community information sessions · 2021. 3. 11. · community information sessions march 8, 2021...
TRANSCRIPT
Presidential Search Committee
Community Information Sessions
March 8, 2021March 11, 2021
Agenda
• Overview of Timeline and Schedule
• Search Firm Selection and Guide
• Search Committee Membership
• Search Committee Charge
• Survey Results and Listening Sessions
• Presidential Leadership Profile
• Advertising Plan/Recruitment
• Candidate Pool
• Next Steps
• Q&A
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Timeline & Schedule
Aug. 27, 2020 Committee Charge, Equity in Searches, Process & Timeline overview, Open Discussion of Opportunity
Sept. 11-18, 2020 Campus Listening Sessions
Sept. 30 2020 Review of Surveys/Listening Discussions; Discussion of Process & Timeline
Oct. 14, 2020 Continued Discussion of Survey
Oct. 28, 2020 Discussion of Leadership Role and Responsibilities
Nov. 18, 2020 Review of Leadership Profile, Committee & Campus Updates, Discussion of Candidate Recruitment Strategy
Dec. 2, 2020 Approval of Leadership Profile & Advertisement, Review of Advertisement Options
Mid Dec.-Mid Feb. WittKieffer Active Recruitment Period
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Timeline & Schedule
Jan. 29, 2021 Update, Rubric Review & Calibration, Implicit Bias Discussion, Discussion of Candidate Review Process
Feb. 1, 2021 Candidate Materials Posted for Committee Review
Feb. 12, 2021 Application Deadline
Feb. 24 & Mar 3, 2021 Continued Discussion of Candidate Review Process, Review & Selection of Candidates for Interviews, Review of Interview Questions & Process
By March 8, 2021 BHE & BOT Provided Opportunity to Review Slate of Candidates for Interviews
March 8 & 11, 2021 Campus Open Forums to Discuss Process
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Timeline & Schedule
March 16,17, & 18, 2021 First-round Candidate Interviews
March/Early April 2021 WittKieffer Conducts Referencing on Finalists & Shares with the Search Committee
Late March/April Second-round Campus Interviews with Finalists
Mid-April Preparation of Report
TBD Board of Trustees Discussion, Selection & Vote
TBD Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Meeting for Discussion and Vote
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Executive Search Firm Selection and Guide
Executive Search Firm Duties:• Developing an institutional profile or other background materials on the
institution.• Preparing and placing advertisements.• Identifying and soliciting applications from qualified candidates.• Preparing and processing correspondence with candidates.• Responding to candidate inquiries and information requests.• Making travel and lodging arrangements for out-of-state candidates.• Conducting background and reference checks on applicants.• Other related services. • The search firm shall initially sort all candidates into two separate groups of
meeting minimal criteria or not meeting criteria. The search firm will provide the sorted list to the Search Committee, but the committee will review all candidates and decide as a committee which candidates to move forward.
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Search Committee Membership
Dr. Robert Martin, Chair, Trustee Member 1
Melissa Alvarado, Vice Chair, Trustee and Alumni Representative
Dr. Gloria Williams, Trustee Member 2
Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, Trustee, Member 3
Thalita Neves, Trustee and Student Representative
Dr. Brian Jennings, Faculty Member 1
Dr. Claudia Ciano-Boyce, Faculty Member 2
Ron’na Lytle, Staff Support 1
Junior Delgado, Professional Staff 1
Dr. Juline Mills, Non-unit Professional, Academic Affairs
Stephen Taksar, Non-unit Professional, Cabinet Level
Thomas Simard, Massachusetts BHE/DHE Representative
George Flevotomos, Westfield State Foundation Representative
Dr. Jalisa Williams, Ex-officio, Non-voting Resource to Committee
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Search Committee Charge
• With the help of the Westfield State University community and search firm, prepare a statement of institutional opportunities and challenges for the next president.
• With the help of the Westfield State University community and search firm, prepare a statement of desired presidential characteristics necessary to realize those opportunities and challenges.
• Conduct an active, national and even international search to attract a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates.
• Serve as ambassadors for Westfield State University in energetically promoting the institution’s strengths and values.
• Work in partnership with the search firm to organize and implement the search process, including communications with candidates and references, maintenance of records, and arrangements for interviews.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality concerning the names of candidates and discussions within the Committee throughout the search and beyond.
• Make regular reports to the Board and to members of the Westfield State University community about the progress of the search process while maintaining confidentiality about candidates.
• Organize a process for introducing final candidates to the Westfield State University community and Board of Trustees and collect feedback from candidates' visits to inform the committee's decision.
• Recommend to the Board three final candidates, unranked, with substantiation of the Committee’s conclusions that the candidate(s) meet the criteria originally set forth.
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Presidential Search Guide
Presidential Search Guide
• Bolsters WSU strengths.
• Document a process that alleviates “working from memory,” and “past practice assumptions.”
• Articulate WSU mission, vision, and goals throughout the process and is communicated to all candidates.
• Ensures process compliance (pre, during, and post search)
• Living document that details the steps and actions that are to be taken in the search process.
