Application Process

The following items comprise the required components of the proposal for the SHI-Cluster Hire program. The designated faculty leader will be responsible for entering data and uploading documents in the campus online system on behalf of all units participating in the strategic theme. Proposals should be submitted via the proposal management system.

Cluster Theme/Title – Provide a short descriptive title of the strategic theme.
Overview – Provide a brief overview of the SHI-Cluster Hire area of scholarship, including its connection with campus priorities identified in the strategic plan, how it connects to existing strengths, and how it enhances the reputation and visibility of our campus.
Cluster Units – List the participating units (departments, schools, colleges, and centers/institutes).
Proposal Description – Address each of the following questions:
How would the proposed SHI-Cluster Hires enhance faculty strength across all participating units, including its diversity goals and intellectual priorities?
How would the SHI-Cluster Hires enhance curricular offerings and the ability of participating units to address student needs and experiences, especially for undergraduates?
What are the possible external funding opportunities and resources that the SHI-Cluster Hires can compete for and access?
How would the hiring units collaborate to ensure that the SHI-Cluster Hires take full advantage of the synergy among the relevant faculty members through the hiring process and beyond? Describe strategies for mentoring, building support networks, and enhancing the engagement of faculty members with each other.
How would the hired faculty members (and current faculty members who fit the strategic theme) build and sustain their collaboration and engagement with each other to ensure that the SHI-Cluster Hire program fulfills its promise?
Letters of Support – The application should include the letters of support:
Department Letter of Support (required) – Letters from the executive officers of each participating unit must be included. Each letter must include:
A statement confirming support for the SHI-Cluster Hire strategic theme.
Description of anticipated additional costs associated with faculty recruitment that will be incurred (e.g., expected salary beyond the maximum amount for each rank, start-up packages, etc.) and the unit’s ability to fund those costs.
The unit’s plan to sustain the salary cost after the matching support through the SHI-Cluster Hire program expires.
College Letter of Support (required) – A brief statement from the dean of each participating college must be included. Each letter must confirm support and indicate if the cluster were selected, the college will include the position in the upcoming academic year’s hiring plan.
Center/Institute Letter of Support (if applicable) – A letter from the executive officer of participating centers/institutes indicating support for the cluster.

Timeline

SHI-Cluster Hire proposals are due April 15, 2023. Approved units will be notified mid-May to allow them to begin their search process as soon as possible. We anticipate approving 3-5 clusters, with each approved cluster including 3 to 6 tenure-stream faculty positions to be filled beginning in AY 2024-2025. In limited circumstances, off-cycle requests may be considered, but it is preferable proposals be assessed collectively.

Funding Allocation

Awards will take the form of either non-recurring salary support OR contributions to a start-up package. Upon approval of their proposal, units will be asked to specify the type and level of support they seek for the SHI-Cluster Hire position.

Salary Awards

The Office of the Provost will provide non-recurring support for tenure-stream faculty as follows:

For an Assistant Professor recruit, support will be for the starting salary up to $100,000 for a period of up to five years or the end of the probationary period, whichever comes first.
For an Associate Professor recruit, support will be for the starting salary up to $125,000 for a period of up to three years.
For a Full Professor recruit, support will be for the starting salary up to $150,000 for a period of up to three years.

Units will be responsible for making up any difference between the campus commitment and the actual starting salary during the funding period, and the entire salary cost when the funding period ends.

Start-up Awards

As an alternative to salary support, the Office of the Provost will, on request, provide non-recurring equipment and lab renovation support as follows:

For an Assistant Professor recruit, maximum start-up support is $500,000.
For an Associate Professor recruit, maximum start-up support is $375,000.
For a Full Professor recruit, maximum start-up support is $450,000.

Application Review

Cluster hire proposals will be reviewed by the SHI-Cluster Hire Advisory Ad Hoc Committee composed of select faculty and college- and campus-level executive officers and chaired by the Acting Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Final approval rests with the Provost.

Additional Information

This SHI-Cluster Hire program does not preclude the Targets of Opportunity Program (TOP), which is still in effect and offers recurring salary support for TOP candidates identified through the traditional search process. However, funding from both the TOP and SHI-Cluster Hire programs cannot be combined for an individual candidate. The TOP Search Waiver Process will continue to be available for units that wish to pursue outstanding TOP-eligible candidates outside of the SHI-Cluster Hire program. The Dual Career Program is also still in effect, but funding from both Dual Career and SHI-Cluster Hire programs cannot be combined for a single candidate.

Questions about the SHI-Cluster Hire Program? Please contact Amy Santos, Acting Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at rsantos@illinois.edu or 217-333-6677.