The University of Maine recognizes the importance of accommodating dual career partners in attracting and retaining a quality workforce. The University community also recognizes the ways in which dual career partners can enrich the campus culture. Because dual-career partnerships often involve employment needs or opportunities across units, University-level policy is required. The following guidelines govern domestic partner accommodations at The University of Maine.
All candidates in a job search as well as University employees have a right to inquire about opportunities and procedures for partner hires. Equal Opportunity policy dictates that such inquiries will not influence hiring or promotion decisions.
When any candidate or employee inquires about employment opportunities for a Partner, the Chair/Director of his or her unit will request a copy of the partner’s curriculum vitae and other relevant materials. This information will then be forwarded to the appropriate administrator and department/unit in which the accompanying partner is seeking employment. The Office of Equal Opportunity may also be contacted for information and assistance.
An accompanying partner, like any other candidate, must be systematically reviewed by the hiring department or academic unit. If that unit believes the accompanying partner has appropriate credentials and has skills that are compatible with the department’s needs and mission, they may request that the accompanying partner be considered for the University’s Opportunity Hire Program.
University policy ordinarily requires a national search for faculty and professional appointments of more than seven months. The Opportunity Hire Program, however, includes a process for requesting a search waiver and/or single or multi-year financial support for highly qualified individuals who can make a unique contribution to the University and its strategic plan. Criteria for granting waiver and funding requests include:
- Qualifications of the individual proposed, including likelihood of future success (promotion and tenure, where applicable)
- Relevance of the hire to the university’s strategic priorities
- Agreement of the hiring unit for the requested appointment
- Degree to which department/college funds will support the position over time
- Rationale for waiving the normal search requirement, including the employment of partners of prospective and current employees.
Questions about the Opportunity Hire Program should be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity.
Other alternative for partners include the following:
A partner of a finalist in a University search may request an interview for another open University position as long as they meet the published qualifications. If a search committee chair receives such a request, the Office of Equal Opportunity should be contacted.
Faculty partners in the same academic discipline may ask to be considered for a joint appointment. The university of Maine now has several partners who are successfully sharing one or one and one-half positions. In such cases, the concerned department must determine whether both individuals have appropriate credentials and have the potential to become tenured members of the department.
This appointment sharing policy also applies to professional employees and administrators
Partners of candidates who have received tentative job offers may seek the services of the Career Center, Human Resources, Equal Opportunity, or the Alumni Association in searching for appropriate employment opportunities off campus.
While The University of Maine recognizes the value of promoting opportunities for dual career partners, and has established these policies to help secure this value, it cannot guarantee employment to anyone simply on the basis of the policy.
Approved by President Hoff, August 2002