Presidential Search Update
We continue to make excellent progress in our search
for a new president for Rider.
In the November 19, 2002 edition of
Rider Newswire, we reported that the Search Committee had narrowed
the list of candidates to 13. Shortly thereafter, one of the candidates
asked to withdraw from consideration.
On January 6th and 7th the Search Committee
met at the Philadelphia Airport and interviewed the 12 candidates.
We asked each a series of standard questions. In addition, we asked
a number of specific questions based on information we learned from
candidates’ resumes and other background data.
Once we completed the interviews, the
committee made an assessment of each candidate. Our goal was to identify
a list of candidates, any of whom we felt could be Rider’s next
president. We now have a list of three individuals who meet that standard.
The list of finalists is impressive.
All three are sitting presidents. Two are from private universities
and the other from a public university. They range in presidential
experience from six to 10 years. Each has impressive educational credentials
- all have PhDs. And they all have experiences at several institutions
and have demonstrated results in the areas we outlined in the Position
Description.
The Board of Trustees must now make
its selection from this list of candidates. While it is the Board’s
legal responsibility to select the president, trustees are eager for
feedback from the campus community to help in making the decision.
Each of the candidates will be invited
to spend two days on campus beginning next week. During their visits,
they will meet with a variety of groups – including separate
forums with students, faculty and staff. Following each session, participants
will be asked to provide feedback about the candidate. The board will
gather this information to inform and support its decision. The board
is scheduled to meet in February following completion of the interview
process. Shortly thereafter an announcement will be made regarding
a new president.
As mentioned, each of the candidates
is currently serving as president of a university. As you can understand,
it is very difficult for presidents to tell their campuses they are
considering leaving. In addition, each of these candidates is a community
leader. In many communities the announcement of a president’s
potential departure will bring press inquiries and certainly some
degree of turmoil to the campus. The candidates have each asked us
to protect confidentiality until the last possible minute.
That is a perfectly reasonable request
and one that we will respect. It does make it difficult for those
of you who wish to “check out” the candidates by searching
data sources or references. You will have plenty of time to do that
after the campus visits and you can be assured that the Search Committee
and Korn Ferry have done the proper research regarding these candidates.
Following is the schedule of on-campus
visits. Please do your best to attend the forums or any other session
to which you are invited. Also, please provide your feedback. The
Board of Trustees is interested in your reaction to each candidate.
Presidential Search Forums
The three finalist candidates
will be on campus for two-day visits on February 3 & 4, February
10 & 11, and February 12 & 13. Campus forums will be held
for students, faculty, and staff with each of the candidates on February
4, 11, and 13 in the Student Center Theater as follows:
Candidate 1: February 4 Student Center Theater
11:30 – 12:15 Faculty/ department chair forum
1:45– 2:30 Administration/staff forum *Please note: this
is 15 minutes later than originally indicated in a previous campus-wide
memo
2:45 – 3:30 Student forum
Candidate 2: February 11 Student Center Theater
11:30 – 12:15 Faculty/ department chair forum
1:45– 2:30 Administration/staff forum *Please note: this
is 15 minutes later than originally indicated in a previous campus-wide
memo
2:45 – 3:30 Student forum
Candidate 3: February 13 Student Center Theater
11:30 – 12:15 Faculty/ department chair forum
1:45– 2:30 Administration/staff forum *Please note: this
is 15 minutes later than originally indicated in a previous campus-wide
memo
2:45 – 3:30 Student forum
The format for each forum will be the
same. Candidates will have an opportunity to speak for 10 to 15 minutes
with a question and answer session to follow for a total of 45 minutes.
Because candidates will most likely address each audience differently
and in fairness to those in attendance, you are asked to attend the
forums for your particular constituency. At the candidates’
request, in order to protect their confidentiality, we have agreed
to disseminate information about each candidate no sooner than the
day before their arrival via Rider Newswire. Copies of this
information will also be available at the forums as will evaluation
forms. These evaluation forms are due in the President’s Office
in either hardcopy or electronic form (dstasolla@rider.edu) no later
than 5 p.m. on the day following each forum.
