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CSCU committee coalesces on limited board role in Western and Southern presidential searches; semifinal interviews set next week
Summary
The Governance and Nominations Committee discussed regent participation in current and upcoming institutional presidential searches, agreeing on a middle ground that includes regent interviews of semifinalists and final‑candidate open forums. Western semifinalists will be on campus March 11–14; Southern's deadline is March 14.
Committee chair Juanita James led a discussion about the board's role in ongoing presidential searches at Western and Southern campuses and the extent to which regents should participate in interview rounds.
Pam, a system staff member coordinating search logistics, said semifinalist interviews for Western are scheduled the week of March 11–14 and that four regents (the board chair, vice chair, chair of the HR committee and chair of the academic and student affairs committee) had been invited to meet the semifinalists. "Next week, from the eleventh through the fourteenth, is when the semifinalists will be on campus at Western," Pam said. She added that every regent would be invited to meet the final two candidates during open forum periods.
Committee members described a range of practices used in higher education, from deep board involvement throughout a search to a more limited advisory role. Several members favored a middle path: involve a small group of regents in semifinalist interviews and invite broader board participation for finalists and public forums. "The middle ground... a select number of board members sit in and provide their take to the appointing authority," one participant said.
Committee members also confirmed some details about current search leadership: Western's search is chaired by Zilma Toro; Southern's search is cochaired by Jess Krause and President Maduko. Southern's application deadline was noted as March 14 and its timeline will follow the same process unless the board later decides otherwise.
Ending: The committee did not change the search process at this meeting; staff confirmed the semifinalist interview schedule for Western and agreed to follow the same model for Southern, subject to adjustments by the committee or full board.
