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Advanced Candidate Evaluation: Questions

Emilio Xavier Esposito, Ph.D.

Updated 11/Jul/2022

Source: vignettes/AdvancedCandidateEvaluation_questions.Rmd
AdvancedCandidateEvaluation_questions.Rmd

About the Questions

We believe the base Advanced Candidate Evaluation (ACE) questions provide a solid initial set of inquiries about each candidate. You are free to add to or change these questions to fit better the position you are interviewing for. The survey has three areas:

  • Meeting the Candidate
  • The Candidate’s Presentation
  • Questions about the Candidate

Authentication via an MSU NetID is required for all responses to ensure one response for each candidate from each person. ACE retains the last submitted entry for each candidate-evaluator (sometimes referred to as a respondent) pair. We cannot stress enough the importance we place on privacy related to individuals’ responses. The workflow for analyzing submitted evaluations was designed to ensure that the ACE coordinator, administrator, and search committee members (chair included) do not need to explore the original, identifying data.

The respondent selects the candidates they want to submit comments about and the survey cycles (loops) through the selected candidates.

Important things to remember

  • The italicized and bold text are automatically populated from the defined terms in the Embedded Data.
  • The survey allows responses from individuals that did not meet with the candidate or attend/watch the candidate’s presentation. It is possible that the respondent reviewed the applicant’s package and wants to submit comments.

Introduction Page

Dear Colleague
Thank you for participating in the search for the next Position Title of Unit Name.

This brief evaluation will help the search committee understand your view and impression of the candidates.

The evaluation is open until Survey Close Time on Survey Close Date.

All the best
Committee Chair Name on behalf of the Position Title Search Committee

Data Confidentiality and Destruction Statement: Data collected from this survey will reside in Qualtrics and MSU Sharepoint. We will only present and share data in a summarized form. At the conclusion of the search for a new Position Title, we will delete the survey data within Qualtrics no later than Survey Data Deletion Date. No one from the search committee has access to the raw Qualtrics data.

Authentication Page

Next, you will authenticate with your MSU email address. We require you to authenticate so we can find duplicate responses. We will retain your last set of responses. Please feel free to contact if you want us to combine multiple responses for a single candidate.

About the Respondent Questions

Starting from the top of the following list of positions, please select the position that best fits your current role and completes the statement, "I am a ______."

  • Office of Unit Name staff member
  • Support staff (not part of the Unit Name)
  • University, College, or Department Administrator
  • Faculty member
  • Academic staff
  • Undergraduate student
  • Graduate student

I envision working with the Position Title of Unit Name ______.

  • Closely
  • On several overlapping projects
  • Occasionally
  • Not at all

Select the Candidates You are Providing Comments About

Please select all the Position Title of Unit Name candidates you are providing comments for

  • Candidate 1
  • Candidate 2
  • Candidate 3

Evaluating the Candidate

The following set of questions is for Candidate Name.

NOTE: The survey will cycle (loop) through all the selected candidates. If only one candidate is selected, only one set of questions will be presented.

Meeting with the Candidate

Did you meet with Candidate Name?

  • Yes, individually.
  • Yes, as part of a group.
  • No.

NOTE: The following two questions are only displayed if the respondent indicates they meet with the candidate individually OR as part of a group.

Did Candidate Name adequately respond to your questions or those from the group?

  • Yes
  • No

Please explain.

Text box for comments.

The Candidate’s Presentation

Did you attend or watch the Candidate Name’s presentation?

  • Yes
  • No

NOTE: The following questions are only displayed if the respondent indicates they attended/watched the candidate’s presentation.

Did Candidate Name’s presentation address the topic assigned by the search committee?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Unsure/Maybe

During the Candidate Name’s presentation, did they address the following?

NOTE: These are example questions to provide a starting point. We encourage you to modify these questions as you see fit for your search.

Question Yes No Maybe
Provide a quick overview of how your career path uniquely prepared you for this position.
What is your leadership style and philosophy?
What is your vision for the future of ______ on a B1G campus?
Discuss the importance of ______.

Did Candidate Name adequately respond to questions from the audience?

  • Yes
  • No

Please explain.

Text box for comments.

Questions about the Candidate

Does the Candidate Name demonstrate/possess the experience and knowledge necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Position Title per the job description?

  • Yes
  • No

Please explain.

Text box for comments.

What areas of Strength or Challenge do you recognize Candidate Name possessing?

Text box for comments.

Do you recommend Candidate Name for the position of Position Title?

  • Yes
  • No

Please use a score to indicate your overall evaluation of Candidate Name.

  • 1 (Unacceptable)
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 (Outstanding)

Please feel free to provide additional comments.

Text box for comments.

Provide Comments on Another Candidate

Thank you for your comments on Candidate Name. Would you like to provide comments for another Position Title candidate?

  • Yes
  • No

End of Survey Thank You Page

Thank you again for your input!