MSU Presidential Search Thread - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 13, 2006

RE: MSU Presidential Search Thread

Date: Feb 17, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=213004&pub=1&div=News

MSU presidential pool includes college presidents

2/17/2006 4:13:29 AM
Daily Journal

BY ANDY KANENGISER

Daily Journal

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State University's list of presidential prospects includes a few higher education chiefs.

Without revealing specifics, state higher education commissioner Tom Meredith said this week he's encouraged that prospects include "more current sitting presidents in this pool than the board has experienced in a long time, maybe ever."

In a news release, Meredith said he's not gone through a lot of prior searches to verify his statement, "but it appears to be true."...

..."I'm not used to this kind of secrecy," said Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, an MSU alum unhappy with the process. "None of us know what the hell is going on. When we get to the five, we need to know who they are."

Date: Feb 20, 2006

CL, 2/20/06

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/OPINION/602200303/1009

'Excluding public' from MSU seach is legal, proper action

...It was my privilege to serve a term on the College Board during which time a number of presidential searches were made. In all cases, the search for candidates involved a degree of confidentiality in the early stages. It is necessary to assure potential candidates that their names will not be disclosed to the press during the early stages....

...Of course, the press does not like this procedure. They want to know everything regardless of whether it hinders a successful search - "sunshine, they call it....

...Talk about conspiracy or ability to control is complete hogwash....

Date: Feb 21, 2006

http://130.18.140.19/search/

Mississippi State Presidential Search
Open Bulletin Board

Date: Feb 21, 2006

info wrote:

CL, 2/20/06 http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/OPINION/602200303/1009 'It was my privilege to serve a term on the College Board during which time a number of presidential searches were made'

The letter is signed:

Charles C. Jacobs Jr., Cleveland

Was he on the college board when you know what?

Date: Feb 22, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=213333&pub=1&div=News

MSU advisory group to select five candidates

2/21/2006 4:38:49 AM
Daily Journal

STARKVILLE - The 23-member Mississippi State University Presidential Advisory Committee today will pick its five top candidates to become MSU's next president. ...

Date: Feb 22, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=213410&pub=1&div=News

In closed meeting, MSU search panel picks six candidates

2/22/2006 7:20:29 AM
Daily Journal

By ROBBIE WARD

Daily Journal Starkville Bureau

STARKVILLLE - Mississippi State University's Presidential Search Advisory Committee started its meeting Tuesday by asking two retired university professors to leave.

Former professors Lorenzo Crowell and Clyde Williams went to the meeting intending to stay until the group went into executive session to discuss candidates for the university's next president. Instead, they were asked to leave when the meeting started....

...Crowell and Williams were asked to leave after no vote was taken to close the meeting. Committee chairwoman Ruth Prescott called MSU attorney Charlie Guest to the Hunter Henry Center, where the meeting was held, after the two displayed copies of the Mississippi Public Meetings Law.

"He told us basically it was too low a level meeting for the law to apply," said Crowell, who taught at MSU for 15 years and was in the Faculty Senate. "Then they went in and closed the door." ...

...Leonard Van Slyke, a Jackson attorney for the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information, disagreed. He said the committee should be obligated to comply with state open meetings laws. ...

Date: Feb 23, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=213489&pub=1&div=News

Official: MSU search yields strong candidates

By ROBBIE WARD

Daily Journal Starkville Bureau

STARKVILLE - Any of the six candidates forwarded to the College Board's Mississippi State University Search Committee by the university's advisory committee would likely make a "strong president," says a member of the campus committee and frequent critic of the process.

Mark Goodman,...

Date: Feb 23, 2006

IHL press releases

http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=379

MISSISSIPPI STATE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHOOSES REPRESENTATIVES TO OBSERVE BOARD SEARCH PROCESS

2/22/2006 (Jackson, Miss. ) - At the request of Commissioner Thomas C. Meredith, the Mississippi State University Presidential Search Advisory Committee has chosen whom they want to be their representatives as observers for the Board’s search process for the next President of Mississippi State University. The Search Advisory Committee has elected four people to join Ms. Ruth Prescott, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Assistant to the President, who will serve by virtue of her role as Chair of the Search Advisory Committee. They are Mr. Jon David Cole, President of the Mississippi State University Student Association; Dr. Linda Cornelious, Mississippi State University Professor of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development; Dr. William Kibler, Vice President for Student Affairs; and Mr. Rod Moore, President of the Mississippi State University Foundation.

http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=378

MISSISSIPPI STATE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE SENDS NAMES FOR BOARD SEARCH COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

2/21/2006 (Jackson, Miss. ) -

The Mississippi State University Presidential Search Advisory Committee completed its work today by sending forward six names for the Board of Trustees Search Committee’s consideration. The Board expects to be able to name the next President of Mississippi State University by early April.

