Saturday, November 5, 2016

Bill Crawford: University President terms grow shorter

Jackson State University President Carolyn Meyers becomes the latest university president to leave prematurely. She announced her resignation following disclosure of financial problems at the university.

Once university presidents seemed to hold office forever. As a new Kirk Fordice appointee to the IHL Board in 1992, I was awed by the tenure of Walter Washington, 25 years as president at Alcorn State University, Kent Wyatt, 24 years at Delta State University, and Aubrey Lucas, 21 years at the University of Southern Mississippi after four years at Delta State.

Their tenures as presidents were not uncommon. Jacob Reddix served 27 years at Jackson State University, Charles Hogarth 25 years at Mississippi University for Women, John Davis Williams 22 years at the University of Mississippi, and James Herbert White 21 years at Mississippi Valley State University.

When these stalwarts began to retire, presidential tenures started to decline. Robert Khayat served 14 years at Ole Miss, Don Zacharias 12 years at MSU, Clyda Rent 12 years at MUW, Clinton Bristow 11 years at ASU, William Sutton 10 years at MVSU, Ron Mason 10 years at JSU, and John Hilpert 10 years at DSU.

Meyers made it almost six years at JSU as did Dan Jones at Ole Miss. Other recent terms were shorter, Chris Brown and George Ross two years at ASU; Robert Foglesong two years at MSU; David Potter three years at DSU; Charles Lee four years at MSU and Horace Fleming four years at USM; and Martha Saunders and Shelby Thames five years at USM.

For the most part, the shorter the tenure the more issues with the performance of the president.

What happened? No one thing, but a confluence of things. The presidents’ jobs got more complex and demanding, particularly as fund-raising, political maneuvering, schmoozing, and board involvement became 24/7 demands.

In the old days, presidents were like kings with minimum board oversight. The whispered maxim of the extraordinary Walter Washington was “my way or the highway.” As society became more egalitarian, authoritarian leadership became less acceptable to faculty, students, and alumni. The IHL Board began to seek other qualities in candidates.

At the same time, governors began appointing more diverse individuals, some with agendas, to the board, making the board less like-minded about candidates.

National search firms became entrenched. Even in cases where strong internal candidates existed, search firms were hired to give the appearance seeking the best candidate. The board began to rely on these firms for recruitment, vetting, and ranking candidates. Presidential resumes became more important. What happened was search firms would attract excellent resumes but not always terrific candidates.

Then there was the growing influence of donors, alumni, faculty, and politicians as presidential search committees became more representative of different interests and more involved in the board’s selection process. Their favorites were not always the best choices.

Finally, it’s just hard to pick good presidents and even harder to be a good president over time.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on JSU’s search.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Meridian (crawfolk@gmail.com)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is simple. Now firms are doing the hiring. They are paid for that service. If a person spends 20 years in a job that means they are not going to get any more money from that customer for 20 years. If the person they find lasts 2-3 years they will get paid to do the job again in 2-3 years.
Plus. Now a college has to pay their coaches much more, give free schooling to sports players, provide money to players and their families. That along with providing a staff for everyone above teacher level cost a lot.
If a college would get back to doing their original job, educating the kids, the presidents would last a long time.

Not Bad Gigs If You Can Get One.. said...

At one time it was said that the best job a man could have in State employment was the president of a junior college. That still may be true. Seems the only ones to fall are those that are forgetting which credit card to use, the rare exception being the Holmes president who just got a nice promotion within the system. These jobs are lifetime appointments it seems. And there is rampant nepotism on Junior/Community college campi not to mention half the upper level staff living in tax-payer provided housing. Why the hell should we pay for their housing?

Since Kent Wyatt was mentioned in the story, I will say I have wondered since his appointment/coronation at Delta State College what it was that qualified him to lead a university. Other than his daddy being a long time coach at Delta State and the family being well-connected politically at the local level in Cleveland (and, thus, the legislature), why was he chosen to rise to that level? Of course ophthalmologist Stacy Davidson was a close family friend and was on the 'college board'.

