The Times West Virginian

Local News

November 14, 2008

Qualities for future FSU president discussed

Tentative schedule for search process has been reviewed

By Katie Wilson

FAIRMONT — What qualities should the next president of Fairmont State University have?

That’s the question the Parker Executive Search firm has been trying to answer since Wednesday.

Parker conducted focus groups with different campus groups all day Wednesday. Representatives spoke with about 150 people, said Dan Parker, president of the firm.

Parker then shared the comments he received with the university’s presidential search committee, which held its first meeting Thursday.

The committee includes all members of the university’s board of governors. Committee Chairman Andy Kniceley said the committee intends to conduct an “open and transparent” process and that all full meetings will abide by the state’s open-meetings laws.

FSU interim President Charles McClain said he was impressed by the number of people who agreed to participate on the search committee. The group includes representatives from every campus constituent group, the entire board of governors and community members.

The committee also reviewed the tentative schedule for the search process.

Next week, the final statement of desired characteristics will be competed by a subcommittee and approved by the full committee before being forwarded to Parker on Friday.

In November and December, Parker will begin advertising the position in higher education magazines, as well as on the FSU and Parker Web sites.

Parker will also accept nominations from the committee and community.

The search will begin within a 250-mile radius and move out from there, Dan Parker said.

On Feb. 11, Parker officials, with the assistance and input of McClain, will present a list of 10 or so candidates to the committee, which will narrow the list. The subcommittee will interview the candidates and create a short list of three to invite to campus. The on-campus interviews will take place sometime in mid-March. The three candidates will be presented to the board of governors, which will make the final decision.

Parker shared a long list of attributes collected from the focus groups Wednesday. The search committee also added more characteristics.

The following is a compiled list of some of the more common attributes requested by the campus community and committee.

• Someone with good financial skills.

• A person who understands the unique situation of a university sharing a campus with a community and technical college.

• A good leader.

• Someone with a strong background in academics.

• Someone who is charismatic, who participates in campus and community events, and is involved with all campus constituency groups. Also, someone who is capable of making friends and raising funds.

• Someone who understands and can manage politics, but is not a politician.

• Someone who understands the constantly changing landscape of higher education and can lead the university into the future.

• A good manager who draws the best from those around him or her and trusts them to do their jobs well. Also, someone with a strong background in human resources.

• Someone who has good manners and has integrity and passion.

• Someone who has an appreciation for the county, state and region and FSU’s place within it.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.

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