Step 6: Principal and Alternate Candidate Pools

Form(s) Required: No form exists. An attachment must be made to the Narrative Summary form.

Principal Candidate Pool

When the Search Committee is comfortable with the quality and composition of the applicant pool, it should devise a list of Principal Candidates. Since each search is different and will yield a different applicant pool, it would be difficult to set numerical limits (minimum or maximum) on the number of candidates that should be placed in the principal pool. The pool should provide a selection of qualified candidates who will be invited for a campus interview and considered for the position. All Principal Candidates must be invited to interview (although a candidate may turn down an invitation to interview). The Search Committee must identify, in the Narrative Summary form, each Principal Candidate’s relative strengths and weaknesses.

Note: If females have applied for the position, but none of the female candidates were selected for the Principal or Alternate pools, the committee must include a brief description of the strengths and weaknesses of each excluded female applicant.

Likewise, if self-identified minorities have applied for the position, but none of the minority candidates were selected for the Principal or Alternate pools, the committee must include a brief description of the strengths and weaknesses of each excluded minority.

In an Upper Level search, strengths and weakness statements must be provided for all African American applicants.

Alternate Candidate Pool

A list of Alternate Candidates may also be developed. Alternate Candidates should be those candidates who are under further consideration for the position in the event that none of the Principal Candidates are selected for the position. These candidates must also meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If no one is selected from the Principal pool following interviews or offers of interviews, the Search Committee may elect to interview one or more candidates in the Alternate pool. Alternate pool candidates may be interviewed one-by-one, in no particular order.

Strength and weakness statements for each Alternate Candidate must also be included as an attachment to the Narrative Summary form.