Discussion about president begins
The Board of Curators sat down to assess its goals and expectations.
Published Jan. 26, 2007
ST. LOUIS — When UM system President Elson Floyd resigned during the final weeks of last semester, things were chaotic. But the UM system Board of Curators sat down and assessed the situation Thursday at UM-St. Louis as it discussed its goals and expectations in finding the successor to Floyd.
The curators met with representatives from the Baker-Parker hiring firm to express the qualities they would like to see in a new system president.
"We are about to draw the blueprint for what we want," Executive Search Consultant Jerry Baker said.
The Board of Curators is the nine-member governing board of the UM system, which includes UMSL, UM-Kansas City, UM-Rolla and MU.
The curators looked over the Presidential Succession Leadership Statement and bulleted essential items that the future president should have.
"It's important to be optimistic, enthusiastic and realistic," Baker said about the search for a new president.
The curators cited comparable state systems to find out what process should be taken in selecting a new leader. The role the president would play in economic development was discussed as a potential to start up businesses.
"We want someone to continue what Dr. Floyd started," Curator Bo Fraser said.
The curators agreed that whoever is chosen as president would have to work well with state legislators and try to increase higher education funding.
"We need someone that is graceful with legislators and graceful with the business community," Curator Cheryl Walker said.
The curators answered questions from the hiring firm and defined the system's goals and the direction the system wanted to go institutionally.
Curator Warren Erdman said he wanted someone confident enough to support the four chancellors and someone who could strive through innovation and creativity.
As the curators shot around ideas, Baker posed a heavy question.
"To get better requires change, and change can be scary," he said. "Does this university want to change?"
The curators discussed sample contracts, compensation packages and the board's strategic plan. Although the curators were building a résumé for the ideal future president, the board basically drew up a blueprint for a charismatic and confident leader, much like Floyd.
"We need to make a framework of what we want so our candidates know," Fraser said.
Erdman suggested the board come up with a concrete list of five to eight items it was looking for in a future leader.
After the discussion on the expectations of presidential candidates, Baker explained the advertising strategies and proposed timeline for his hiring firm.
Baker said his firm is required by law to make the presidential search public in three academic journals. The advertisements would cost $5,000, and the board could ask for additional advertisements to be placed elsewhere.
Baker explained how his firm would go about searching for a replacement to Floyd.
"We will be moving the search thoroughly, carefully and quickly," Baker said. "If those can all be isolated."
Baker said his goal was to have "very quiet and confidential" meetings with candidates during the next 45 to 60 days and to meet with final candidates early in the spring. During this time period, Baker-Parker will focus only on this search and no others.
"In an ideal world, we'll have a president here when Floyd leaves," Baker said.
The board discussed setting up an advisory committee to give advice on each candidate once the search is narrowed down. For the committee, the chancellors at each of the four campuses will nominate four former curators or faculty members. The board would then have a chance to meet with this group of 16 and narrow the committee down to eight.
Maria Kerford, student representative to the Board of Curators, said she would really like to see two student representatives involved in the selection process.
The board will meet again April 5 to discuss the search's progress.
"This is probably the most important decision the board will make all year," Board Chairman Don Walsworth said. "And that's an understatement."