I've sent the following email to my colleagues in the College of Health - it is a synopsis of my notes from Friday's Faculty Senate meeting:

COH Colleagues:

IHL Commissioner Thomas Meredith met with the Faculty Senate this
afternoon to discuss the upcoming presidential search at the University
of Southern Mississippi. The following information is taken from my
notes; I believe they accurately reflect our meeting with the
commissioner. Dr. Meredith spoke to the Senate for about 90 minutes.
Faculty Senate President Myron Henry will be preparing an official
summary of the meeting for the faculty, but I wanted to share the most
salient parts of the meeting with you as soon as possible.

Commissioner Meredith reported that the IHL board had just completed a
two-day retreat at which the upcoming searches at Alcorn University and
USM were considered. It was his opinion that the two most important
responsibilities of the IHL were selecting the commissioner and the
presidents of the eight universities. Meredith reviewed the relationship
between the commissioner, the IHL Board and the presidents. Previously,
the presidents reported to the IHL Board members; since last year the
presidents report to the commissioner rather than the board. The IHL
board has turned the search process over to the commissioner to run,
with the board making the ultimate decision in selecting the new
president. Meredith indicated that there are not many searches taking
place nationally, so that the pool of candidates should be good.

Dr. Meredith stressed the importance of providing candidates with a
confidential search process, saying that the MSU presidential search
process resulted in the largest number of sitting presidents applying
for the position of any Mississippi presidential search. At this week’s
retreat, IHL board president McGee named the IHL search committee
comprising five IHL board members, with names to be made public next
week. Search activities will commence on November 9, with “listening
sessions” taking place on that date on the USM campus. At that time the
IHL will solicit input from constituent groups regarding the desired
“profile” of the next president. Prior to that date, Meredith will
solicit recommendations from constituent groups for members of a “search
advisory committee.” The SAC will be named by Meredith from the list of
names submitted and will consist of around 20-25 people who will be
required to sign a confidentiality pledge.There will be representatives
that will include members of the Faculty Senate, SGA, Graduate Student
Association, Staff Council, Alumni Association, USM Foundations and the
“colleges” (he wasn’t clear about the college representatives). The
board has hired a search consultant (whose name will be released next
week). The consultant will solicit applicants for the position and will
submit all applicants’ materials to the SAC early next year (the
consultant will NOT eliminate any applicants). The SAC will be provided
with a “safe” room on campus in which to review candidate’s materials.
The committee will narrow the candidate pool to approximately 10 names
and the consultant will do confidential reference checks on each
candidate. The consultant will then provide the information obtained
from the reference checks to the SAC and they will then reduce the pool
to about 5-7 names. The consultant, the IHL board search committee and a
representative of the SAC will then conduct confidential “airport
interviews.” (My note: this is the first direct contact the IHL board
members have with the candidate pool.) The number of viable candidates
will be reduced further to 2-3. Meredith, and the chairs of the IHL and
SAC search committees will then visit each candidate’s campus to obtain
an idea of the “fit” between the candidate’s campus and USM. The final
interviews of the 2-3 candidates will be conducted with the full IHL
board and representatives from the SAC. The board will then decide on a
“preferred candidate” who will be invited to the USM campus to meet all
of the constituent groups, with each constituent group filling out an
evaluation form about the candidate. That evening the IHL will either
offer the preferred candidate the position or will decide continue the
search process (probably bringing the second choice candidate to
campus). If the second candidate is not offered the position, the search
will be continued.. Dr. Meredith was asked if the search did not result
in the hiring of a new president would the current president’s contract
be extended. He replied that he did not know, but “probably not.”

Dr. Meredith indicated that he believed the new president would be named
in late March so that the new president can be involved in the budget
process for the next academic year.

In response to specific questions, Dr. Meredith responded as follows:

Q: During the transition period will the new president be permitted to
participate in transition activities?

A: If we can get a new president to come early, Dr. Thames will work
well with the new person. Dr. Thames has expressed a willingness for a
smooth transition.

Q: Will the board pay more attention to the faculty than last time?

A: There will be strong faculty representation in the search process.
You will not see anything like the previous search. I’m putting my word
on the line with you...my integrity. This will be a straight up,
professionally run search....no shenanigans. No surprises, no games.

Q:What is the role of the Search Advisory Committee during the final
interview process. Do they have input?

A: Yes.

Q: Will faculty be outnumbered on the SAC?

A: I can’t comment yet, but on the MSU SAC there was significant faculty
representation. This is a new day...in this search there will be a
strong faculty voice.

Q: Are there any characteristics for the new president that have already
been identified?

A: Yes - the ability to raise money, understand shared governance, be a
good speaker.... a person who understands research, ....charismatic.

Q: When will you decide on the Search Advisory Committee and its
composition?

A: Sometime in October.... I’ve got my hands full with Alcorn’s
search...the listening session there is October 2. I will be more
definite soon.

Q: If the current search failed and had to be extended, would the
current president’s contract be extended?

A: I don’t know....probably not. But I’m counting on that not happening.

Q: What are your expectations of a new president?

A: Someone who realizes the value of USM, more importantly understands
what USM could be...a really fine research institution. You are ready to
take off. I want somebody who will say “we can do something here.”


I hope that the information contained here is interesting, enlightening
and informative. I’ve tried to be as faithful as possible to what was
said at the meeting. If you’d like further clarification about anything,
please contact me or one of the other COH senators. Have a nice weekend.

Steve

Steve Oshrin wrote:

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Q: Are there any characteristics for the new president that have already
been identified?

A: Yes - the ability to raise money, understand shared governance, be a
good speaker.... a person who understands research, ....charismatic.

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wow, that would be a refreshing change.