4.1 Strategies to Enhance the Diversity of the Applicant Pool

It is vital that the hiring department and search committee devote time and resources to develop and implement strategies which will enhance the diversity of the applicant pool. Some strategies include:

• Developing a broad knowledge of the applicable marketplace and where to target the search to yield a diverse applicant pool.
• Considering non-traditional advertising venues.
• Consulting with Missouri State University employees to identify successful strategies and to obtain referrals for prospective applicants who diverse.
• Maintaining ongoing professional contacts with colleagues at other institutions to solicit nominations of well-qualified women and people of color.
• Advertising positions in a variety of publications and with professional organizations that reach diverse populations.
• Personally inviting women and people of color to apply for position openings.
• Identifying professionals and scholars who are women and/or from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and inviting them to recruit and refer diverse candidates.
• Soliciting the names of prospective applicants from caucuses of women and people of color within relevant professional and academic associations.
•  Reviewing applicant pools from prior searches to identify promising candidates who are female and/or from underrepresented groups for current or future searches.

 Utilize the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance listing of Targeted Recruitment Resources.