The hiring processes currently occurring in some departments have brought to light one of the unequivocally good policies here at William Jewell College: involving students in the hiring of new professors. The College’s tendency is to invite a short-listed candidate to teach a mock class and to present research to both students and faculty. The faculty members in the relevant department solicit students’ attendance at such events and request feedback about the candidate—feedback which presumably factors into the greater hiring process. In addition, some departments facilitate interaction between the candidate and students without faculty members present. This  gives students a glimpse at the more relaxed and perhaps more genuine candidate.
We at the Monitor appreciate this policy because it provides a role in the professor-hiring process to those who are most affected by the final decision: the students. Students are the ones who will interact most with the new professor (associate, assistant or otherwise). Students will be taught by and have their work graded by whomever the College hires. Students will expect to acquire significant skills and experiences from their interactions with this person. These are far more important matters than who will be your colleague and sit next to you at faculty meetings and events, such as Opening Convocation and Graduation.
This is not to downplay the important role faculty members play in such decisions. Faculty members likely know better than students the skills a good professor needs or what emphasis each department is currently lacking. Faculty members know of some potential benefits for students to find in a new professor. Again, however, it is clear that such hiring decisions affect the students more than members of the faculty, implying that students ought to have a say in who is hired.
While this policy is commendable, it can be effective only if students are willing to participate in the candidate screening process. We at the Monitor wish to encourage students to attend meet-and-greets with potential professors and sit in for their sample lectures. By doing so, students may not only improve their experiences within a department but also affect the quality of education for future Cardinals.
Think about some of your favorite professors. Now think about some of the factors that potentially earned them their job offers at William Jewell. The person that is delivering the mock lecture with gusto could be a favorite teacher in years to come. Whether or not student opinion is a major factor in the hiring process is at least partially determined by students’ actively seeking involvement in the hiring process. We commend the College for including students in this process, but urge students to take advantage of the opportunity to make their voices heard.