Faculty to play larger role in search for next IU president

A structural change in the search effort to find the next president of IU will make the process more effective, said Ted Miller, president of the Bloomington Faculty Council. \nIn addition to the 12 members of the presidential search committee, the IU board of trustees has tapped a dozen more people to lead a faculty advisory committee that will assist in the pursuit of a successor for current IU President Adam Herbert.\nThis is the first time a faculty committee has been asked to participate in an IU presidential search. \n"(Trustee President) Stephen Ferguson had this concept, and it is something that has been heralded by the faculty," said Sue Talbot, trustee and committee chairwoman of the presidential search.\nThe faculty advisory committee will represent the ideas and opinions of the faculty, Miller said, whose position as BFC president and member on the search committee will enable him to act as a liaison between the search committee and the faculty committee. \n"(The IU board of trustees) seems to think that having smaller rather than larger search committees is better," Miller said.\nSearch committees are usually comprised of about 20 members, Talbot said. While there are faculty members on the search committee, the faculty advisory committee was formed to involve more faculty members in the search. \nMembers of the faculty advisory committee were recommended by deans or administrators and then chosen by the trustees. Professors appointed to the faculty advisory committee represent the Bloomington campus as well as IU-Purdue University Indianapolis, IU-East Richmond, IU-Kokomo and IU-Southeast New Albany. \nThe faculty advisory committee will be asked to review dossiers -- which include biographies and resumes -- of the candidates. Because of their extensive academic networks, these faculty members may also be able to recommend additional candidates, Talbot said. \nAnd because the faculty advisory committee will illuminate the search with an academic viewpoint, Talbot said she prefers to think of it as an academic advisory committee. \n"Faculty will be able to advise (the search committee) with an academic view of dossiers we receive in relation to the need of the University," Talbot said. \nFaculty opinion will be especially important during the initial search period when candidates are identified, qualifications are reviewed, and opinions are expressed, Miller said. \n"It's a search and screen process," he said. "The faculty committee will help evaluate candidates and narrow them down to a smaller group." \nBoth committees will work together to find a suitable candidate to be the next IU president. Although Talbot said there are many characteristics that make an ideal candidate, the search committee will look for a strong leader. \n"We will look for someone with a proven track record in leadership who understands the culture of a large university like IU," she said.