Community Information Sessions · 2021. 3. 11. · Community Information Sessions March 8, 2021 March 11, 2021. Agenda • Overview of Timeline and Schedule • Search Firm Selection

Presidential Search Committee

Community Information Sessions

March 8, 2021March 11, 2021

Agenda

• Overview of Timeline and Schedule

• Search Firm Selection and Guide

• Search Committee Membership

• Search Committee Charge

• Survey Results and Listening Sessions

• Presidential Leadership Profile

• Advertising Plan/Recruitment

• Candidate Pool

• Next Steps

• Q&A

westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search

https://www.westfield.ma.edu/presidential-search

Timeline & Schedule

Aug. 27, 2020 Committee Charge, Equity in Searches, Process & Timeline overview, Open Discussion of Opportunity

Sept. 11-18, 2020 Campus Listening Sessions

Sept. 30 2020 Review of Surveys/Listening Discussions; Discussion of Process & Timeline

Oct. 14, 2020 Continued Discussion of Survey

Oct. 28, 2020 Discussion of Leadership Role and Responsibilities

Nov. 18, 2020 Review of Leadership Profile, Committee & Campus Updates, Discussion of Candidate Recruitment Strategy

Dec. 2, 2020 Approval of Leadership Profile & Advertisement, Review of Advertisement Options

Mid Dec.-Mid Feb. WittKieffer Active Recruitment Period



Timeline & Schedule

Jan. 29, 2021 Update, Rubric Review & Calibration, Implicit Bias Discussion, Discussion of Candidate Review Process

Feb. 1, 2021 Candidate Materials Posted for Committee Review

Feb. 12, 2021 Application Deadline

Feb. 24 & Mar 3, 2021 Continued Discussion of Candidate Review Process, Review & Selection of Candidates for Interviews, Review of Interview Questions & Process

By March 8, 2021 BHE & BOT Provided Opportunity to Review Slate of Candidates for Interviews

March 8 & 11, 2021 Campus Open Forums to Discuss Process



Timeline & Schedule

March 16,17, & 18, 2021 First-round Candidate Interviews

March/Early April 2021 WittKieffer Conducts Referencing on Finalists & Shares with the Search Committee

Late March/April Second-round Campus Interviews with Finalists

Mid-April Preparation of Report

TBD Board of Trustees Discussion, Selection & Vote

TBD Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Meeting for Discussion and Vote



Executive Search Firm Selection and Guide

Executive Search Firm Duties:• Developing an institutional profile or other background materials on the

institution.• Preparing and placing advertisements.• Identifying and soliciting applications from qualified candidates.• Preparing and processing correspondence with candidates.• Responding to candidate inquiries and information requests.• Making travel and lodging arrangements for out-of-state candidates.• Conducting background and reference checks on applicants.• Other related services. • The search firm shall initially sort all candidates into two separate groups of

meeting minimal criteria or not meeting criteria. The search firm will provide the sorted list to the Search Committee, but the committee will review all candidates and decide as a committee which candidates to move forward.



Search Committee Membership

Dr. Robert Martin, Chair, Trustee Member 1

Melissa Alvarado, Vice Chair, Trustee and Alumni Representative

Dr. Gloria Williams, Trustee Member 2

Lydia Martinez-Alvarez, Trustee, Member 3

Thalita Neves, Trustee and Student Representative

Dr. Brian Jennings, Faculty Member 1

Dr. Claudia Ciano-Boyce, Faculty Member 2

Ron’na Lytle, Staff Support 1

Junior Delgado, Professional Staff 1

Dr. Juline Mills, Non-unit Professional, Academic Affairs

Stephen Taksar, Non-unit Professional, Cabinet Level

Thomas Simard, Massachusetts BHE/DHE Representative

George Flevotomos, Westfield State Foundation Representative

Dr. Jalisa Williams, Ex-officio, Non-voting Resource to Committee



Search Committee Charge

• With the help of the Westfield State University community and search firm, prepare a statement of institutional opportunities and challenges for the next president.

• With the help of the Westfield State University community and search firm, prepare a statement of desired presidential characteristics necessary to realize those opportunities and challenges.

• Conduct an active, national and even international search to attract a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates.

• Serve as ambassadors for Westfield State University in energetically promoting the institution’s strengths and values.

• Work in partnership with the search firm to organize and implement the search process, including communications with candidates and references, maintenance of records, and arrangements for interviews.

• Maintain absolute confidentiality concerning the names of candidates and discussions within the Committee throughout the search and beyond.

• Make regular reports to the Board and to members of the Westfield State University community about the progress of the search process while maintaining confidentiality about candidates.

• Organize a process for introducing final candidates to the Westfield State University community and Board of Trustees and collect feedback from candidates' visits to inform the committee's decision.

• Recommend to the Board three final candidates, unranked, with substantiation of the Committee’s conclusions that the candidate(s) meet the criteria originally set forth.



Presidential Search Guide


• Bolsters WSU strengths.

• Document a process that alleviates “working from memory,” and “past practice assumptions.”

• Articulate WSU mission, vision, and goals throughout the process and is communicated to all candidates.

• Ensures process compliance (pre, during, and post search)

• Living document that details the steps and actions that are to be taken in the search process.


