Policy and Procedure on Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring

June 26, 2024

The URI Board of Trustees has approved a new Policy on Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring. 

The purpose of the new policy is to merge multiple policies administered by the Office of Human Resource Administration and to provide guidance and requirements for the recruitment, selection, and hiring of employees at the University of Rhode Island. 

The new policy will be effective July 1, 2024.

The Office of Human Resource Administration is implementing procedures for the new policy and the Office of Equal Opportunity is implementing a Civil Rights Compliance Toolkit. 

A notable change following the introduction of the new policy is an exemption from the requirement to use a search committee when conducting a search to fill non-classified staff positions below Salary Grade 10. While non-classified staff positions below Salary Grade 10 will not require a search committee, they will still require a search.

The new policy provides clarification on the following topics:

  • Hiring Manager and Search Chair roles by providing a definition of a Hiring Manager and clearly defining responsibilities within the search process;
  • Appointment Letter requirements with regard to exceptions and special conditions;
  • Acting and Interim Appointments; and
  • Executive search firms with regard to when they may be used, as well as guidelines and responsibilities associated with engaging an executive search firm.

The new policy also reinstitutes the requirement for search procedures training.

The Office of Human Resource Administration and the Office of Equal Opportunity have collaborated to introduce new training in Brightspace titled Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring Training. This training will include a module on navigating talent acquisition activities in alignment with search procedures, and a module on civil rights compliance during each stage of the full-cycle recruitment process. Both modules will be available on July 5. 

In accordance with the Policy on Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring, search committee members must have completed the Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring Training within two years prior to the start of a search.

While the policy is effective July 1, the training requirement will not be enforced until Oct 1. As of Oct. 1, committee members must have completed the training prior to the start of a search.

Employees who need an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) reasonable accommodation to complete this training should contact the Office of Human Resource Administration.

The University Policy and Procedures on Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring are available on the University Policies website. The University Civil Rights Compliance Toolkit is available on the Office of Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Compliance website. 

Thank you.

Office of Human Resource Administration