Interviews and Security Clearances

The Middle Eastern Studies program understands the importance of making our faculty and staff available to assist with interviews for security clearances for former students who are applying for government level jobs.  However, in order to maximize the productivity of your time on campus, we discourage walk-in requests for interviews. We have, on numerous occasions, had to turn away officials conducting walk-in security clearance interviews because no one that they wished to speak with was actually present on campus at the time of their visit.

We strongly suggest that you phone ahead to schedule an appointment with any member of the faculty or staff with whom you need to speak. Faculty and staff understand the importance of this process and are generally willing to accommodate interview requests.

While staff are generally present 8-5, Monday through Friday, depending on the time of year they may not be able to take time to meet with you. The first twelve days of classes and final exam times, in particular, are very difficult because of short deadlines and high student volume.

Teaching faculty are generally not in their offices forty hours per week unless they also hold an administrative position.  Faculty do post regular office hours each week, however we recommend scheduling time outside of these, as office hours are intended for students.  Be advised that during the summer, intersession, holidays, or exam times faculty tend not to hold regular office hours.

If you have any questions, please call the MES main number, (512) 471-3881. Our office will be able to advise you as to posted faculty office hours, whether a particular individual is on leave or vacation, and may be able to suggest times that would be better for a series of interviews.