Recruiting a world-class, diverse faculty and staff is a top priority at Cornell. With increasing frequency, candidates have an equally talented spouse or partner also seeking employment. This is a concern for most universities across the country, but it can present an even greater dilemma for those universities located in smaller employment markets such as Ithaca.
To assist these highly qualified couples that face the dual career challenge, Provost Biddy Martin in 2001 approved creation of the Dual Career Program within the Recruitment and Employment Center in the Office of Human Resources. The Dual Career Program offers job search assistance, information and support to dual-career spouses or partners. Although there is no guarantee of job placement, dual-career consultant Betsy Hillman facilitates a client's job search through networking, informational interviewing and job referral, both at Cornell and in the community. In addition, she assists in obtaining non-employment related information to acquaint dual-career clients with the Ithaca area.
A spouse or partner is eligible for Dual Career Program services if the recruited spouse or partner either holds, or is being recruited for, a Cornell tenured or tenure-track position; holds, or is being recruited for, a Cornell "Band H" or higher staff position with a term of at least two years, or is part of a targeted recruitment effort by Cornell. Additionally, the accompanying partner must be considering relocation or have relocated to the Ithaca area within the past two years.
The dual-career consultant can work with clients at various stages. In the recruitment phase, she can meet with clients to discuss potential job opportunities. On occasion, a position for a dual-career spouse or partner can be identified and secured at this stage. In other instances, a couple may already have relocated to Ithaca and the accompanying partner is beginning a job search. The dual-career consultant can then arrange for informational interviews with people in the client's field throughout Cornell and the community, as well as identify the accompanying spouse or partner to potential employers. Many local employers, recognizing the importance of recruiting and retaining dual-career couples, do their best to ensure full consideration for dual-career partner applicants.
The curriculum vitae of dual-career partners interested in an academic position at Cornell are forwarded to Robert Harris, vice provost for diversity and faculty development, for further attention. Vice Provost Harris then works in conjunction with deans, department chairs and others to identify and pursue appropriate opportunities.
Cornell also supports dual-career partners, as well as the Ithaca community, through the newly formed Independent Consultants Network (ICON). The administration at Cornell recognized that many spouses or partners of Cornell faculty and staff are independent consultants, so the Dual Career Program created and facilitates ICON to provide area consultants with an opportunity to connect with each other as well as with potential clients. For more information, contact Betsy Hillman.
Cornell is committed to the recruitment of a high quality and diverse faculty and staff. Offering dual-career services to couples has a positive impact in any recruitment effort and, to the extent that it facilitates diversity recruitment, it is additionally valuable. The Dual Career Program and the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development will continue to work together toward that goal.
The Dual Career Program URL is: http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/recruitmentPrograms/dualProgramOverview.html.
This column was written by Betsy Hillman, dual-career consultant for the Recruitment and Employment Center in the Office of Human Resources, and Robert Harris, vice provost for diversity and faculty development.
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