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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> H.A.--USM takes next step in search for president
Post Info TOPIC: H.A.--USM takes next step in search for president
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H.A.--USM takes next step in search for president
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USM takes next step in search for president
By Rachel Leife

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/NEWS01/702060318/1002

"After receiving Friday the names of at least five of the best applicants from the campus-based Search Advisory Committee, Florida-based search consultant Jan Greenwood is checking references and running background checks.

...

Board Search Committee chair Robin Robinson speculated the full campus committee wouldn't hear the results of background checks due to the search's tight timeline. Results will be shared with board members and the corps from the campus committee Feb. 13, she said."

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truth4usmAH


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I love it...background checks. Makes me wonder what sort of candidates they think are the "five best." You'd think if the people who were applying were "wurl class," they wouldn't need background checks! I'm just saying...

Update after reading the article--Here's the money quote from Peter Fos:

"He did say, however, that as requested in the College Board's advertisement seeking application all held "terminal degrees" in their field - a doctoral degree for academics or a law degree for attorneys, for example."

Well, whoop-de-doo and call all the media outlets...that new prez of USM is going to hold herself/himself a terminal degree!



Truth

-- Edited by truth4usmAH at 10:23, 2007-02-06

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LeftASAP


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Truth, doesn't this quote make you nervous?
"... - a doctoral degree for academics or a law degree for attorneys, for example."

Why even mention attorneys?  In my opinion, a "law degree" is not equivalent to the doctoral degree in a respected academic field.  I hope we don't end up with some CEO or LT. General with a law degree.

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lochopoka


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truth4usmAH wrote:

I love it...background checks. Makes me wonder what sort of candidates they think are the "five best." You'd think if the people who were applying were "wurl class," they wouldn't need background checks! I'm just saying...

Update after reading the article--Here's the money quote from Peter Fos:

"He did say, however, that as requested in the College Board's advertisement seeking application all held "terminal degrees" in their field - a doctoral degree for academics or a law degree for attorneys, for example."

Well, whoop-de-doo and call all the media outlets...that new prez of USM is going to hold herself/himself a terminal degree!



Truth

-- Edited by truth4usmAH at 10:23, 2007-02-06

Hey Truth, I see nothing wrong with background checks. Sure wish USM had had legitimate and intensive background checks on the candidates in 2002.

"A law degree for attorneys." Is that a clue? I think not.

We all sit and wait for the Fab Five to be revealed. Or, it the policy of the IHL to reveal only the one that is selected?



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Hey, doesn't Angie "Dvorak" Godwin have a law degree? Maybe she is on the short list!

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qwerty


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LeftASAP wrote:

Truth, doesn't this quote make you nervous?
"... - a doctoral degree for academics or a law degree for attorneys, for example."

Why even mention attorneys?  In my opinion, a "law degree" is not equivalent to the doctoral degree in a respected academic field.  I hope we don't end up with some CEO or LT. General with a law degree.

A JD is the standard terminal degree to teach in a law school, and plenty of college presidents have been recruited through that route. My alma mater, UNC, has had a long record of law professors as chancellors. Terry Sanford, who built Duke into the powerhouse it is today, was a lawyer and former governor, Joe B. Wyatt led Vandy with just an MBA. The degree doesn't really say much about what you're going to get at this level.



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I've had to have background checks done for jobs.  It's more and more common and I think essential for a job like being president of a university.  And the article says there are "at least five" candidates, not "five" candidates.  Five is the minimum, though I would imagine ten or twelve would probably be the max.

An MBA, JD, or MFA could be a fine president.  We need someone who understands the importance of having first-rate people around him/her and who will focus on fund-raising and PR and let the excellent new provost and vp's do the day to day running of the university.  In fact, I second the motion recently mentioned to me that there be interims in these positions while true national searches go forward.  I hope that those presently in the Dome understand that they must step aside for the good of the University, so that the campus has a sense of a "new day" breaking.  It is essential for morale.

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Mongrel Dog


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One can dream....

from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb.2, 2007:
"Roger W. Bowen's three-year contract as general secretary of the American Association of University Professors won't expire until July. But he is already looking for another job.

Mr. Bowen, who is 59, is a finalist in both the presidential search at Westfield State College, in Massachusetts, and the search for a chancellor of higher education in North Dakota. He said he is also a candidate in other searches but wouldn't say where."


http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i22/22a00502.htm

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stephen judd


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qwerty wrote:

LeftASAP wrote:

Truth, doesn't this quote make you nervous?
"... - a doctoral degree for academics or a law degree for attorneys, for example."

Why even mention attorneys?  In my opinion, a "law degree" is not equivalent to the doctoral degree in a respected academic field.  I hope we don't end up with some CEO or LT. General with a law degree.

A JD is the standard terminal degree to teach in a law school, and plenty of college presidents have been recruited through that route. My alma mater, UNC, has had a long record of law professors as chancellors. Terry Sanford, who built Duke into the powerhouse it is today, was a lawyer and former governor, Joe B. Wyatt led Vandy with just an MBA. The degree doesn't really say much about what you're going to get at this level.


Actually, it was Keith Brody, the President who followed Sandford -- I was there in the ast two years of Sandford's presidency and the first five of Brody's.




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Invictus


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LeftASAP wrote:

Why even mention attorneys? In my opinion, a "law degree" is not equivalent to the doctoral degree in a respected academic field. I hope we don't end up with some CEO or LT. General with a law degree.


