In response to Mr. Shuman's comment, I wouldn't know about
laws in SOUTH Dakota - that's not where I'm from (sorry -
hot button, that).  As regards Mr. Shuman's and Ms.
Wageman's responses, I must explain that the North Dakota
law to which I referred requires that state agencies (which
we are) give a preference in hiring to North Dakota citizens
who are veterans of certain conflicts and who meet the
minimum qualifications.  That means if I advertise a
position as requiring a BA with a preference for an MA, a
vet with a BA and the proper service period can bump a
non-vet, or anyone from out of state, who has a graduate
degree or other, "better," qualifications.  We have a lot
more vets in North Dakota than museum workers or folks with
graduate level museum-related degrees.

We certainly DO require experience, and rate higher for it
to the extent which we can.  Writing job requirements and
advertising is not always a simple matter, at least for
public sector, governmental museums such as ours.  Perhaps
private, nonprofit museums can hire whomever they please,
but I can't.

We ask for transcripts to provide the applicant has the
degree claimed, a writing sample done during the interview
we do, references which we DO check, and a variety of other
things to help us make the best possible choice when we
hire.  We have made mistakes, and have paid dearly for them
over the years.  Seems to me that the "self-learner" needs
to prove to me that he/she is qualified.  Taking the
attitude that I'm at fault for requiring an advanced degree
as a simple, quick way for me to winnow through the 75+
applicants we typically get for our curatorial positions is
short sighted at best.

As I recall, I got embroiled in this by simply advising that
a graduate degree would be valuable.  While one can't
advance here without a degree, we do, have, and are
supporting staff with both time and dollars to pursue
graduate degrees so they CAN advance.  I don't know why our
situation irritates Ms. Wageman so much, but my advice
stands as given - as my personal opinion, of course.

Chris Dill

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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