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COVID-19 and Interfolio Faculty Search (FS)

Tracking COVID-19 Impact through Interfolio FS

OAP has developed a few new features in UW Interfolio Faculty Search system to help units track the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recruitment efforts.

New Position Statuses
Two new position status options – “Search Delayed – COVID-19” and “Search Cancelled – COVID-19” – are accessible via the Status drop-down menu near the top of the position page. While use of the position status feature is optional, we hope these new options will help units to better monitor and analyze recruitments during this challenging time.

New Disposition Code
Additionally, a new COVID-19-related disposition code has been created and added to the disposition matrix. Units can use the new “Review Suspended – COVID-19” code to disposition applicants who were still under consideration when the recruitment was cancelled due to COVID-19. Any applicants who were reviewed and taken out of consideration prior to the cancellation should be dispositioned using the standard disposition codes. All applicants need to be assigned a disposition code before a search is closed with or without hire, or canceled due to COVID-19.

For UW Interfolio Faculty Search resources, visit the user guides and our newly updated Interfolio FAQ page on the OAP website.

UW Establishes New Professorial Teaching Track

Overview

In April, the University of Washington’s voting-eligible faculty approved legislation to amend the UW Faculty Code and establish a new professorial teaching track. Select UW lecturers, senior lecturers, and principal lecturers who meet specific eligibility criteria set forth in the approved legislation will convert to assistant teaching professor, associate teaching professor, and teaching professor ranks, respectively. Not all lecturer titles are eligible to convert, so units should not notify faculty or otherwise alter appointment/reappointment letters at this time. The Office of Academic Personnel (OAP) is working with the Integrated Service Center (ISC) to plan for and centrally-manage the conversion of eligible academic personnel into this new track with the goal of completing the conversion on September 16, 2020.

Planning for Recruitment

Units who prioritize as a critical hire the continuation of an active competitive recruitment for a Lecturer Full-time, Senior Lecturer Full-time, or Senior Lecturer Part-time, must include the proposed hire on their 2020-21 hiring plan submission. This step must be taken regardless of whether or not it was a requirement on their 2019-20 hiring plan. Such recruitments should be included in the hiring plan request using the currently recruited lecturer title(s). Until approved on your 2020-21 hiring plan, these recruitments remain subject to the provost’s restricted hiring protocols as communicated to deans and chancellors.

Units who wish to recruit in the newly created professorial teaching track (assistant teaching professor, associate teaching professor, teaching professor) must include the proposed hires on their 2020-21 hiring plan, which is subject to review and approval by the provost.

In the coming months, OAP will follow up with more details about how the conversion will work, how to approach new professorial teaching track hires, and what academic units can do to support a smooth transition.

Tax update for J-1 Exchange Visitors

J-1 exchange visitors (and any J-2 dependents) who were in the United States during 2019 must file paperwork with the IRS even if they had no U.S. income or were covered by a tax treaty, and even if they are no longer in the country.

Please inform the exchange visitors in your department that they may use GLACIER Tax Prep, a free, secure web-based program that prepares the appropriate forms and provides step-by-step instructions and assistance for foreign nationals who are nonresidents for tax purposes. GLACIER Tax Prep is available through International Student Services on their Tax Information page, and will remain available through at least July of this year to reflect delayed tax filing deadlines. GLACIER can be accessed without an active UW NetID.

Please note that according to the Department of State, J-1 exchange visitors who do not meet the IRS definition of “resident alien” are not eligible to receive the $1,200 Recovery Rebates distributed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

ISO staff do not give tax advice and are unable to answer even basic tax questions. J-1 exchange visitors can contact the IRS for further information, or use a private tax preparation service if they so choose. The IRS maintains a specific page for J-1 exchange visitors.