Dual-Career Academic Partner Hire Protocols at UC San Diego

The University of California San Diego recognizes that addressing the needs of dual-career couples is often an essential part of recruiting excellent tenure and tenure-track faculty. We are committed to furthering institutional excellence by providing several services in support of candidates for tenure and tenure-track faculty appointments with academic partner hiring needs.

Guidelines for Investigating Partner Hire Options

Eligibility

In order to be potentially eligible, the primary faculty candidate must have an appointment file in process for a tenure or tenure-track position.

Possible Academic Titles into which Academic Partner Hires Can Be Initiated

In some cases, an academic partner’s qualifications may be suitable for an academic appointment at UC San Diego. Such appointments may be full or part-time, with or without salary. Below are examples of possible titles for academic partner hires:

• Professor (all ranks)
• Teaching Professor (all ranks)
• Professor in Residence (all ranks)
• Adjunct Professor
• Lecturer
• Researcher
• Project Scientist
• Postdoctoral Fellow
• Visiting Scholar
• Academic Coordinator
• Librarian

Timing for Pursuit of Partner Hires

During a search, candidates for faculty positions are considered based on their individual merits without regard to marital or partner status.

Partner hire needs are best addressed after a candidate has been selected as the finalist, when the appointment file preparation has begun. At this point, a department chair may initiate a discussion regarding candidate needs that can be supported by the University.

Funding and Selection

Academic partner hire opportunities are subject to available funding and the interests of related divisions and departments. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis

Possible funding sources for academic partner hires may include the primary department (that of primary faculty member being recruited) and secondary department (that of which the academic partner hire would be requested), as well as the Academic Affairs administration.

Terms of the initial academic partner appointment include type of appointment, duration of funding support, renewal criteria, and other factors that concern the relationship between the primary and secondary departments. All departments or divisions from whom a potential academic partner hire may be requested retain the right to decline an academic partner hire opportunity.

Files prepared for academic partner hires are reviewed with the same rigor and criteria as all campus appointment files. Academic partner hires are contingent upon the accepted appointment and arrival of the primary faculty candidate at UC San Diego.

Outside UC San Diego or Non-Academic Partner Hires

If the partner hire needs are beyond the scope of UC San Diego campus or non-academic, the department chair should refer the candidate to the Partner Opportunities Program (POP) for information about opportunities in non-academic employment or appointments at other colleges and universities. In order to participate, clients must be referred to the Partner Opportunities Program by the primary candidate’s department chair. Departments can request and authorize POP services by completing the request for services form.

1. UC San Diego strives to implement the partner hire program to the greatest extent possible. While some partner hires are made at UC San Diego each year, a partner hire into a campus appointment is not an entitlement.  Every partner hire must meet the qualifications and standard of excellence for the applicable appointment.
2. University policy permits the employment of near relatives in the same department, upon recommendation, if the appointment is justified and in the best interests of the University (APM 520).
3. It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or service in the uniformed services (APM 035).
4. Academic personnel policy requires an open search for most regularly authorized academic appointments. Because partner hiring supports academic excellence, it is recognized by UC San Diego as a justification for a search waiver.