 



I found it interesting while perusing the 2000 Census form that the U.S. Bureau of Census does not consider JD or MD degrees to be "terminal"... But I do agree with others that there's plenty of historical reasons to consider a JD (or MD) to be an entirely appropriate credential for a university president.

Unrelated note: The Sun-Herald was bashing IHL for being secretive about the USM-Gulf Coast land deal. Funny that the paper's editorial board found nothing wrong with a secret search for the president of the institution. Yes, yes, Stephen, I understand why Dr. Meredith says he wants a secret search & I understand that many USM faculty have taken that hook, line & sinker, but I also understand that the salary of the person hired will be borne by the taxpayers of Mississippi. State business should not be conducted in secret, although in the future we will accept increasing secrecy in government until eventually they put another "S" in the USA.



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Invictus wrote:

... But I do agree with others that there's plenty of historical reasons to consider a JD (or MD) to be an entirely appropriate credential for a university president.


What Invictus said...Don't forget that close to home, Bobby Khayat at Old Miss holds an LLB,  later exchanged for a JD.   USM would be fortunate to land an administrator of his caliber.

Invictus,  I'm sure it didn't escape your notice that Dr. Dylan won two more Grammys last night,  including Best Contemporary Folk Album. His mantle must be getting awfully crowded.

AE

 



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truth4usmAH


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In pointing out that quote from the article, I was merely highlighting what seemed to be a  "lowered expectations" moment...instead of saying, "we want a new president with vision and experience!" or something like that, they said "s/he is going to have a terminal degree and we're gonna do background checks!"  It seemed a bit odd to me, given everything that has gone on at USM over the past 3 years or so.  You'd think someone would've figured out the "vision thing" by now, but apparently, no.

Truth

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73 Novice


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Sec. of State Clark is not seeking reelection. He wanted the IHL commissioner's role when TM came from Georgia. Does anyone know if Clark is interested in a university presidency? 


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qwerty


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I don't know if Clark is seeking USM's top post, but prior to his election at Sec. of State, he taught history at Mississippi College, and he holds a PHD in history from Miss. State.

Interesting.

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Southern Belle


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Any word on who may have made the short list?

I have heard of three names.  All three are linked to campus currently and in the past.

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Southern Belle at Southern Miss
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Southern Belle wrote:

Any word on who may have made the short list?

I have heard of three names. All three are linked to campus currently and in the past.

 




Unless your source is actually on the committee, I would be leery of information like this. But that does lead me to a question. How does the SAC short list relate to the IHL's short list? I confess to some confusion about this process.

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Southern Belle


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Confusion???

At the University of Southern Mississippi???

hmmmmmmmmmmm



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Southern Belle at Southern Miss
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qwerty wrote:

I don't know if Clark is seeking USM's top post, but prior to his election at Sec. of State, he taught history at Mississippi College, and he holds a PHD in history from Miss. State.

Interesting.
According to the HA, William Carey University plans to announce its new president this Thursday.

The new president could be Eric Clark.

 



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CL, 2/6/07

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702060373

...Clark was widely mentioned as a top prospect for higher education commissioner in 2005. The job went to former Georgia commissioner Tom Meredith.

A handful of Mississippi universities have open spots for president, including the University of Southern Mississippi.

"I wouldn't think I'd be a likely candidate for any of those," said Clark, a Mississippi State University graduate. "You're jumping way ahead of anywhere I've been. Nobody has asked me to apply."

He teaches an American history class at Belhaven College in Jackson twice a week....

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73 Novice


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LVN.

Your observation about the two short lists is a good observation. The IHL Search Committee short list is the true list. Nothing else matters. I hope that Advisory Committee Members that sit in with the IHL Search Committee will be able to objectively state their case for the names that went forward from the adivisory committee.

Remember, background and reference checks have taken place after the advisory committee recommendations were made. There could be some legitimate or some prejucicial info that may get someone bumped from the list or onto the list.  If new names are forthcoming from the IHL search committee, they should receive the same scrunity.... if we really trust the process. Many people don't.

 
LVN wrote:

Southern Belle wrote:

Any word on who may have made the short list?

I have heard of three names. All three are linked to campus currently and in the past.





Unless your source is actually on the committee, I would be leery of information like this. But that does lead me to a question. How does the SAC short list relate to the IHL's short list? I confess to some confusion about this process.




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I see you distrust the process, but I don't know why Dr. Meredith would have any reason to send USM a "bad" president, or even one of the Good Ole Persons. Just more trouble for himself. You would think he would be motivated to help USM find the best possible president, so that he could turn his attention elsewhere.

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73 Novice


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LVN.
 
I am sure TM and the IHL will not send us as bad a president as the IHL sent in 2002. I am not trusting enough to think they will send us the best person possible. Mississippi politics still have a way of getting involved in appointments that are made. Consultants and their relationships also carry a lot of weight.
 
The process, on paper, seems much improved. We will see if, in reality, if the process is the same.

Southern Belle is the only one that has claimed knowledge of any names that are being considered.

Whatever happens, a lot of folks, including TM and the IHL, will be putting their positive spin on it. 

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qwerty


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73 Novice wrote:

I am sure TM and the IHL will not send us as bad a president as the IHL sent in 2002.

 I've got my fingers crossed and my gris-gris ready. I hope you're right.



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