It seems that we often jump into the pool of disaster with some of these appointments. The prior two at Southern Miss are examples of that and Mrs Rent was always embroiled in controversy at MUW. Then there's Jones and his notions of redefining Ole Miss (with the guidance of Khayat). Then there was Lucas' daughter, who had the hyphenated last names until her divorce, who quit the Millsaps job (although not a state supported school). And the upstanding Baptist President over at MC (private) who later revealed his lecherous and thieving behavior by absconding with school funds he spent at whore-houses. And there's the revolving doors at the HBCU campi.

So....these people who we at one time viewed as 'above the fray' and 'men among men' are not at all what we assumed them to be in so many cases.

But, at the Junior/Community College level, you can keep that job for decades, until you die in your chair, unless your really screw up. And we muddle along dreaming of 'term limits' for political office holders.

Anonymous said...

Who cares. No employer takes a degree from JSU seriously. Unless it's some northern corporation who is under government mandate to hire a certain number of 'minorities', aka global majority.

Anonymous said...

I have to say the 3 posters above have enlightened a lot of us who are not "in the know" about some of these issues. Having read this may open up a whole can of worms. I agree with the 2nd poster on the point as to why we have to furnish housing to the upper staff at the community colleges. It just doesn't make good sense. And I'm very sure after peeling back the skin covering a lot of these unknown facts then maybe we can eliminate some of the waste that is occurring. Those are some very good points you all hit on.

Anonymous said...

Would you hire anyone from JSU School of Engineering knowing your Error and Ommissions Insurance Policy would have to cover a loss for anything your engineering firm has designed using one of these engineers when you can employ an engineer from MSU?

Anonymous said...

President of Holmes Jr. College forever was Mr. Frank Branch along with his wife who served as a First Lady. This country le served with distinction and honor. And Mr. Frank's door was always open to students.

Anonymous said...

I remember when the Finance Managers at Holmes and Delta State and MDJC all lived in on campus housing provided by the taxpayer. What the hell is up with that. They probably still do and it's probably the same on every campus.

Anonymous said...

1:03 In certain quarters of this country NO degree from Mississippi is taken seriously. They think you and any graduate of UM, MSU, USM, and yes JSU are all a bunch of ignorant hicks who go barefoot and eat grits three times a day. Until you prove them wrong!

Anonymous said...

What the fig is wrong with 'grits three times a day'. Errybody want to stay reg'lar.

Anonymous said...

The community college districts are controlled by separate boards of trustees. While there is a state community college board, it's purpose is to serve as a coordinating agency for the 14 community colleges and one junior college (Jones).

The board of supervisors in each county of the community college district makes the trustee appointments, because the counties provide funds toward the operation of the college. In some cases, the local elected superintendent of education is on the community college board of trustees, while other appointees are alums or otherwise well-connected politically in their counties.

I read where Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit just dedicated a new men's dorm and named it after two trustees who served over 50 years. FIFTY years? Presumably the county supervisors (in this case, Pike and Walthall counties) kept reappointing them to the Southwest board.

The community college network in this state is powerful but that power can be traced to each college's board of trustees and back to the county boards of supervisors.

Da Fat Man said...

Dr. Clinton Bristow died suddenly. He was the reason for the improvements of academics and the graduation rate at ASU. Ross's tenure was just a stop over for a position at larger university and Brown caused money issues. Bristow used the Ayers money well and the student body is much more diverse than it ever was. He wanted Alcorn to known as the "Academic Resort" instead of the Reservation. Some people would ridicule the academic resort saying it is an oxymoron, but it was the spirit of the title he was trying to promote scholarship instead of just the athletics and extra curricular activities.

Not Bad Gigs If You Can Get One.. said...

As was said early, the Junior/Community College President's job is the best in State jobs. Supervisors come and go and run for reelection every four years. JC Presidents and Finance Deans are lifetime jobs with paid housing unless you rob the coke machine and get caught. Or charge personal tires to the school credit card.

Fred Muse has just completed his 80th year at the helm I believe. He still has the 1936 Plymouth the Board gave him when he was hired at $2100 a year.



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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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