Date: Feb 27, 2006

CL, 2/27/06

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/OPINION01/602270371/1008/OPINION

MSU
So, who's in the running for prez?

First the good news: The names of six candidates have been forwarded by a search committee to the state College Board to choose the next president of Mississippi State University, to replace Charles Lee, who is retiring.

Now the bad news: The choice seems to be a close one between the two top candidates: Osama bin Laden of parts unknown and Saddam Hussein, currently on trial in Iraq.

Preposterous? Yes. But...

Date: Feb 27, 2006

CL, 2/27/06

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OPINION04

Marshall Ramsey cartoon

Date: Mar 1, 2006

http://www.facultysenate.msstate.edu/Next_MSU_Pres.pdf

[MSU] Faculty Senate Invitation to All Presidential Candidates

To: The Next President of Mississippi State University

From: Robert Holland Faculty Senate

Date: February 10, 2006

The Faculty Senate congratulates you and welcomes you to Mississippi State University. You have been selected to lead Mississippi’s largest, most diverse and, we believe finest institution of higher learning. The more than 1,000 faculty members support you as you begin your term and we stand ready to work with you to continue the tradition of excellence at this university. ...

Date: Mar 7, 2006

CL, 3/7/06

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/OPINION/603070319/1009

Lack of secrecy 'scares off' college president candidates

...Having served 16 years on the board, and having been involved in 14 CEO searches, I understand the need for confidentiality.

In 2002 and 2003, the College Board named presidents at the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State University and Delta State University. In talking with our search consultants, the board became convinced that the process was evolving, and there was a better way to attract strong candidates....

...Some presidents feel after five or six years they have accomplished all they can do in their present job, or they may be having conflicts with faculty, trustees or alumni.

It was to be expected that the press would be critical of the new process, but when a few faculty and alumni joined in, the story got more legs and traction than it deserved. Unfortunately, this has scared off some good candidates, according to the search firm....

Date: Mar 7, 2006

Why do we think that a man or woman who wants to apply secretly to be the university president has the moral compass to be a good president? Anyone who would not apply because it is not secret is exactly someone I do not want. If selected, they will bring their secret ways with them.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

"a few faculty and alumni join in..."

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Amy Young

Date: Mar 7, 2006

info wrote:

...Having served 16 years on the board

It was a 12-year term. Maybe it just seemed like 16.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

memory first to go wrote:

info wrote: ...Having served 16 years on the board It was a 12-year term. Maybe it just seemed like 16.

Maybe the governor failed to make a new appointment when his term expired. That's a possibility. In that case a board member's term could be extended ad infinitim.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

Longfellow wrote:
In that case a board member's term could be extended ad infinitim.

Make that ad naseum

Date: Mar 7, 2006

It's intriguing to me that many posters here want secrecy when faculty search for jobs because it is "unprofessional" to expose a colleague's search.

However it seems that there is the suggestion here that administrators should not be extended the same courtesy -- we should know who candidates are for our presidency, dean, etc. Candidates for these positions are usually holding faculty or administrative positions at other universities and probably don't want those universities knowing that they are looking for a better job.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

Southern Justice wrote:

Candidates for these positions are usually holding faculty or administrative positions at other universities and probably don't want those universities knowing that they are looking for a better job.

How can a search committee evaluate a candidate without contacting references and people where the candidate works? Surely I need to know what the candidate's present colleagues, bosses and subordinates have to say about his/her skills. If this is not being done, the search committee is not doing its job. If it is being done, the search is not secret for the reasons stated, i.e., so people where they work won't find out about the job search.

It appears the purpose of the "secret" search is to minimize the input of the faculty so the IHL Board will not be embarrassed by another Thames fiasco.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

Southern Justice wrote:
Candidates for these positions are usually holding faculty or administrative positions at other universities and probably don't want those universities knowing that they are looking for a better job.

I've seen a USM faculty member or two leak out word that they are applying for another job when they are not. They seem to think it gives them an edge when salary time rolls around.

Date: Mar 7, 2006

Bluff wrote:

I've seen a USM faculty member or two leak out word that they are applying for another job when they are not. They seem to think it gives them an edge when salary time rolls around.

It that's their game I'd say let them pick up their marbles and leave. If they can't get a salary raise based on merit rather than by threatening to leave, let them leave.

Date: Mar 8, 2006

NE MS DJ, 3/7/06

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=214349&pub=1&div=News

MSU presidential candidates get sized up

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State University's field of a half-dozen presidential prospects was evaluated behind closed doors Monday.,,,

...The board is expected to chop the list before inviting three for interviews. The panel also reserves the right to add candidates....

...Top prospects mentioned include Mark Keenum and Jack Britt. Keenum is chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. The 45-year-old Starkville native is a former MSU professor. Britt is vice president for agriculture at the University of Tennessee.

Robert Altenkirch, president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology and former MSU engineering dean, could be added to the list.

One name not on the MSU panel-recommended list is Jim Cofer, president of University of Louisiana at Monroe. Cofer, an MSU graduate, has withdrawn his name from consideration....

...The board reportedly aims to invite its "preferred candidate'' to the MSU campus for interviews with school supporters....

Date: Mar 8, 2006

memory first to go wrote:

info wrote: ...Having served 16 years on the board It was a 12-year term. Maybe it just seemed like 16.

After serving a 12 year term, Bryce Griffis was later reappointed to fill an unexpired term for someone who left the Board a la Klumb (I cannot remember who he replaced--perhaps Bill Crawford of Meridian?).

Date: Mar 17, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=215158&pub=1&div=News

Interviews to be set in MSU presidential search

3/17/2006 5:06:29 AM
Daily Journal

By ROBBIE WARD

STARKVILLE - A state College Board committee soon will announce an interview schedule for finalists in the Mississippi State University presidential search.

The MSU search committee met Thursday in Jackson to discuss candidates for the school's top job but released few details.

It was the second meeting for the committee, composed of six board members and chaired by Ed Blakeslee. After the meeting, board spokeswoman Annie Mitchell provided little new information about the search but did say the committee will meet with the candidates soon.

"They are working on an interview schedule to be released some time next week," Mitchell said.

The College Board members say they hope to end the search next month to name the successor to MSU President Charles Lee, who announced in November plans to retire....

Date: Mar 18, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=215228&pub=1&div=News

Illinois chancellor among MSU prospects

3/18/2006 4:24:28 AM
Daily Journal

BY ANDY KANENGISER

Daily Journal

STARKVILLE - Walter Wendler, chancellor of the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, has emerged as a leading candidate for the Mississippi State University presidency.

A former vice chancellor for planning at Texas A&M, the 56-year-old Wendler is among the prospects expected for closed-door interviews with state College Board members, MSU leaders say....

...Former chairman of the Texas A&M architecture department and ex-assistant to the president, Wendler worked at the Texas school with a number of officials now at MSU. Retiring MSU President Charles Lee, who steps down next month, is a former Texas A&M administrator....

...Others in the field of six leading prospects include Mark Keenum, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. He's a Starkville native with degrees from Northeast Mississippi Community College and MSU and comes with solid support in MSU alumni circles. Keenum is a former State professor.

Among MSU alums "there is a great deal of sentiment for Keenum from one part of the state to another,'' said MSU political scientist Marty Wiseman....

Date: Mar 20, 2006

Leader named in MSU search

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060320/NEWS/603200338/1001/NEWS

It appears to me that the search is only called "secret" to keep out faculty input.

Date: Mar 20, 2006

I forgot to include this quote:

"Others in the field of six prospects include Mark Keenum, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and a Starkville native with degrees from Northeast Mississippi Community College and Mississippi State University, the newspaper reported. He is a former MSU professor.

The board is withholding the names of candidates to avoid jeopardizing their current jobs, Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith said."

Date: Mar 20, 2006

Is Mrs. Keenum still at the White House? Would she give up her career to come back to Mississippi and be the President's Wife?

Date: Mar 20, 2006

LVN wrote:

Is Mrs. Keenum still at the White House? Would she give up her career to come back to Mississippi and be the President's Wife?

Tammy Wynette should be able to respond to your question, LVN