Thursday July 31, 2003 Online Since 1996 Vol. 77 No. 55

The Appalachian | News
Broad charges chancellor search committee

by James Nix
 Editor-in-Chief

Josh Brown | Chief Photographer
UNC President Molly C. Broad spoke to the search committee July 24.
      The search for Appalachian State University’s sixth chancellor began last week with the first meeting of the chancellor search committee.
    “We have a big task ahead of us,” vice-chair Glenn W. Wilcox told the committee. “This can make all the difference at Appalachian State University for the next 15, 20, 30 years, or maybe more.”
    Out of the past chancellors, the least any one has stayed has been 10 years.
    “We’re looking for someone who can lead us for the next 10 years and beyond,” committee chair Robert G. Fox said.
    University of North Carolina system president Molly C. Broad charged the committee of the task before it and spoke on the key elements in a successful search.
    She told the16-member committee comprised of trustees, faculty, students, staff, alumni and community representatives the selection of a leader will define the university in the future.
    “Searches for university chancellors and presidents have become very difficult in the last decade,” she said.
    Succession planning, a common practice in the business world, is not used in higher education, Broad said.
    “We go through the process in which you start with a clean sheet of paper, and there is no heir apparent,” she said.
    The process is more time consuming but has its advantages in the fact that it is a nation wide search, Fox said. A nationwide search gives the committee a wider pool of candidates.
    Broad also spoke on the importance of balancing the public’s right to know and the committee’s right to confidential discussion.
    Fox will be the only spokesperson during the search.
    Broad commended the committee on its quick start and said Appalachian was one of the first universities out of the gate in the search for a new chancellor.
    The committee was formed a month after Dr. Francis T. Borkowski announced his retirement in June.
    Broad said she thinks there is a good chance for the committee to have its work wrapped up before the calendar year is up.
    “I’d rather make the announcement in January than in May,” Broad said.
    Fox said even if the decision was made as early as January, a new chancellor more than likely would not take office until next summer, depending on his or her prior position.
    Broad said one of the earliest jobs the committee has is to develop a position description.
    She said someone who “walks on water and doesn’t scare the fish” should fill the position.
    Broad suggested the committee hire the help of an executive search firm. Such firms have assisted all chancellor searches in the UNC system since 1997.
    She said a search firm would help find more candidates as well as do background checks.
    “I believe in lifting up all the rocks and finding what’s there,” Broad said.
    The committee voted unanimously voted in favor of using the services of a search firm. Fox said he has already contacted several firms in the Southeast and asked each to respond by today.
    The committee will meet via conference call Aug. 11 and select two finalists to come to Boone and give a presentation.
    On Aug. 18 the committee will hold its next open meeting to select the search firm and make additional plans for the fall.
    The committee will recommend at least three candidates, and Broad will select the finale candidate for approval by the UNC Board of Governors.
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