Step 2: Submit a Request to Search and contact OED

Form(s) Required: Request to Search form

Request to Search Form

The Request to Search form is used to obtain permission to open a search, advertise the position and form an applicant pool. It includes the position description which forms the basic qualifications for the position. The description may be included as an attachment to the form. All related position announcements, advertisements, and other information disseminated about the position must mirror the wording for the desired and required job qualifications given on the Request to Search form. (Additional information about the UT campus, the Knoxville region, and/or the department itself may be included in position announcements and website listings without also being included in paid advertisements.)

Advertisements and announcements of the position vacancy may be placed in publications immediately upon approval of the Request to Search. Ad placement may occur prior to the required search committee meeting with OED.

Approval of the Request to Search form begins the advertising and recruitment phase of the search. The hiring unit sends the completed form, with attachments, to the appropriate Dean or Director, and Provost or Vice President for approval. Under certain circumstances, the Request to Search may also have to be submitted to the appropriate budget entity for approval. The Dean, Director, or Provost/Vice President forwards the approved form to the Director of OED who reviews it for conformance with EEO/AA regulations and UT Search Procedure Guidelines.¹ OED will distribute the approved form to the Department Head, Dean or Director, Provost/Vice President, and the Human Resources office (for inclusion in its weekly position vacancy listing.) The date of approval by OED serves as the beginning of the requirement that a position be open or at least 4 weeks, unless a reduced time period is approved by OED. Requests for a reduced time period must be justified in writing.

NOTE: Human Resources (HR) posts all open positions on its weekly vacancy list published each Monday. HR’s current deadline is 10:00 a.m. each Friday for the position to appear in the following Monday’s listing. Departments may wish to keep this deadline in mind as they submit Requests to Search for approval.

Required Meeting with OED

After the Request to Search is approved, the Department Head, Dean or Director or Vice President must contact OED to schedule a search meeting. Under very limited circumstances, or in the case of Extension and Experiment Station searches, this meeting with OED may be waived or modified. Contact OED at 974-2498 to set up a meeting.

¹In the case of Extension and Experiment Station searches, the EEO/AA review may be performed by the EEO/AA officer for those units.