Taylor University aims to elevate campus life through several newly available job positions.
“Taylor approved 14 faculty searches this year,” Provost Jewerl Maxwell said. “These searches were approved in October.”
Maxwell said that Taylor approaches the hiring process in a measured way, taking time to finalize all hiring decisions.
“For academic staff positions, we make decisions when individuals choose to leave the institution,” Maxwell said. “We also consider if growth requires additional staffing.”
Taylor’s hiring guidelines work to align staff on all core aspects of the university’s values: academically and spiritually. Maxwell said Taylor desires candidates who can integrate their advanced academic knowledge with spiritual leadership skills.
Taylor seeks candidates whose lens is not solely formed through academic excellence, but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“All candidates need to have a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have the ability to fully support Taylor’s five Foundationial Documents,” Maxwell said.
Taylor’s five Foundational Documents include: Statement of Faith, Sanctity of Life Statement, Multicultural Philosophy Statement, Human Sexuality Statement and The Life Together Covenant.
“For faculty, we are looking for specific degrees, evidence of teaching effectiveness, evidence of potential for scholarly accomplishments,” Maxwell said.
A candidate can stand out to Taylor through how they lead and impact their students, through the lens of their previous experiences. Their ability to integrate scriptural principles in the discipline that they teach is a strong quality that Taylor’s faculty values.
Taylor pursues contenders who possess the ability to provide students an academically challenging experience. Through a professor’s previous educational experience, Taylor is able to properly discern if they are fit for the university.
Recruitment for faculty and student positions open for a variety of reasons.
“We have some retirements, we have some hires related to new programs and we have some hires related to growth in existing programs,” Maxwell said.
Open student jobs are a way for students to connect with new students.
Ike Fenske, a sophomore cyber security major, transferred to Taylor this spring, hoping to acquire a campus job. A student currently filling the position is preparing to leave, and Fenske was recommended for the job.
“She recommended it to me and said I’d be a good fit,” Fenske said.
Taylor will continue its faculty searches throughout the coming year.
