Colleagues,
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center along with the UT System, we are committed to being the employer of choice for all Tennesseans and beyond. We know that our success as an institution is driven by the exceptional talent and dedication of our faculty and staff. As we continue to elevate the University of Tennessee Health Science Center as a Great Place to Work, it is essential that our hiring processes evolve in ways that support our commitment to excellence and fairness every step of the way.
In light of recent changes to federal regulations, we are implementing streamlined procedures for hiring across our University of Tennessee System campuses and institutes. These changes aim to simplify our processes while maintaining our high standards of acquiring and retaining talent and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws.
What’s Changing at UT Health Science Center?
Primary Points of Contact
Going forward, the campus Human Resources office, under the purview of the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, will be the primary point of contact for all searches and will work in partnership with the Faculty Affairs office, under the purview of the Office the Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs, for faculty searches. This will create greater clarity and efficiency in the search process for all staff and faculty positions.
Streamlined Search Exemptions
Procedures regarding search exemptions have been revised by Human Resources with approval from the Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor. This change allows for quicker decision-making while ensuring that we still prioritize attracting a highly talented pool of candidates.
Job Announcements
UT Health Science Center Faculty Affairs office may issue guidance on faculty job announcements, but central approval for job announcements will no longer be required for either faculty or staff positions. This change will expedite the process for filling vacant positions and provide flexibility while ensuring we remain transparent in our hiring practices.
Approval of Candidate Pools
Human Resources will continue to screen applicants for non-exempt staff positions to ensure they meet minimum qualifications. However, we will no longer require central approval of candidate pools for exempt staff positions. Similarly, the approval form for faculty search pools will be omitted, and search committees can proceed with initial screening when they have a qualified pool of candidates.
Training and Support
Both the Human Resources office (for staff) and the Faculty Affairs office (for faculty) will determine appropriate training for search chairs to ensure they are well-equipped to lead highly professional, competitive, and effective hiring processes that attract the best and brightest talent to our institution.
Search Committees and Interview Participation
Units will now have more flexibility to determine who should participate in the interview process. This allows departments to shape their hiring processes in a way that best meets their needs.
Final Offer of Employment
Units will no longer need approval from the campus EEO office before extending final job offers for faculty and staff positions. This will streamline the hiring process, allowing us to act quickly and decisively in extending offers to top candidates.
More detailed information about these changes and related processes will be posted on the Human Resources website.
The new hiring processes will go into effect immediately and will apply to all new searches from this point forward.
We appreciate your continued support and patience as we work to streamline our processes and ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Respectfully,
Peter Buckley, Chancellor
Raaj Kurapati, Executive Vice Chancellor and COO
Cindy Russell, Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs
