to more effectively recruit and retain diverse faculty and staff. Finally, there is a section in the document that focuses on enhancing search committee affirmative action processes.
As you review this initial work, please feel free to comment or send additional "best practices" or strategies that we could include in this paper.
Resources
EOO assists professional staff and faculty search committees target their outreach to diversify their applicant pools in accordance with the University's Affirmative Action Plan. Download a copy of the Recruitment Outreach Resources for a list of recommended sites.
Recruitment Outreach Resources
Washington State Law (as well as federal statutes) prohibits pre-employment inquiries involving legally protected characteristics. Download a copy of this Guide for assistance in your search process.
Western offers multiple resources for our diverse faculty and staff. Search committees can download and share this document, which highlights those resources, with all finalists or semi-finalists for open positions.
Selected Resources for Western Washington University Employees
Procedures and Forms
Descriptions of hiring procedures, and relevant e-forms, are located on the Human Resources website.