Behind the Scenes
in

** Personnel *

By LES WAY

When Douglas College opened its class-
rooms for the 1973-74 semester, 23 new
faces appeared among full-time faculty
and support staff. Of this total, 1l
(4 males, 7 females) were replacements
for instructors and staffers who have
moved on to new challenges; the re-
maining 12 have filled new positions
created by the College's expanding
services to its communities. Also on
the increase is the number of Student
Assistants, with 85 now working in
various areas on the three campuses.

The current faculty roll totals 227,
of whom 90 are part-time.

These statistics pose intriguing and
timely questions:

Where do new faculty come from?
What process of evaluation and
selection lies behind their
appointments?

Neil Hill, Supervisor of Personnel
Administration, recalls that in the
three years since Douglas was founded
his department has processed applica-
tions received from all over the world.
Among the countries represented, in
addition to Canada, are France, Germany,
Egypt, Malaysia, U.S.A., Britain, and
several African nations.

"It is interesting to note," Neil adds,
“that a large number of these appli-
cations have come from Canadians who
are working abroad but who are anxious
to return to their homeland to continue
their educational careers."

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

Haw does Personnel go about the hiring
of either part-time or full-time per-
sonnel?

 

 

Neil Hill is quick to emphasize that,
contrary to common assumption, his
office does not hire anyone. Rather, >
"Our responsibility is to facilitate

the processing of applications and

the final decision-making. We never
make the final decision." The ulti-
mate appointment to faculty is made by
the Principal after initial review of
applications by the particular depart-
ment chairman, and following interviews
with finalists by the Dean of Curriculum
and Instruction. The Dean then submits
his recommendation of the most qualified
candidate to the Principal.

 

Underlying these all-important final
steps is a network of year-round system-
atization and administration in the
Personnel Office. The starting point

is the advertising of vacancies, both
within and without the College in accor-
dance with Douglas's policy. Contact is
also maintained with the local Canada
Manpower Centre for likely candidates.
Surprisingly, since the College's in-
ception in 1970, 5,816 applications have
been received for faculty vacancies.
Heaviest response was in the first year 2
(3,000), compared with 1,200 in 1971;
1,000 in 1972; and 580 to date this year.

"INSTANT REFERENCE" SYSTEM

Neil describes the progress of applica-
tions. from the moment of arrival thus:

"all applications are immediately re-
viewed to determine the subject areas
for which they are to be considered.
Numbered application files are then
opened up, each number being punched on
two or more cards identifying the appli-
cant's residence location and his or
her field of academic interest to the
College.

“When a department -- for example,
English and Communications -- seeks a
part-time instructor, we refer to three
application record cards: one having
the punched-out numbers of applicants
who are interested in teaching English;
the second indicating those wishing to
teach part-time; the third recording
those residing in the Greater Vancouver
area. By placing one of these on top
of the other two on a fluorescent