Wayne Community College begins search for new president
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 13, 2016 1:46 PM
The Wayne Community College board of trustees received guidance recently on the presidential search process, on the heels of WCC President Dr. Kay Albertson's announcement that she will retire Aug. 1.
During a special called meeting, George Fouts, interim president of the state Community College System, laid the groundwork for finding the college's sixth president in the coming months.
"You won't perform a more important task as a board of trustees," he said. "This will be the most important task you have."
As a member of the state's community college system, there are two basic things required of the college by statute, he said. One was accomplished by Fouts' visit, the other takes place when the application pool is winnowed down, recommending the board submit from one to three finalists to the system's board to begin the vetting and confirmation process.
The situation marks an unusual time in the system's history, he said. In addition to a vacancy in the seat he is currently holding, by the first of the year there will be six community colleges conducting similar presidential searches.
It makes for a more competitive climate, he said.
"When there's six searches under way there's going to be some of the same finalists going to emerge at more than one college, and you get down into kind of a competition of the timelines of when your decisions are made," he said. "One of the things you might look at is, take your time at the start but then set a fairly aggressive timeline so that you're not the last person at the dance."
Beyond establishing a search committee, Fouts said one of the first major decisions the board will face is whether or not to hire a search consultant.
Weighing the pros and cons, he noted one of the obvious "cons" -- the cost.
"You can do it cheaper on your own. The average typical search in North Carolina runs somewhere around $18,000-27,000," he said, adding, "It can be done on your own."
Fouts is no stranger to WCC, having served as executive vice president there from 1994-1997. He called the pending vacancy a "good time to re-examine the college" -- where WCC is, challenges in the future and background and skills needed in a new leader.
Board member Keith Stewart asked how much weight should be given to experience in the state's community college system.
Fouts said it will ultimately boil down to making a "mission decision."
"It's not credentials, and I really don't think it's experience," he said. "I think it's understanding the mission of the college, understanding it and believing it."
As word of Mrs. Albertson's announcement spread, it became apparent the opening would attract very strong contenders, Fouts said.
"Wayne is very desirable in the view of community college presidents, not only in North Carolina, but I would say regionally," he said. "Wayne is a very desirable college in which to work and in which to lead.
"Equally important are Goldsboro and Wayne (County). They are seen as desirable places to be a community college president."
Fouts said, in addition to the college's impressive reputation -- student success rate, the "extraordinarily rare" recent reaffirmation confirmation with no recommendations and overall quality of the program -- the surrounding community is a big draw.
"Most presidential candidates aren't looking for a place to retire. They're looking for a place to accomplish something," he said.
While many counties are losing population every year, he said, Wayne County and Goldsboro are "economically viable" with new industry and opportunities to build business and industry partnerships. That, coupled with the college's strong college transfer program and career and technical programs that lead to productive employment after two or less years, makes it attractive to candidates.
Fouts provided materials to assist in the search and said he would continue being an adviser throughout the process.
Stewart suggested a "significant portion" of the upcoming board retreat in late January focus on the search.