Did you know that any faculty and staff member at TCU may be invited to serve on a selection committee? It is your opportunity to play an important role in TCU’s best practice of inclusive excellence in the hiring process.

To serve on a selection committee, you must have completed TCU’s Selection Committee Training. Faculty and staff still have three opportunities this semester to complete the 90-minute virtual training session. 

“Diversity leads to innovation, and innovation leads to better outcomes for our university,” said Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, Ph.D., provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “A more diverse workforce provides a wider range of perspectives, knowledge and ideas. At TCU, our mission is to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. If we are to instill these qualities in our students, we must start with ourselves and ensure TCU faculty and staff support an inclusive workplace, beginning with the hiring process.”

Offered virtually, the training emphasizes best practices in the search process. Employees can sign up by following instructions in the Q & A below.

“Selection Committee training is a partnership with Human Resources and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion,” Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, interim chief inclusion officer and director, diversity and inclusion initiatives, said. “This training will guide participants to recognize personal biases so they can make more informed decisions in the hiring process.”

Below, Rachelle Blackwell, assistant vice chancellor for Human Resources, answers some questions about Selection Committee Training.

When are the next trainings?

RB: For the spring semester, we scheduled five virtual opportunities for TCU faculty and staff to attend training. There are three sessions remaining:

• 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 24
• 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 25

How can employees sign up?

RB: Anyone interested in attending may sign up through my.tcu.edu > Employee Center > Training & Professional Development. Select the activity from the learning library, pick a time slot and then book.

Is training mandatory?

RB: Selection Committee Training is mandatory for all members of search committees for faculty and staff positions at TCU. 

What will participants learn during the training?

RB: The interactive training includes information on search process steps — and missteps — and strategies to overcome implicit bias in the search and hiring process.

Why is this important?

RB: Selection Committee Training helps dispel myths and correct the legacy way of thinking related to the selection and hiring process. The training is central to the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

What do you hope is the biggest takeaway for participants? 

RB: The training will give them guidance and strategies that will assist with diversifying applicant pools and eliminating biases. It also will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues related to the hiring process.