University Governing Boards
University Governing Boards The information presented in this paper deals with the processes various university governing boards use to select a new president. The specimen institutions reviewed were: Indiana University, Simon Frasier University, Southern Illinois University, Towson University, University of New Mexico, and York University. ... Institution/ Search Process Categories Indiana University Simon Frasier University Southern Illinois University Towson University University of New Mexico York University Governing Board Board of Trustees Board of Governors Board of Trustees Board of Regents Board of Regents Board of Governors Committee Search Search Search Screening Advisory Search Sub Committees N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Consultant Final Candidates 5-7 No specific number. ... Candidate Announcements prior to final selection Confidential Confidential Confidential Confidential Public Notice Confidential GENERAL PROCESS The governing board of any post secondary institution (trustee or regent) regards the selection of the president their most important and critical responsibility. ... It is provocative to reflect that if there is any correlation between the length of a presidents tenure and his success in the office, the selection of a new president has to be undertaken most frequently by those boards who have done the poorest jobs. ... Members of corporation boards are accustomed to taking calculated risks, but not in calculating the risks to be run in selection of a new academic president. ... 1) However, most boards (Regent or Governors) recognize that the need to select effectively from the potential pool of candidates and they all seem to elect to have a search committee take charge of the gathering, down size selection of the group of candidates, and recommending at least one for selection. ... PROCESS The first step taken by the governing board in replacing an exiting president is to examine the need for an interim president. ... This action not only maintains leadership for the institution it also gives the governing board a chance to put a potential candidate in place and observe the leadership style. ... This group is usually composed of members from the following: member of the governing board, representatives from the faculty, student body representative, alumni, staff, and community.