05-11-2011, 07:48 PM
rjmacs wrote:
Sure - the area of focus is often designated by the donor. But individual vetting and approval of candidates is nigh-unheard of in accredited institutions. So, it's a matter of the degree of involvement. If the donor had designated the position as the "Koch Chair for Market Freedom and Economic Growth," but left the hiring decisions to the Economics Department, there wouldn't be such a fuss. In this instance, the donor actually wants to approve the candidate who holds the post.
Am i making the distinction clearly? I know sometimes i'm not that effective...
But who makes sure the person hired isn't really a scholar of Marxism with perhaps a favorable view of it? Sure, if there are enough checks and balances in the system the department can be trusted with the decision. I have seen faculty hirings that did not follow hiring guidelines and hired people in areas that did not help the department. I suppose it all comes down to this. If the donor's requirements are onerous the school should simply refuse it. There are many schools, or faculty, who actually pride themselves in not asking or receiving DoD money.