This week, I'm attending a seminar for new presidents at Harvard University, learning from and with 48 colleagues. The presidents attending the seminar represent a range of institutions -- from White Earth Tribal and Community College to Mount Holyoke College to the University of Virginia to the U.S. Air Force and Naval academies. I've spent a good deal of time reflecting on the year that just zipped past and want to hold true to my promise to update you throughout the summer on the status of last year’s activities.
My first update is on searches for members of the senior leadership team.
Just last week, someone asked me about the search for a new Vice President of Academic Services. This search and that for the new Vice President for Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services (VP for EDIWS) are being assisted by RPA, Inc. (https://www.rpainc.org/currentsearch.html), which is currently recruiting candidates. Please share this website with any colleagues who might be interested. Both searches are generating a considerable level of interest.
The committee I've convened for the VP for EDIWS -- I know, terrible acronym! -- has already been charged and begun its preliminary work, as has the SCAA-led committee. The goal of both groups is to finish their work and forward recommendations in early fall 2010. DCC Executive Dean Pete Otero is leading the committee charged by my office.
Because the Vice President for Academic Services search involves many more faculty, it will not begin its work in earnest until fall term. However, I will charge a committee, chaired by Faculty Senate President Christine Abbott, in late summer so that it gets a head start before fall. Both this group and that convened by SCAA anticipate making recommendations by year's end.
Please know that there is time in each process for finalists to meet with the college community and plenty of room for your feedback. These candidates will need to get to know us, and we will need to get to know them.
So, a natural question is: “What happens while we search?” As announced previously, Kimberley Collins will serve as the Interim Vice President for Academic Services for 2010-2011, and she is currently working to build her interim staff. Since Kimberley began her new role in May -- to provide overlap with Janet Glocker -- I have had an opportunity to work closely with her and can attest that our academic programs will have a strong advocate under her leadership. Until a new VP for EDIWS comes on board, no academic programs are moving. Workforce Development and Grants are reporting temporarily to General Counsel Diane Cecero during this interim period.
I head back home from Harvard tomorrow with a lot of information swimming in my head, but one thing is already clear. I've shared with my new colleagues that the college tagline is “There's More to You. There's More to MCC.” And I've told them that it's not just a slogan -- it's truly who we are. MCC is an innovative, caring, demanding, connected, creative, and dynamic college. Each day, MCC proves to be even more!
Next time, look forward to updates on global education, honors, budget resource committee and more.
Is there a topic you want to add to the list? Let me know by posting your comments and ideas to the President's Wednesday Message blog. .
Anne M. Kress
President's Office
07/21/2010 |