You may (or may not) be surprised to note that the ad does not list academic credentials as one of the ten “characteristics/attributes integral to the role of President,” a list presumably developed by “the University community and Trustees,” despite the fact that this is not the same criteria approved by the search advisory committee at the last meeting or the same criteria the BOT approved in 2009 (as explained in my last post). It does, however, list loyalty to Florida State University as one of the top ten criteria. This is quite curious. How many qualified candidates, nationally or internationally, would have a priori “loyalty to Florida State University”? I just can’t help but ask who in the world would apply to a presidential position with this list of top ten characteristics? How does this list of characteristics “we” are looking for in a President represent Florida State University to the outside world? (And as people who value language and writing skills, the way the list reads is highly problematic as well). Maybe I’m reading too much into this list. But from what I’ve heard, I’m not the only one.
Further, as of today, May 12, if you go to the website for more information, as the ad asks potential candidates to do, it takes you to the presidential search website. If you click on “About the Position” or “Position Profile,” it takes you to a page that reads, “Coming Soon.” Coming soon? The search firm posted an ad that leads potential candidates to a page that has no additional information? Why wouldn’t the search firm--or whoever is in charge of the website--be sure to have pertinent information about the presidential search on these pages before sending out a job posting to The Chronicle of Higher Education? And please also note that the presidential search website does not have a link for people to apply and does not explain how people can apply. Rather, it states in the Frequently Asked Questions section:
Q: Who can nominate
candidates? Who can apply?
A: Anyone may nominate
a candidate through the “Submit Comments” feature on this website.
This is the same place that anyone can post comments.
I have to say that as a faculty member at Florida State University, I am embarrassed by this job posting and the lack of information on the presidential search website. Perhaps a note to the search firm, the search advisory committee chair, and the chair of the BOT would be useful?
I think I should remind readers that my loyalty lies with the faculty and our students. We--and the people of the State of Florida--deserve an honest, open, transparent process. May the best woman or man be selected from a pool of other well qualified candidates. However, when we were told at the last meeting by Mr. Funk that listing academic credentials as a qualification would limit the candidate pool, but the search firm, and presumably the BOT, add loyalty to Florida State University as a top criterion in the job ad listed in The Chronicle, I’m worried. We need to do something. Fast. And the next meeting is scheduled for May 21 at the Turnbull Center. Hope to see more faculty there.
