As of June 2023
- Exceptions to the search requirements are made for the specific circumstances below:
- Essential colleagues of a newly recruited Professor. Individuals who are eligible for the “essential colleague” exception would be those who have actively worked with the recruited Professor and are proposed for appointment within one (1) year of the recruited Professor’s start date at HMS/HSDM. A list of essential colleagues should be submitted to the OFA at the time of offer acceptance. Although no search is required, the candidate’s rank is not guaranteed and will be reviewed by the appropriate appointment committee.
- Spouse of a newly recruited faculty member. If the recruited faculty member receives an annual (Instructor) or term (Assistant or Associate Professor) appointment, the spouse cannot be reviewed for a rank higher than a term appointment. Documentation of the search for the recruited faculty member will be required.
- Appointments of faculty below the rank of professor, whose commitment to HMS/HSDM meets the Part-time criteria, see section 4.2.
Searches are highly recommended, although not required.
- Appointment to the rank of Professor in Residence, fulfilling a short-term need of the institution, see section 7.4
- Harvard Clinical and Research Fellows moving directly to faculty positions after one (1) year or more in a Harvard training program.
- Target of Opportunity, see section 5.6
Exception to the requirement for a search does not eliminate the requirement for a complete evaluation of the candidate for appointment to the proposed rank. If a full-time or part-time ladder faculty member or a full-time non-ladder faculty member has been continuously appointed at HMS/HSDM for more than 6 years and no search documents were requested and provided at the time of prior promotion or appointment, search documentation will not be requested for subsequent appointments or promotions.