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Sunshine Recruitment

This page covers the Florida Sunshine Law in regards to recruitment and is designed to provide information to ensure compliance.

A search committee must be utilized for the hiring process of any position at the Director level or higher and in the hiring process of any ranked Faculty position, other than Visiting, Adjuncts, Instructors, Lecturers, and Post-Doctoral Associates. A search committee may, but is not required to, be utilized in the hiring process of any position below the Director level or of any ranked Faculty position, other than Visiting, Adjuncts, Instructors, Lecturers, and Post-Doctoral Associates. Human Resources has a comprehensive list of Position Class codes and Titles requiring recruitment under the Florida Sunshine Law.

A search committee under the Florida Sunshine Law has decision-making authority to screen applicants and determine which applicants to reject from further consideration. The search committee may develop selection criteria, rank applicants, identify interviewees, and select finalists. There are requirements regarding public notice of the meeting, interviews, taking minutes, etc.

Any recruitment effort that utilizes a search committee (even where a search committee is not required) must comply with the Florida Sunshine Law meeting requirements. The Florida Sunshine Law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. Virtually all state and local collegial public bodies are covered by the open meetings requirements, with the exception of the judiciary and the state Legislature which has its own constitutional provision relating to access. The Florida Sunshine Law is governed under Florida Statute 286, Public Business; Miscellaneous Provisions.

During any meeting of a search committee, Robert's Rules of Order should be followed in order to conduct an orderly meeting. A skilled Search Committee Chairperson allows all members to voice their opinions in an orderly manner so that everyone in the meeting can hear and be heard. The tips and reminders outlined will help Search Committee Chairpersons run successful and productive meetings without being run over or running over others.

Benefits of a Sunshine Recruitment

  • The recruitment committee has the authority to screen applicants.
  • The recruitment committee can determine which applicants to accept or reject from consideration.
  • The recruitment committee can rank, rate, cull, and suggest applicants for hire.

Important Sunshine Recruitment Information

  • All meetings must be open to the public.
  • All meetings must be reasonably publicized at least seven days in advance on the UWF Public Meetings webpage. Also, if two or more committee members will be present at any meeting, event, meal, forum, etc. and the candidate will be present, then the meeting, event, meal, forum, etc. must be publicly noticed.
  • All decisions must be made publicly.
  • Committee members cannot discuss or communicate outside of a publicly noticed meeting on any issue to be brought forward to the committee for decision.
  • Minutes must be taken at all search committee meetings and interviews.
  • Recruitment committee members are responsible for taking minutes and submitting the 7-day public notice. An administrative/clerical staff member does not need to be assigned to a Sunshine Recruitment,

The following templates may be used for the recording of the meeting minutes.

Search Committee for Sunshine Recruitments

  • Composed of a minimum of three individuals.
  • Hiring Official to keep in mind the demographics of the search committee.
  • May include members of the hiring department or other departments, community members, or students who have relevant knowledge of the functions and requirements of the vacant position.
  • An individual who serves on the search committee may not apply for the vacant position.

Hiring Official

  • The Hiring Official is responsible for the integrity of the recruitment.
  • The Hiring Official creates the search committee and designates the Search Committee Chair.
  • The Hiring Official provides the charge to the search committee during the initial noticed search committee meeting.
  • In a Sunshine Recruitment, the search committee plays an active role in candidate selection. At the conclusion of the Sunshine Recruitment, the Hiring Official is the person responsible for making the hiring decision.

Human Resources is available to discuss your search and assist you in determining whether to conduct a search under the Florida Sunshine Law guidelines by emailing jobs@uwf.edu or calling 850.474.2694.

Types of Recruitment
Type of Recruitment University Work Force Staff Faculty
Sunshine Recruitment (conducted under the Florida Sunshine Law and requires a recruitment committee) Director and Above Dean and Above Ranked Faculty
Recruitment (not conducted under the Florida Sunshine Law and does not require a committee; a committee can be used if desired)* Associate Director and Below Visiting Faculty, Adjunct, Instructor, Lecturer, & Postdoctoral Associates

*If you choose to have a search committee, the recruitment will need to be in the Sunshine.
Note: OPS and Student searches are not required to have search committees.

Sunshine Recruitments - Helpful Files