TO CONSULT OR NOT TO CONSULT

Last night's Board of Trustees' meeting was pretty ho-hum until the topic of the Presidential Search came up.

Should a consultant group be hired to assist in the presidential search process? One BOT member was very much in favor of hiring a consultant. Her concern is that PJC presidential search should seek out the very broadest, deepest, and best qualified applicants. Can that caliber of applicants be found through the traditional channels of journal and newspaper advertising? Through networking? She believes that consultant groups may be aware of candidates who might not apply unless contacted by a consultant.

A number of BOT members feel comfortable with Dr. McLeod (who has been an active participant in the last two presidential searches) and other PJC people being completely in charge of the advertising, head-hunting aspects of getting qualified people into the applicant pool.

When it was all said and done, it was left up to the Presidential Search Process Committee to decide whether or not to hire a consultant group.

The other question that generated some discussion was the minimum qualifications - which are minimum. The minimum qualifications are an earned doctorate from an regionally accredited university or college. That's pretty darn minimum. Personally, I feel that the preferred qualities make up for keeping the minimum so minimal. But the question that arose was whether or not it was necessary for a candidate to have an earned doctorate. This topic had been the discussed at length during the Presidential Search Process Committee's meetings earlier this summer. After more discussion by the BOT, it was agreed that the minimum qualification would still be an earned doctorate.

Comments on using consultants? Requiring an earned doctorate?

Finally, it was announced that Mr. Vincent Andry will be the new President of the Board and Mr. John O'Connor will be the new Vice Chair.