Open letter to the Board of Trustees of SSCC
By
-
To the editor:
During the past 14 years, the faculty of Southern State Community
College have worked in concert with the Board of Trustees in the final
stages of presidential searches. This has been in accordance with
accreditation standards on shared governance and the bargained contract
concerning search committees. The results have been the selection of two
fine presidents, Dr. Larry Dukes and Dr. Sherry Stout, in accordance with
faculty recommendations.
On Sept. 16, the faculty of SSCC delivered a letter to the board
stating our willingness to be involved in the search process and the names
of those selected to represent the faculty. To this date, the faculty have
received no direct communication from the board about possible involvement
in this process. In October, the board interviewed 10 candidates without
faculty involvement. Several faculty were asked to meet with candidates to
give tours and take them to dinner, but no feedback was solicited from the
board.
In the past, a committee comprised of faculty, staff and administrators
interviewed finalists, conducted extensive reference checks, and presented
recommendations in closed sessions with the Board. This time, according to
media reports, we are to have no role other than an opportunity to meet the
finalists.
It is clear that the Board of Trustees of SSCC has chosen to operate in
a vacuum contrary to all principles of shared governance and long-standing
academic tradition. Collectively, full-time faculty have nearly 900
years of experience of direct full-time involvement in higher education.
The board consists of political appointees who normally meet with each other
one evening per month. And while we honor their service in representing the
community and supporting the college, this board appears to be making the
most important decision a college board makes while ignoring the collective
experience and wisdom of the higher education professionals, the largest and
most diverse collection of highly educated individuals in the area they
represent.
We ask that the board rethink its position and its lack of transparency
and to invite the faculty, staff, and administration to participate in
this most important decision in a meaningful and significant way.
With full support of the Faculty Senate,
Jon Davidson,
Kristi Hall,
Bill Horne,
Brenda Tilton[[In-content Ad]]
During the past 14 years, the faculty of Southern State Community
College have worked in concert with the Board of Trustees in the final
stages of presidential searches. This has been in accordance with
accreditation standards on shared governance and the bargained contract
concerning search committees. The results have been the selection of two
fine presidents, Dr. Larry Dukes and Dr. Sherry Stout, in accordance with
faculty recommendations.
On Sept. 16, the faculty of SSCC delivered a letter to the board
stating our willingness to be involved in the search process and the names
of those selected to represent the faculty. To this date, the faculty have
received no direct communication from the board about possible involvement
in this process. In October, the board interviewed 10 candidates without
faculty involvement. Several faculty were asked to meet with candidates to
give tours and take them to dinner, but no feedback was solicited from the
board.
In the past, a committee comprised of faculty, staff and administrators
interviewed finalists, conducted extensive reference checks, and presented
recommendations in closed sessions with the Board. This time, according to
media reports, we are to have no role other than an opportunity to meet the
finalists.
It is clear that the Board of Trustees of SSCC has chosen to operate in
a vacuum contrary to all principles of shared governance and long-standing
academic tradition. Collectively, full-time faculty have nearly 900
years of experience of direct full-time involvement in higher education.
The board consists of political appointees who normally meet with each other
one evening per month. And while we honor their service in representing the
community and supporting the college, this board appears to be making the
most important decision a college board makes while ignoring the collective
experience and wisdom of the higher education professionals, the largest and
most diverse collection of highly educated individuals in the area they
represent.
We ask that the board rethink its position and its lack of transparency
and to invite the faculty, staff, and administration to participate in
this most important decision in a meaningful and significant way.
With full support of the Faculty Senate,
Jon Davidson,
Kristi Hall,
Bill Horne,
Brenda Tilton[[In-content Ad]]