Search for new American Culture faculty to begin By Tiffany Maggard Daily Staff Reporter In an effort to offer students a more well-rounded and elaborate selection of courses, the Program in American Culture will be conducting an extensive faculty search that could last as long as four years. In the process, program coordinators will seek to recruit scholars who will offer strong contributions to the University's Latino/a, Asian Pacific American and Native Studies programs. "We need to aggressively develop these areas with the highest scholarly caliber," said Richard Candida Smith, director of the Program in American Culture. "One of our goals is to think of the American culture in a multi-global way." Smith said candidates include senior doctoral scholars from other highly regarded universities, including Stanford University and Brown University. Junior doctoral scholars, who have not yet attained tenure, will also be considered. While only senior doctoral scholars are qualified to obtain full-time positions as professors, junior doctoral scholars will be appointed to either associate professor or assistant professor positions. Smith held a luncheon in Tisch Hall yesterday to inform American Culture students about the selection process. The more than 30 students then offered input by voicing their expectations for the new faculty. Some students said they were concerned with the level of experience of prospective faculty members. While the students said they could develop strong academic ties with full-time professors, they said they felt junior doctoral scholars do not have the opportunity to interact on the same level - a circumstance they said is necessary in forming a solid educational experience. "I am very impressed by the American Culture program and its effort to integrate Asian Pacific American studies (into department programs), but I think that because less senior members teaching will make us more detached from one another and our relationships will not be as strong," said Ann Pham, coordinator of University Asian-American Multi-Ethnic Affairs. Students said they are also concerned with the drop in minority faculty in the American Culture program in recent years. "I am concerned with the loss of faculty of color. Perhaps they haven't felt comfortable here," said Kieu-Anh King, a Public Policy graduate student. Smith said a few faculty members have transferred to other universities, but he said he believes most of these cases were related to lifestyle decisions and family issues. Smith said that maintaining a diverse staff is something not only familiar to the University, but to the nation as a whole. "I want to see faculty of color in tenured professors - I want to see them in the Dean's office and in the President's office," Smith said. "We need to think about how we can keep them in an environment that can nurture them." Students will have the opportunity to hear each prospective professor speak on their specialties through guest lecturing during the remainder of winter term and into the fall semester. The students will then be able to assess their impression of the prospective professor candidates and make suggestions to the department in the decision-making process. Despite the students' concerns, Smith said he is confident the new recruits will be fine additions to the department. "I think comparatively speaking, Michigan is at a national position that can be highly desired," he said. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily American Culture department director Richard Smith holds the book he wrote. Smith's department is searching for new faculty to teach department courses. Originally on page 3A in the 1-19-2000 issue of the Daily.