Hire Faculty in Clusters to Cultivate Interdisciplinary Research

Cluster hiring is an effective strategy for institutions to enhance research competitiveness, increase research funding, and obtain high-quality faculty members. When done correctly, cluster hiring can balance departmental hiring needs with larger institutional research strategy. However, successful cluster hiring can often be resource-intensive, involve multiple stakeholders, and require ongoing support. To increase the effectiveness of cluster hiring, senior university leaders must conduct thorough planning and clearly communicate across seven stages of the cluster hiring process.