A low turnout at Monday’s
forums for the chancellor search disappointed Chancellor Search
Committee members.
Robert G. Fox, chairperson of the Chancellor Search Committee, said
there is a strong need for a comprehensive plan for the search.
Faculty members, staff and interested parties attended the forums
to voice opinions and concerns regarding the search for chancellor.
No students attended the forums.
Cindy A. Wallace, acting associate vice chancellor for enrollment,
said it was troubling more people did not attend the forums.
“The chancellor is such an important voice for our students,
and they should share their opinions,” she said.
Wallace said a lack of attendance should not be seen as apathy.
“The faculty and staff are very much interested in who our
new chancellor is. I’m perplexed, and I don’t understand
why more people weren’t there,” Wallace said.
Dr. Bobbie H. Sharp, director of institutional research and planning,
said a low turnout could be the result of schedule and communication
conflicts since the forums lasted only one day.
“I believe using a variety of means of communicating is necessary
in these searches,” Sharp said.
“At first I felt a little disappointed in the lack of people
[at the forums] because I didn’t want the committee to feel
like it was a waste of their day,” Sharp said.
Both Wallace and Sharp served on last spring’s Provost Search
Committee.
Sharp said the Provost Search Committee scheduled alternative forums
throughout one week in order to receive as much input as possible.
The forums were more conversations and people feeding off of each
other than one-sided information sessions or questions, Sharp said.
“The committee tried to cover all possible ways of communicating.
I went to the [Student Government Association]. I went to Faculty
Senate meetings. I went to the Council of Chairs to get input. We
spoke with different establishments representing different constituents.
Going to these establishments gave those people the opportunity
to ask questions and get information,” Sharp said.
The Chancellor Search Committee discussed ways to receive more input
from faculty, staff, students and the community. The committee said
they plan to attend SGA and Faculty Senate meetings.
The committee discussed an open versus closed search for chancellor.
An open search will allow the university to know who are the candidates
for chancellor. A closed search will protect the privacy of the
candidates.
Reba S. Moretz, Chancellor Search Committee member, said she feels
a closed search will provide the best results.
“For the best possible pool of candidates, a closed search
will be in [the university’s] best interest,” Moretz said.
Dr. Lorin A. Baumhover, chairperson of the Council of Chairs, spoke
for the council at one of Monday’s forums.
“The council is requesting the search be open,” he said.
Baumhover said he feels an open search is in the best interest of
the university and the council unanimously agreed.
Dr. Lee Baruth said he also feels it is in the best interest of
the university and future chancellor to have an open search.
“If faculty, students and staff have no input in whom [the
chancellor] is, he will have to deal with that when he comes to
the university,” Baruth said. |
