I think big outside contributions to hiring decisions are often viewed as violating academic good practice. See, for instance, controversies surrounding Koch Foundation-driven hiring to various schools. Such schemes are also liable to getting co-opted by the research interests of the school. So alternatives, like having impact-focused professors leading hiring from the inside, or spinning up brand new schools may be more promising.
Thanks, Ryan. You make a good point! The idea of external interest groups hijacking academic departments doesn’t sound like a good precendent to set. At the least, I would weaken my proposal’s Point 3, ruling out these EA hires taking part in their department’s future hiring decisions. They shouldn’t have the same privileges as other department faculty members, though they should be able to advise PhD students and set up research groups.
I think big outside contributions to hiring decisions are often viewed as violating academic good practice. See, for instance, controversies surrounding Koch Foundation-driven hiring to various schools. Such schemes are also liable to getting co-opted by the research interests of the school. So alternatives, like having impact-focused professors leading hiring from the inside, or spinning up brand new schools may be more promising.
Thanks, Ryan. You make a good point! The idea of external interest groups hijacking academic departments doesn’t sound like a good precendent to set. At the least, I would weaken my proposal’s Point 3, ruling out these EA hires taking part in their department’s future hiring decisions. They shouldn’t have the same privileges as other department faculty members, though they should be able to advise PhD students and set up research groups.