Dive Brief:
- With Margaret Spellings’ name leaked as a finalist in the so-far highly secretive search for a new University of North Carolina system president, members of the board of governors, legislature, and faculty community are calling foul.
- Inside Higher Ed reports the 11-member search committee is taking fire from all sides for being too opaque in its process, and, though it has said it wouldn’t, some on the board of governors and in the legislature worry the committee is poised to go against a still-unsigned law that requires at least three finalists.
- Many are already saying whoever is selected as the next president under the process will not get widespread support, regardless of his or her credentials.
Dive Insight:
The ouster of Thomas Ross, UNC’s current president, followed abrupt change in the political composition of the North Carolina legislature. Legislators are keeping a close eye on the board of governors for the university system. The wider board is keeping a close eye on the 11-member search committee. No one seems to trust anyone else. It’s an environment few would be interested in stepping into as the next system leader. And it’s a politically charged environment many scorn, arguing academia should be able to stay above the fray.