Screening committee Chairperson Guide
1
Thank you for your commitment to the success of South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC)
in this hiring decision by serving as screening committee chairperson. This role is both a great
responsibility and an exciting opportunity for adding a new staff member to our campus
community.
We will be helping your committee to succeed by taking the time to thoroughly prepare for the
recruitment process from beginning to end. This preparation will ensure the best possible outcomes
for you, the applicants, and the college.
Please be mindful of SPSCC’s Strategic Plan, Mission, and Vision by taking a moment to review each
of these and the Core Themes on the college website.
It is the goal of the HR Office to aid in the college’s commitment to cultivating an equitable
environment by embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into:
Job descriptions,
Position announcements,
Recruitment strategies, and
Screening/hiring criteria.
Prior to the position announcement being posted, the screening committee chair is responsible for:
1. Meeting with the HR Office:
a. Review the job description for:
i. Any artificial barriers to recruiting the broadest possible pool of candidates.
ii. Consider that equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments are included.
iii. Ensure that Washington State classification guidelines are met (if needed).
b. Develop supplemental questions for the application process to identify key criteria
for the candidate to expand upon.
c. Develop an effective outreach/recruitment plan to ensure a diverse candidate pool.
d. Set dates necessary for the recruitment process (closing, screening, interviews, and
tentative start date).
2. Soliciting volunteers to serve as members of the screening committee. The committee should
consist of:
a. Diverse individuals who represent our college community and stakeholders.
b. Individuals from within and outside the position department, and possibly the
outside community, who the position will work closely with.
c. Those who have the time to commit to the dates identified for the screening process,
including at least two committee meetings in addition to the interview dates.
d. Individuals who are willing to complete implicit bias training to interrupt
unconscious bias during the search process.
3. Ensuring committee members attend the initial meeting scheduled by HR to:
a. Confirm all committee members have a thorough understanding of the needs for
position.
b. Identify dates of availability for first interviews.
i. Schedule desired interview locations so that HR can notify candidates.