Aim:



• the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Guidelines and Procedures for the Search, Selection, Appointment and Removal of State University and Community College Presidents

• Westfield State University Office of Human Resources, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (OHRIDE), Search Committee Guide

• Westfield State University Board of Trustees Bylaws

• Massachusetts Open Meeting and Public Record Laws

• Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised

• MBHE Code of Ethics

• WSU Equal Opportunity, Diversity & Affirmative Action Plan


Key documents:


Review of Survey Results & Listening Sessions





























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Presidential Leadership Profile

• Building trust

• Engaging and energizing the community around shared vision, goals, and identity

• Achieving financial and enrollment sustainability

• Further diversity, equity, and inclusion broadly across the community

• Strengthen external relationships and visibility




Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities

• Westfield State seeks president who is excited by Westfield State’s mission – an energetic servant leader who is committed to the University’s excellence as a teaching institution and who will champion collaboration, shared governance, and diversity, equity, and inclusivity. The next president must be empathetic, engaging, and engaged with what is happening on the campus, and an active listener with strong financial, business, and marketing skills. Previous success in and a zest for fundraising are essential.

• Significant experience and evidence of success as a senior-level leader of an institution or organization of substantial complexity is required. An earned doctorate (including but not limited to a Ph.D., J.D., or Ed.D.) is required. In exceptional circumstances, an earned master’s degree, coupled with substantial experience relevant to the segmental mission and needs of the institution, may satisfy minimum educational requirements.

• In addition, the ideal candidate will also possess the following……




Professional qualifications and competencies

• A commitment to the purpose and promise of public higher education, especially for first-generation students

• Vigorous advocacy for student engagement and success

• A demonstrated inspirational and motivational leadership style

• A genuine, transparent communication style

• Evidence of acting on the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion

• A clear ability to make and communicate difficult decisions

• Experience working effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders including faculty, staff, state and local officials, trustees, alumni, and external community members

• An ability to work successfully within a statewide system of higher education




Professional qualifications and competencies (Cont.)

• Extensive experience working with unions in a collective bargaining environment

• Evidence of a sophisticated understanding of the higher education landscape

• An ability to develop vision into reality

• An understanding of financial concepts, financial planning, and the economic model of colleges and universities

• The skill to sell Westfield State through modeling its values, tone, and culture

• Substantial evidence of success in building and working with teams

• Solid business acumen and effective use of data to inform a collaborative approach to decision-making




Personal qualities and characteristics

• Compassion and empathy

• Progressive thinking

• Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

• Courage, resiliency, and persistence

• Predisposition towards action informed by strategy and data

• Willingness to take calculated risks

• Humility and the wisdom to know when to seek others’ expertise

• Intellectual curiosity

• Natural talent for building and sustaining interpersonal relationships



Advertising Plan/Recruitment

Publication/Organization Date Placed Run Time

WittKieffer – Candidate Portal, Website & Social Networking 12/15/20 120 Days

Chronicle of Higher Education 12/15/20 60 Days

Diverse Jobs 12/15/20 30 Days

DiversityInc 12/15/20 60 Days

HigherEdJobs.com 12/15/20 60 Days

Hispanic Outlook 12/15/20 8 Weeks

Inside Higher Ed 12/15/20 60 Days

Journal of Blacks on Higher Education 12/15/20 60 Days

Women in Higher Ed 12/15/20 30 Days

American Association of State Colleges and Universities 12/15/20 45 Days

American Conference of Academic Deans 12/15/20 90 Days

Association of American Colleges and Universities 12/16/20 30 Days

Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences 12/15/20 45 Days



Candidate Pool• Number applications: 68

• Number of nominations: 88 (83 unique nominees); number that became applications: 20

• Number of inquiries: 81**; number that became applications: 23

• Number of WittKieffer outreach: 4,055 by email, extensive follow-up with 199 candidates

• Number of WittKieffer conversations: approximately 100 based on a combination of inquiries, phone screens, and interviews

• Applicant pool (initial & semi-finalist): number of male/female; racial and ethnic diversity; number of presidents, number of vice presidents, number of deans: see next screen.

Note:

Experience metrics for applicants are based on current position

Experience metrics for semi-finalists are based on highest position held

**WittKieffer does not typically track this number; this is based on a reasonable proxy metric within their system, which should track fairly close to the number of inquiries.



Candidate Pool

Applicants Semi-Finalists# % # %

Overall 68 - 13 -

Women 14 21% 5 38%

Diverse 18 26% 2 15%

Black or African-American 6 9% 1 8%Hispanic or Latino 2 3% 0 0%Asian 9 13% 1 8%Two or More Races 1 1% 0 0%

Women & Diverse 5 7% 1 8%

Presidents 7 10% 4 31%

Provosts & Vice Presidents 17 25% 9 69%Deans 9 13% 0 0%



Next Steps

Identification of Semi-finalists: March 3, 2021

Semi-finalist Interviews: March 16, 17, and 18, 2021

Identification of Finalists and Campus Visits: Late March/Early April

Search Committee Recommendation to Board of Trustees: TBD

Board of Trustees/Commissioner, DHE Review: TBD



Presidential Search Committee

Q & A


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Documents

Community Information Sessions · 2021. 3. 11. · Community Information Sessions March 8, 2021 March 11, 2021. Agenda • Overview of Timeline and Schedule • Search Firm Selection