Price’s selection as a finalist another example of search committee’s incompetent vetting

Karl E. White, chairman of the FAMU presidential search committee

Rattlers far and near should be embarrassed that the FAMU presidential search committee actually named John Ellis Price a finalist for the university presidency.

Back when Price was the president of the University of Texas at Dallas (UNTD), he treated his professors like dirt. He tried to terminate the entire faculty of the school (then a branch campus of UNT Denton) in 2010 before backing off in the wake of negative publicity. A 2012 UNT Dallas faculty survey that received a 51 percent participation rate found that most of respondents thought Price’s administration lacked effective communication skills, openness, and receptiveness. That was his last year as president.

Price shouldn’t have made the first cut, let alone the finalist stage. His selection as one of the two top-recommended candidates is another example of the incompetent vetting process led by FAMU presidential search committee Chairman Karl E. White.

White has shown very little concern about making sure that FAMU had presidential semi-finalists or finalists who all had records of treating university faculty members with respect. He also supported John E. Maupin, Jr. and Dianne Boardley-Suber as applicants who deserved interviews.

Maupin, according to the American Association of University Professors, effectively abolished the tenure system at his own alma mater (Meharry Medical College). There were accusations that he got his way by using intimidation tactics.

The ex-chairman of the St. Augustine’s University Board of Trustees said that Boardley-Suber shut down the school’s faculty senate.

Karl E. White has never demonstrated any quality leadership on the FAMU Board of Trustees since his initial appointment in 2007. His failure to ensure a common sense vetting process for FAMU’s presidential applicants offers even more proof of that.