Presidental Search Process - Take 2

So here we are again in the process of seeking a president for MSU. Below is a press release from the Institutes for Higher Learning, IHL, detailing their plans to have the search committee visit campus and compile a list of desired job qualifications from various MSU groups. Below that is also a link to the IHL website where people from the general public can submit their own ideas. I noticed the recurring use of the word transparency in their press releases. I imagine they're still reeling from some of the negative attention gained last time by having a totally secretive search process. Indeed, continually using the word transparent to describe that process is a bit reminiscent of 1984 doublespeak.


BOARD SEARCH COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE CONSTITUENCY
GROUPS

Jackson, MS-The Board Search Committee for the next president of
Mississippi
State University, chaired by Trustee Scott Ross, along with
Commissioner of
Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith, will meet with various
Mississippi
State constituency groups on Monday, April 28, 2008, beginning at 7:45
a.m. in
the Hunter Henry Center on the Mississippi State campus, 1 Hunter Henry
Boulevard, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, to hear what qualities the
Mississippi State community is looking for in their next university
president.
These qualities will be used to draft the profile and job description
for the
position of president at Mississippi State University. Members of the
Mississippi State Board Search Committee include Committee Chair and
Trustee
Scott Ross of West Point; Trustee Ed Blakeslee of Gulfport; Trustee
Aubrey
Patterson of Tupelo; Trustee Robin Robinson of Laurel; and Trustee C.
D. Smith
of Meridian. All meetings are open to the media. The schedule, subject
to
change, is below:

7:45-8:45 a.m.: Breakfast and listening session with Vice Presidents
and
Athletic Director; Shackouls Room, Hunter Henry Center

9:00-9:45 a.m.: Listening session Deans and Associate Deans; Parker
Ballroom;
Hunter Henry Center

9:45-10:30 a.m.: Listening session with Faculty Senate Advisory Group;
Parker
Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

10:30-11:15 a.m.: Listening session with Academic and Non-Academic
Department
Heads; Parker Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

11:15 a.m.-noon: Listening session with General Faculty; Parker
Ballroom;
Hunter Henry Center

12:15-1:10 p.m.: Lunch and listening session with the Bulldog Club
Board of
Directors; Correro Room, Hunter Henry Center

1:15-1:45 p.m.: Listening session with Professional and Support Staff
Advisory
Council and Staff Members; Parker Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

1:45-2:30 p.m.: Listening session with the Division of Agriculture;
Parker
Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

2:30-3:15 p.m.: Listening session with MSU Alumni Association Board of
Directors; Parker Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

3:15-4:00 p.m.: Listening session with MSU Alumni, Community Leaders,
and
General Public; Parker Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

4:00-4:30 p.m.: Listening session with MSU Foundation Board of
Directors;
Shackouls Room; Hunter Henry Center

4:30-5:00 p.m.: Listening session with Undergraduate and Graduate
Student
Leaders and General Student Body; Parker Ballroom; Hunter Henry Center

*All sessions in Parker Ballroom will be webcast; link to be provided
on
Mississippi State main web page closer to April 28.
**Interactive video links and locations will be provided to
MSU-Meridian, MSU-
Extension, and MSU-MAFES employees on the Mississippi State main web
page
closer to April 28.

Members of the general public interested in submitting their ideas on
the
qualities of the next president of Mississippi State may do so by
visiting
http://www.mississippi.edu/ieo. The Board of Trustees of State
Institutions of
Higher Learning's institutional executive officer search process allows
Mississippi to be on the consideration list of the highest caliber
professionals in higher education. The process is open, transparent and
representative-based, and works in accordance with today's recruitment
standards for high-level institutions of higher learning. For more
information
on the Board's institutional executive officer search process,
including a
timeline of events, visit http://www.mississippi.edu/ieo/.