Guidance on the Annual Faculty Recruitment Plan Cycle
Updated 10:10 a.m. September 1, 2026
The Office of the Provost conducts an annual Faculty Recruitment Plan process for colleges to request Tenured, Tenure-Eligible, Continuing, and Continuing-Eligible faculty positions. This process aligns faculty hiring requests with the University’s All Funds Budget Planning Process and provides a coordinated approach to reviewing and approving faculty positions.
Annual Process
1. Develop the College Faculty Recruitment Plan
Using the Faculty Recruitment Plan Excel template provided by the Office of the Provost, colleges should complete the College-Level Recruitment for each position requested.
The plan should include, as applicable:
- Position information, including rank and faculty type
- Proposed salary
- Funding source(s)
- Startup funding
- Space requirements
- A narrative justification for each requested position
Colleges should ensure that all requested positions and supporting information are complete and accurate before submission.
2. Submit the Recruitment Plan
Submit the completed Faculty Recruitment Plan Excel file through Arizona Cultivate by the annual deadline.
The Faculty Recruitment Plan process occurs once each year with the due date in early December and is coordinated with the All Funds Budget Planning Process.
3. Review and Approval
The Office of the Provost reviews the college recruitment plans as part of the annual budget planning process.
Decisions regarding requested positions are communicated to the colleges during the spring All Funds Budget meetings.
4. Initiate Approved Searches
Once a position is approved, the hiring plan becomes active, and the college may begin the recruitment process for the approved position.
Colleges should work closely with Human Resources (HR) to ensure that all required steps are completed and that the recruitment process follows applicable University policies and procedures. Recruitment activity should be initiated through the University of Arizona’s Talent system.
For additional guidance and resources, please refer to the Faculty Affairs resources on recruitment and hiring.
5. Faculty Recruitment from Other Institutions
As a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Arizona honors the April 30 deadline for the recruitment of faculty members from other institutions.
Colleges and departments are asked to make reasonable efforts to honor the intent of this policy when conducting faculty recruitment.
Annual Timeline at a Glance
| Timing | Activity |
| Early December | Colleges submit Faculty Recruitment Plans through Arizona Cultivate. |
| Winter | Recruitment plans are reviewed as part of the All Funds Budget Planning Process. |
| Spring | Hiring plan decisions and approvals are communicated during All Funds Budget meetings. |
| After Approval | Colleges may initiate recruitment for approved positions in coordination with Human Resources (HR) through the University of Arizona’s Talent system. |
| April 30 | AAU deadline for recruiting faculty members from other institutions. |
Contact: provost@arizona.edu