Please Note: MSU MEMO is archived as a part of Mississippi State University's history. Articles may refer to situations which have changed or people who are no longer affiliated with the university.
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February 20, 2006 Volume 30, Issue 23 |
Holland Senate still unhappy over search
During its February meeting, the Robert Holland Faculty Senate continued to express its displeasure with the state College Board’s process for selecting a new Mississippi State president.
As part of the senate’s January meeting, 13 members of a specially elected committee monitoring the search process sent a letter (see Jan. 23 Memo) to MSU alumnus and College Board member Ed Blakeslee of Gulfport expressing disagreement with the board’s announced search process (see Jan. 17 Memo). Blakeslee chairs the official College Board presidential search committee.
This month, a near-majority of the entire senate body approved a resolution that had been submitted by its special monitoring committee. The brief document reads:
Be it resolved that, we, the elected members of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, representative body of the faculty of Mississippi State University, deplore the secrecy that underlies the selection and final review of the finalist candidates for the position of president of Mississippi State University.
The absence of open dialogue between faculty and the finalists undermines the best interests of the faculty who are the foundation and leaders of Mississippi State University. In addition, it is an extreme disservice to those finalist candidates, one of whom will likely be selected as the next president of Mississippi State University.
It is a critical time in the history of the university and the foundation of strong presidential leadership resides in immediately developing strong ties with faculty and gaining their trust. This relationship has its roots in faculty meeting with the finalist candidates and endorsement of the selection.
A complete summary of this and other matters at the February senate meeting is available at the senate home page, which is reached via the MSU homepage. Also, in time, a University Television Center-developed video replay of the entire meeting will be available for viewing on this site.