Group (Cluster) Hire Project Objective

Eastern Michigan University's mission and strategic plan provide a framework that informs decision-making at the university. The University’s vision and values serve as the foundation for strategy, as well as a mechanism to support new ideas, plans, and actions that respond to changing situations. They should assist the university as it evaluates and pursues new opportunities. To that aim, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs now seeks initial applications for group/cluster hiring plans that would bring together up to five faculty positions in a shared area of interest. Thematic-based cluster hiring can rapidly promote a number of key outcomes including diversity, equity, and inclusion across the university, increased knowledge and productivity in key and/or emerging areas of study, ability of the university to address new concerns, or increased capacity to boost research output through sponsored collaborations.

Definition of Group/Cluster Hire

Group, or cluster, hiring should include 3-5 faculty members from different academic units, colleges, centers, or institutions. Group/clusters may include (but are not limited to) hiring in complementary fields centered on a convergent area of research; the development of new academic programs or pathways; coordinated teaching, supervision, or training of student cohorts; and affiliation with an interdisciplinary center or institute that catalyzes intellectual work and community across schools or academic units.

Group/Cluster hires must have a theme

Group/cluster hires must have a common thread or theme that supports the mission, vision, values, and strategic plan of the university. Cluster hires should aim to expand EMU's research, but must also contribute to program development, teaching, and service.

Group/Cluster hires must increase capacity

Building on EMU's strengths, cluster hires should aim to increase our capacity to address current or emerging issues or challenges to our school and community, the country or the planet.

Ensure group/cluster efficacy

Group/Cluster hires are meant to work together collaboratively and there must be a plan to support and encourage this. Will you plan for regular meetings? Will you participate in a FDC program. Consider outlining your proposed outcomes and how you plan to collaborate to achieve them.

Hiring cycle

Clusters can (and are likely to) be assembled over multiple hiring cycles. Complete clusters should strive to be fully formed in three years. Authorized clusters will be evaluated for progress at the conclusion of the second year; clusters that have not been able to successfully hire after two years may be denied funding in future cycles.

Questions to consider when designing a group/cluster hire

What are the current gaps in teaching and research that this would fill?
What internal and external partners will be served who are not currently or inadequately served?
How does this cluster meet predicted obstacles and possibilities, as well as build capacity for problems that have not yet been defined?
How does the hiring of this group/cluster encourage innovation and/or commercialization?
What significant funding possibilities may a collaborative group in this field be able to compete for?
What impact will this group/cluster hire have on student recruitment and retention (undergraduate and graduate)?
How will the group/cluster's benefits outweigh the sum of its individual faculty members?
How will the group/cluster help EMU attain national and international renown?

Questions?

Contact Sherry Bumpus [sbumpus2@emich.edu] for more information about this project.

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