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Aim:
Presidential Search Guide
• the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Guidelines and Procedures for the Search, Selection, Appointment and Removal of State University and Community College Presidents
• Westfield State University Office of Human Resources, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (OHRIDE), Search Committee Guide
• Westfield State University Board of Trustees Bylaws
• Massachusetts Open Meeting and Public Record Laws
• Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised
• MBHE Code of Ethics
• WSU Equal Opportunity, Diversity & Affirmative Action Plan
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Key documents:
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
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Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
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Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search
Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions
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Presidential Leadership Profile
• Building trust
• Engaging and energizing the community around shared vision, goals, and identity
• Achieving financial and enrollment sustainability
• Further diversity, equity, and inclusion broadly across the community
• Strengthen external relationships and visibility
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Presidential Leadership Profile
Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities
• Westfield State seeks president who is excited by Westfield State’s mission – an energetic servant leader who is committed to the University’s excellence as a teaching institution and who will champion collaboration, shared governance, and diversity, equity, and inclusivity. The next president must be empathetic, engaging, and engaged with what is happening on the campus, and an active listener with strong financial, business, and marketing skills. Previous success in and a zest for fundraising are essential.
• Significant experience and evidence of success as a senior-level leader of an institution or organization of substantial complexity is required. An earned doctorate (including but not limited to a Ph.D., J.D., or Ed.D.) is required. In exceptional circumstances, an earned master’s degree, coupled with substantial experience relevant to the segmental mission and needs of the institution, may satisfy minimum educational requirements.
• In addition, the ideal candidate will also possess the following……
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Presidential Leadership Profile
Professional qualifications and competencies
• A commitment to the purpose and promise of public higher education, especially for first-generation students
• Vigorous advocacy for student engagement and success
• A demonstrated inspirational and motivational leadership style
• A genuine, transparent communication style
• Evidence of acting on the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• A clear ability to make and communicate difficult decisions
• Experience working effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders including faculty, staff, state and local officials, trustees, alumni, and external community members
• An ability to work successfully within a statewide system of higher education
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Presidential Leadership Profile
Professional qualifications and competencies (Cont.)
• Extensive experience working with unions in a collective bargaining environment
• Evidence of a sophisticated understanding of the higher education landscape
• An ability to develop vision into reality
• An understanding of financial concepts, financial planning, and the economic model of colleges and universities
• The skill to sell Westfield State through modeling its values, tone, and culture
• Substantial evidence of success in building and working with teams
• Solid business acumen and effective use of data to inform a collaborative approach to decision-making
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Presidential Leadership Profile
Personal qualities and characteristics
• Compassion and empathy
• Progressive thinking
• Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Courage, resiliency, and persistence
• Predisposition towards action informed by strategy and data
• Willingness to take calculated risks
• Humility and the wisdom to know when to seek others’ expertise
• Intellectual curiosity
• Natural talent for building and sustaining interpersonal relationships
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Advertising Plan/Recruitment
Publication/Organization Date Placed Run Time
WittKieffer – Candidate Portal, Website & Social Networking 12/15/20 120 Days
Chronicle of Higher Education 12/15/20 60 Days
Diverse Jobs 12/15/20 30 Days
DiversityInc 12/15/20 60 Days
HigherEdJobs.com 12/15/20 60 Days
Hispanic Outlook 12/15/20 8 Weeks
Inside Higher Ed 12/15/20 60 Days
Journal of Blacks on Higher Education 12/15/20 60 Days
Women in Higher Ed 12/15/20 30 Days
American Association of State Colleges and Universities 12/15/20 45 Days
American Conference of Academic Deans 12/15/20 90 Days
Association of American Colleges and Universities 12/16/20 30 Days
Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences 12/15/20 45 Days
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Candidate Pool• Number applications: 68
• Number of nominations: 88 (83 unique nominees); number that became applications: 20
• Number of inquiries: 81**; number that became applications: 23
• Number of WittKieffer outreach: 4,055 by email, extensive follow-up with 199 candidates
• Number of WittKieffer conversations: approximately 100 based on a combination of inquiries, phone screens, and interviews
• Applicant pool (initial & semi-finalist): number of male/female; racial and ethnic diversity; number of presidents, number of vice presidents, number of deans: see next screen.
Note:
Experience metrics for applicants are based on current position
Experience metrics for semi-finalists are based on highest position held
**WittKieffer does not typically track this number; this is based on a reasonable proxy metric within their system, which should track fairly close to the number of inquiries.
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Candidate Pool
Applicants Semi-Finalists# % # %
Overall 68 - 13 -
Women 14 21% 5 38%
Diverse 18 26% 2 15%
Black or African-American 6 9% 1 8%Hispanic or Latino 2 3% 0 0%Asian 9 13% 1 8%Two or More Races 1 1% 0 0%
Women & Diverse 5 7% 1 8%
Presidents 7 10% 4 31%
Provosts & Vice Presidents 17 25% 9 69%Deans 9 13% 0 0%
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Next Steps
Identification of Semi-finalists: March 3, 2021
Semi-finalist Interviews: March 16, 17, and 18, 2021
Identification of Finalists and Campus Visits: Late March/Early April
Search Committee Recommendation to Board of Trustees: TBD
Board of Trustees/Commissioner, DHE Review: TBD
westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search