Temps & Co.?

FAMU Halts SBI Dean Search

FAMU's has more temps (interims) than Randstat (temporary services firm). Now,after scheduling on campus interviews for the five finalist, FAMU has decided to halt the search for a permanent SBI Dean.

This afternoon, Provost Debra Austin issued the following email (which we condensed in the interest of space):

Dear Colleagues:

Several events have transpired recently that have necessitated a change in
the University's attempt to fill the following very important positions:
Dean of the College of Law, Dean of the College of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dean of the School of Business and Industry, and Dean of the School of Nursing. First, even though the positions were advertised nationally, the number of applicants for each position was quite small. In fact, with the exception of the Business Dean's position which was advertised three times, the University received a combined total of ten applications for the other deans' positions. Given the fact that these leadership positions are extremely important to the academic and research programs of this University, the University deserves to have the opportunity to select from a larger pool of candidates.

Second, on yesterday, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Larry Rivers, was offered the presidency of Fort Valley State University. His departure next month will create yet another key vacancy at the University.

If the SBI Dean's search is any indication of the difficulty in securing a significant number of potential candidates for the position and if this process took three attempts to yield more than a handful of qualified candidates, then we must change the way we seek potential applicants... I am still committed to having a stable cadre of deans by July 1, 2006...

... the University has secured the services of The Hollins Group, an
executive search firm, to help us in this process.

I have decided to include the SBI Dean's position in the agreement with The Hollins Group, to terminate the current screening process, and to refer all current candidates' files to The Hollins Group. I will personally call the potential interviewees, inform them of my decision, and encourage them to maintain their interest in the University...

My decision to include the SBI Dean's position is not an indication of
dissatisfaction with either the committee's performance or the quality of
the applicants.
Sincerely,

Debra Austin

* * * * * * * *
Note to Debra Austin
Perhaps, the Hollins Group could also be enlisted to help us find a premanent President! We've been far to passive in that search as well. Given how we've been operating lately, are you REALLY surprised in the paltry number of aplicants? Who in their right mind would want to come work in such an unstable environment. Let's get that permanent president search going!