Wednesday’s announcement that the UNC-system Board of Governors will name the next UNC chancellor Friday is a reminder of how closed the entire process stands today.
The news was sprung on students, faculty and staff who have next to no control over the process. Once the board makes its decision, the die is cast and everyone with a stake in UNC will have to accept the decision.
With the University caught in between athletic and academic scandals, Title IX investigations and proposed tuition increases, the new chancellor is going to have a substantial role in determining the University’s future.
As such, the process needs wider input. Although the chancellor search committee selected students and faculty to represent their respective groups, the University would have benefited from more open forums and discussions about the specific candidates under consideration.
Such an open process would better gauge public opinion before setting the decision in stone.
It is undoubtedly impossible to select a chancellor whom everyone approves of, but reaching out to the University community would have showcased a commitment to choosing a chancellor that best fits UNC and its stakeholders.
Although the newest chancellor might have been chosen behind closed doors, transparency in future processes is still necessary.
Changing the process, even if its just announcing the final candidates being considered, would benefit the University and ensure that future chancellors meet the standards of the community.
