Student Affairs Hiring/Recruitment for Professional/Classified Staff

Questions often arise about specific elements of LCSC’s search process as they relate to hiring new employees.  The purpose of this webpage is to provide general guidance from the Vice President for Student Affairs on more general aspects of the college’s official policy concerning the recruitment and hiring of new staff.  This supplement is intended to provide guidance on hiring classified or professional staff and not irregular help (unless the request is to hire someone on irregular help with benefits) or student workers.

Once you have received approval to begin your search, the following information and procedures should be consulted and followed: 

Wages

Salaries and wages for all professional and classified positions must be reviewed and approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs prior to submitting search/advertising paperwork. 

Final salary and/or wage offers and any related negotiations must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Search Committee

Search committees must be formed for hiring any professional or classified staff position in Student Affairs unless a search waiver (see Policy 3.106, Section 4C) has been approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs.  Search committees DO NOT make hiring decisions.  Instead, they screen and rank applicants according to criteria established in the position description published for the open position and any other criteria requested by the hiring authority (e.g., director).  Search committee members do not necessarily have to participate in the interview process but, if they do, their role is to provide guidance and reflections to the hiring unit.

Composition of search committees for a professional position must conform to the following criteria:

• The chair of the search committee may not be an employee of the hiring unit.
  
  
• At least one of the search committee members must be drawn from outside of Student Affairs.
  
  
• Only one member of the hiring unit’s staff may serve on the search committee.
  
  
• When possible, a faculty member should be included on the committee.
  
  
• All search committees must include at least one student.

Composition of search committees for a classified position must conform to the following criteria:

• Include another classified person of a similar position.
  
  
• Include a staff/faculty from an office outside Student Affairs the position frequently works with. 
  
  
• Other committee members can be chosen at the Director's discretion.
  
  
• All search committees must include at least one student.

Interviews

The Vice President for Student Affairs must meet with every candidate for all professional positions including IIE faculty positions.  The Vice President for Student Affairs will require 30 minutes with each candidate, depending upon the position and department.  The President wishes to meet with any candidates who are interviewing for director-level positions or higher.  Others may meet with the president at the discretion of the VPSA.

Offer of Employment

No offer of employment for either professional or classified staff positions may be made without approval from the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Meeting with Vice President

Within one week of a new professional or classified staff member’s first day of employment, a brief meeting of not more than 15 minutes must be scheduled with the Vice President for Student Affairs and the hiring authority. 

 General Guidelines

• All requests to interview candidates must be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs for approval 2 weeks prior to candidates' visit.
• No more than three candidates are to be interviewed without prior approval by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Recruitment Expenses

Use of Recruitment Budget for professional staff in Student Affairs (work with the VPSA office regarding expenses).  Classified and grant funded positions must be funded out of department funds.

Advertising

• A maximum of three newspapers are allowable. More than three require approval by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Boxed ads are not covered.
• National search for professional staff is encouraged.
• Professional positions must have an "Open Until Filled" for the end date.
• Classified positions must have an actual end date to allow for HRS to provide a registry list to the search committee.

Allowable Travel Expenses   

• Candidate travel to and from Lewiston.   
• Candidate meals while traveling to and from Lewiston.  
• Lodging during stay in Lewiston.

Department Local Cost Center Recruitment Expenses

• Other meals including on-campus breakfasts or luncheons, and meals at local restaurants.  This also includes interview meals (a PR form does need to be completed prior to the meal).
• Other expenses that are discretionary in nature.
• Local travel includes reasonable travel accommodations and rental car during stay in Lewiston.

The following approval form must be submitted for approval prior to scheduling candidate interviews.