UCA names panel in quest for leader
Posted on Saturday, November 8, 2008
CONWAY — The process to hire a new president of the University of Central Arkansas began Friday with trustees voting to appoint a seven-member committee to screen candidates and make recommendations.
The panel will consist of one representative of each of these groups: faculty, students, staff, the UCA Foundation, alumni, vice presidents or deans, and the Faulkner County community. Additionally, a member of the board of trustees will serve as a nonvoting committee member.
The board named former UCA President Jeff Farris and UCA chemistry professor Jerry Manion as committee co-chairmen. In the event of a tie vote, Manion will cast the deciding vote on behalf of the co-chairmen under the board of trustees ’ resolution creating the panel.
The search committee ultimately will submit four to six presidential candidates for consideration by the board. But the board also may consider anyone else it deems worthy under the resolution.
One trustee, Harold Chakales of Little Rock, objected to a provision stating, “In the event the Board of Trustees decides to consider a candidate who was not reviewed by the Committee, the candidates’ name and qualifications shall be forwarded to the Committee for its consideration and views prior to the interview by the Board of Trustees.”
Board Chairman Randy Sims of Conway started to tell Chakales the purpose of the section when Chakales interrupted him to say, “I know exactly what its purpose is, but it’s still poorly worded.”
Chakales’ motion to delete the section died for lack of a second.
The resolution does not give the search committee a specific timetable.
The president’s office became vacant Sept. 16, when Lu Hardin’s resignation took effect after months of contention.
Tom Courtway, UCA’s general counsel, is serving as interim president. Courtway has said he does not want to be the permanent president.
During Friday’s board meeting, Harding suggested the board should submit two or three names, including Manion’s, and let the faculty senate instead choose Farris’ co-chairman. Working with faculty on this, Harding said, would serve “as a measure of good will and shared governance.”
“Even though all these constituents have a stake in UCA... the faculty and staff and students — especially the faculty and staff — they’re the ones down here in the trenches every day,” Harding said. “For us to try to say we’re the boss,” seems to show some naivete.
Trustee Scott Roussel of Searcy, however, questioned how the board could allow the faculty to make that decision “and not let anybody else have any say-so.”
“I don’t think the board at all is saying we’re in control and we’re going to do what we want,” Roussel said.
Harding’s proposal failed on 2-4 vote with only himself and Michael Stanton of Wooster favoring it.
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