Dive Brief:
- Since President Coy Grace at East Arkansas Community College announced his plants to retire last May, the opening has drawn in 47 applications, reports Arkansas Online. The job listing comes at the same time that the institution is merging with neighbor Crowley's Ridge Technical School.
- Applicants represent a range of expertise in the academia-to-presidency pathway, such as Jay Edwards, associate professor of business at Lincoln Memorial University and Paul Hutchins, current president of Sampson Community College.
- By contrast, the South Carolina State University board, which has 12 open positions according to T&D — has received only one application, which may be reflective of political turmoil at the embattled institution.
Dive Insight:
The pathway to the presidency is changing overall — no longer is the traditional pipeline of academia to top still the status quo, as many institutions have drawn in presidents from outside the industry. But at the same time, the presidential and executive leadership turnover rate is also rising, and the pool of qualified applicants to lead in higher ed is often considered slim. At some institutions in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and Mississippi, new leaders were appointed by boards without going through the full search process, which caused quite a stir at the institutions, but which leaders defended as necessary given the climate.
This reality presents both challenges and benefits. The widening of consideration of varied professional backgrounds means that there will be greater opportunities for leaders with diverse perspectives to take the lead in moving the industry into a new time which demands different skills. But it also means that there is a need for more robust professional development programs to help interested parties obtain the traditional skills necessary to thrive at an institution of higher education, which is unlike what many have experienced in other industries.
In fact, many education experts say that the search process and succession planning go hand in hand. For instance, Georgia College President Steve M. Dorman has said exactly this:
"We should be about creating pathways … for leadership,” said Dorman. And the way to do this is to encourage “faculty members and potentially promising leaders to take part in local, state-wide and national leadership programs.”