When Cornell hires a new faculty member or administrator the university often gets a bonus: the accompanying spouse who comes with equally outstanding credentials. Every effort is made to find a job for that person elsewhere on campus, but sometimes that just isn't possible.

Now a new resource will help dual-career couples and other job-seekers find academic openings anywhere in upstate New York. The Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (UNYHERC) offers an online database of faculty and staff openings at 23 colleges, universities and teaching hospitals, with more institutions expected to sign on soon.

"Each institution can only accommodate so many individuals," said Robert Harris, Cornell vice provost for diversity and faculty development. The database "really helps us in recruitment, and we anticipate that it will help in retention." (Retention might be a concern when a Cornellian marries someone whose current job is outside the area.)

The database Web site at http://unyherc.org/ allows job-seekers to search openings by region, institution or keyword, as well as post their own profiles. The system will send e-mail alerts whenever a new job is posted that fits a person's profile.

The site includes links to resources ranging from child-care and real estate services to local cultural and recreational offerings, with a special section of advice for dual-career couples. Links to Mapquest are provided for those who want to find distances and driving times. That's more important than it sounds, Harris said. "Someone not familiar with upstate New York might not realize, for example, how close Hobart and William Smith Colleges are to Cornell."

Cornell and Syracuse University are major sponsors of the system. Each member institution pays an annual fee to list its openings. Harris said that several smaller institutions have already seen increased interest in their job offerings as a result of their listings on the site.

UNYHERC is modeled on other "hercs" that have sprung up in northern and southern California, New Jersey and New England. A New York City/Connecticut version went live at the same time as upstate. Systems are in development for Michigan, greater Chicago and St. Louis.