Picking the next UNC-system president is not an easy job, even for the group of more than 40 people charged with the task.
Before they can even think about candidates, members of the committees must get input from various sources, develop a sense of the system’s direction and draft a job description for the person who will replace outgoing President Erskine Bowles.
Outside help will be crucial in this search. Last week, the search committee began soliciting proposals from a list of 21 different executive search consultants — private firms that identify candidates for top administrative positions.
Search leaders hope that bringing on a consultant — despite the significant cost — will help them find the best candidate in the next eight or nine months.
“The search consultant will be very, very helpful,” said Hannah Gage, chairwoman of the Board of Governors and the search committee. “They can tell you how to screen and how you reach out to candidates. Last time they actually helped us out with the leadership statement.”
UNC-system president search committees
Selection and Screening Committee:
The committee sent 21 consultants a letter asking them to submit a proposal for why they should be included in the search. Consultants are asked to submit proposals by April 1. The committee will narrow the field and hear proposals from about four finalists on April 9.
Leadership Statement Committee:
The committee is charged with writing a leadership statement — a document what will lay out what the state is looking for in the next president and serve as an advertisement for the job.
Over the next three weeks, seven subcommittees will solicit input from various constituencies. Based on this feedback, the committee will draft a leadership statement by the group’s April 30 meeting.
Search Committee:
The committee will hold its first meeting Thursday. Much of its work will not begin until the field of candidates has narrowed down by the other committees. In the meantime, the committee is working to establish compensation guidelines.
Gage served on the committee that hired outgoing President Erskine Bowles, who announced in February that he was stepping down from the job. Bowles said he hopes to serve until December but will stay until a new president is selected.
Whoever is selected as Bowles’ replacement will be given wide authority to oversee the 17 campuses of the University of North Carolina. He or she will work with lawmakers to set the system’s budget and communicate with chancellors to set direction at the individual campuses.
Search leaders have set a preliminary budget of $100,000, but Gage said that number is likely to change once they hear estimates from consultants, whose compensation will make up a significant portion of the budget.
