Search Committee Assistance
If you are conducting a job search and would like your candidate to meet with members(s) of the affinity groups, please complete the request form so the Office of Access and Opportunity can assist with process. Please do not reach out directly to the affinity groups.
The Process
Each group associated with this process has different responsibility in the process.
Seach Committee Responsibility
A search committee member should submit a request form to the Office of Access and Opportunity after consulting with the candidate about what, if any, groups the candidate would like to meet with. Multiple affinity groups can be selected, however, the form only needs to be submitted once for each candidate.
Access and Opportunity Responsibility
Once the request is received, a staff member from our office will contact the search committee member to inquire about additional information and then contact chairs of the requested affinity group(s).
The Office of Access and Opportunity will forward the names of the volunteers from the affinity groups to the search committee representative.
Affinity Group Responsibility
Affinity group chairs are responsible for identifying volunteers from their groups and sharing contact information (name/e-mail address) to the Office of Access and Opportunity.
Time
The Office of Access and Opportunity will make every effort to respond within approximately 48 hours of the request. Beyond the initial outreach, the Office of Access and Opportunity will have limited control over the amount of time it will take to identify and confirm a volunteer from the affinity group(s). Additionally, submission of the request form does not guarantee a representative from the affinity group(s) will be available.
Affinity groups are self-governed; members participate on a voluntary basis and availability may not match the time frame of search committees.
If the interview schedule is not yet finalized, or the search committee does not have clear dates/times to provide, the process of identifying and communicating times can lead to the process taking longer and feeling constrained for all involved.
Why through Access and Opportunity
The Office of Access and Opportunity serves as an intermediary, in addition to assisting with receiving prompt responses. Our office partners with all colleges, departments, and units across each of the Kansas State University campuses. We are in contact with the Salina and Olathe leadership, regularly, leading to greater opportunities to communicate more efficiently.
K-State Human Resources (HR) also appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with affinity groups and identify available volunteers for opportunities to engage with prospective candidates.