Last Week at One Schoolhouse: Preparing for the 21-22 Hiring Season

Schools are considering a number of changes to their hiring practices and processes this year: in-person vs online interviews; earlier conversations with faculty & staff around contracts; desired competencies & skills of new hires; considerations around being on campus next school year; and business model (expense & revenue) drivers. In last week's pulse survey, we asked how many of your hiring practices you're planning to change this year. There was an overwhelming consensus with over 70% of responding schools planning to change four or more practices; only 5% reporting changing a single hiring practice. Staffing at our schools is the most important factor in schools’ ability both to meet their missions, and to thrive and survive financially. Here are a few things Academic Leaders should be doing right now: Understanding their school's business model, including revenue and expense drivers, and associated pressure points. Having conversations around contracts with faculty and staff members about their plans for next school year, and considering setting deadlines for decisions. Reviewing the list of what has changed and consider what staffing changes of this year should stay going forward. Taking an inventory of competencies and skills that are needed moving forward, both for your faculty as a whole and for individual faculty members. Discuss these needs with deans and department chairs around job description and desired skills of candidates-- flexibility (expertise, subjects, roles) will be more valuable to your school in the coming years than investing in faculty with specific niche skills. Remaining in constant communication with fellow Academic Leaders so that, for example, information gained by a department head is relayed to the dean of faculty, especially considering that the hiring process itself will be very different, without an ability to have candidates and finalists on campus. Ways to Engage: Hiring During a Pandemic : Most schools won't be able to bring teaching candidates to campus this year so how do you hire from a distance? Our new, one-week course, facilitated by One Schoolhouse Head of School, Brad, will provide you with insights for hiring a faculty member when you never meet them in person. Course begins February 1, 2021. Interview & Hiring : In this four-hour, On-Demand program, supervisors will learn to engage in meaningful interviews while avoiding legal claims and pitfalls in the hiring process. Resources to Read: How the Coronavirus Crisis May Improve Teacher Quality : This EducationNext article is on how recession hiring could boost teacher quality and student learning Top Four Pitfalls of the Hiring Process : NBOA shares a few common mistakes that can be avoided in the hiring process. Recruit and Retain Top Talent : Explore NAIS ' Resource Guide for what you need to help you recruit and retain top talent, including: deciphering what you need to hire for, best practices for the hiring process and how to nurture employee growth. In last week's Academic Leaders Webinar, Brad welcomed our friends and colleagues from the National Business Officers Association, James Palmieri, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Amber Stockham, SPHR, Director of Human Resources Programs. James and Amber shared insights about the hiring landscape for the 21-22 school year and offered guidance on how academic leaders should partner with their business offices to be prepared for a challenging hiring season. Watch a recording here or read Brad's blog on the topic, here ! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

In last week's pulse survey, we asked how many of your hiring practices you're planning to change this year. There was an overwhelming consensus with over 70% of responding schools planning to change four or more practices; only 5% reporting changing a single hiring practice.

Staffing at our schools is the most important factor in schools’ ability both to meet their missions, and to thrive and survive financially. Here are a few things Academic Leaders should be doing right now:

Understanding their school's business model, including revenue and expense drivers, and associated pressure points.
Having conversations around contracts with faculty and staff members about their plans for next school year, and considering setting deadlines for decisions.
Reviewing the list of what has changed and consider what staffing changes of this year should stay going forward.
Taking an inventory of competencies and skills that are needed moving forward, both for your faculty as a whole and for individual faculty members. Discuss these needs with deans and department chairs around job description and desired skills of candidates-- flexibility (expertise, subjects, roles) will be more valuable to your school in the coming years than investing in faculty with specific niche skills.
Remaining in constant communication with fellow Academic Leaders so that, for example, information gained by a department head is relayed to the dean of faculty, especially considering that the hiring process itself will be very different, without an ability to have candidates and finalists on campus.

Ways to Engage:

Hiring During a Pandemic: Most schools won't be able to bring teaching candidates to campus this year so how do you hire from a distance? Our new, one-week course, facilitated by One Schoolhouse Head of School, Brad, will provide you with insights for hiring a faculty member when you never meet them in person. Course begins February 1, 2021.
Interview & Hiring: In this four-hour, On-Demand program, supervisors will learn to engage in meaningful interviews while avoiding legal claims and pitfalls in the hiring process.

Resources to Read:

How the Coronavirus Crisis May Improve Teacher Quality: This EducationNext article is on how recession hiring could boost teacher quality and student learning
Top Four Pitfalls of the Hiring Process: NBOA shares a few common mistakes that can be avoided in the hiring process.
Recruit and Retain Top Talent: Explore NAIS' Resource Guide for what you need to help you recruit and retain top talent, including: deciphering what you need to hire for, best practices for the hiring process and how to nurture employee growth.

In last week's Academic Leaders Webinar, Brad welcomed our friends and colleagues from the National Business Officers Association, James Palmieri, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Amber Stockham, SPHR, Director of Human Resources Programs. James and Amber shared insights about the hiring landscape for the 21-22 school year and offered guidance on how academic leaders should partner with their business offices to be prepared for a challenging hiring season. Watch a recording here or read Brad's blog on the topic, here!