Faculty senate wants more input in the search for new president

The search for the next Rowan president is about to begin, but the University Senate and the Board of Trustees are already experiencing a miscommunication.

A lack of process and formal criteria, as well as direct communication, has some in the senate frustrated.

The BOT requested that the University Senate, by tomorrow, submit the names of seven candidates to be chosen for the search committee to find the next Rowan president. Current president Dr. Donald Farish told the trustees he is resigning at the end of this semester, one year before his contract was to expire.

Dr. Eric Milou, mathematics professor and University Senate President, said he requested that the board offer more specific criteria for membership on the search committee for Farish’s replacement, but got no response.

“We thought the criteria that we announced was good based on what we were looking for, which was an inclusive search committee. Some of the criteria was looking for people that are passionate, the senate was actually asked to contribute rèsumès or whatever they wanted to that process,” board co-chair Barbara Armand said.

The search firm Storbeck/Pimentel of Media, Pa., was hired by the university and is responsible for submitting names of presidential candidates to the university.

Then, the search committee will come up with criteria for the presidential candidates to meet. Armand said the process will be lengthy, and the search committee’s real job is to take 60 or more candidates and shorten the list to about 12.

The search committee will have 11 members; five BOT members, one student representative, and five people from the university community, whose names will be submitted by Milou.

“The first question is, why 11? It is way too small considering the size of the university,” Milou said.

Armand said the number was reached after researching the subject and interviewing different search firms.

“That was one of the questions that we asked them. That answer was pretty much standard. If you get above (11 members), you may not get your task finished as planned,” Armand said.

Milou said the board did not respond to his requests for specific criteria for the search committee, so the University Senate passed a resolution on March 11, which said the senate would develop its own formal process and criteria.

“That criteria was sent to the board, and they ignored it. It was sent out to the university community, and they embraced it. I have applications coming in,” Milou said. “There was no process or criteria of how these people are selected. There was no way the university community would know what criteria the board would be looking for.”

Armand said the BOT has decided to communicate with the university in what they see as an efficient way, through Dr. Christy Faison, special assistant for campus initiatives.

“There has been a letter that did go out from (BOT Chair) Helene Reed, and it was about the process. We did send a letter to the senate to respond to his concerns,” Armand said. “That’s the way we are handling it, we are being open about this, if (Milou) has concerns we have directed him to our liaison, Dr. Faison.”

Milou said the e-mail from Faison was not enough, and wants more direct communication between the university community and the board.

“(Faison) is the mouthpiece of the board. Through her, the board is communicating what they want, instead of meeting with me and other university leaders,” Milou said.

Armand said the university and the BOT want this process to be as transparent and inclusive as possible. She said after the committee shortens the list of candidates, focus groups will be held and surveys will be conducted to include the entire university community.

“We have a time frame that we are looking at, we want to do a thorough vetting of candidates, and we want to have time for the university in large and small groups and in surveys to contribute their opinion,” Armand said. “We will pay particular attention to what students’ opinions are.”

Milou said he wants to open the lines of communication between the BOT and the university. He said he has invited both Armand and board member and search committee co-chair Dennis DiFlorio to speak at the next University Senate meeting on April 1 April 8, but has not received a response.