Panel creates model for CCSN chief

Thursday, April 1, 2004 | 11:50 a.m.

A search firm now knows what kind of person it should find to be the new president of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

A committee of CCSN faculty and staff and university regents on Wednesday finalized a profile describing the leadership qualities, qualifications and future agenda expected from the next president. The profile was shaped largely by several open forums at the college campuses last week, they said.

CCSN faculty and staff said they want their new president to be a "visionary, ethical and dynamic leader" who can effectively manage multiple campuses, improve student learning and access to higher education.

But they also want a president who is politically savvy. Many professors and staff members noted the current political climate and the reasons the college needs a new president in the first place.

The most recent president of the college, Ron Remington, and lobbyist John Cummings were both demoted from their positions on split votes in November, with regents primarily alleging both had circumvented the board by seeking $500,000 in security and money to develop four-year degrees from the 2003 Legislature without the board's approval.

Faculty and staff expressed fear over how the new president would interact with the Board of Regents after several months of turmoil. They also questioned whether the new president can turn around the "environment of mistrust," within the campuses and between the college and the Board of Regents, according to a report from the Associate Community Colleges Trustees Board Leadership Services firm that is overseeing the search.

"The candidate must be sophisticated enough to handle a complicated political situation so the college does not suffer," Narcissa Polonio, search director and vice president of the ACCT firm, said.

Polonio, however, said she tried to write the profile in terms of the positive by focusing on all the dynamic opportunities a new president would have in shaping the community college's growth.

"Honey attracts more than vinegar," Polonio told the joint committee.

Polonio said after the meeting that anyone applying for the position would be aware of the current difficulties.

"The history of the college speaks for itself," Polonio said. "Any good candidate is going to do his homework.

Those who apply will have the qualities, determination and energy to meet the challenges of the job, she said.

"They'll think they can handle this and make it better," Polonio said. "And those are the people we're looking for."

All presidential candidates must have a doctorate degree and at least seven years of experience as the lead administrator in an accredited institution. A detailed description of the requirements is available at ccsn.edu or acct.org.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick said the new president's salary and benefits would be negotiated by the system chancellor and the Board of Regents. The current median salary for community college presidents is $171,866, according to the university system.

The ACCT search firm is to narrow the candidate pool to approximately 10 people by May 6. The joint search committee will then select which candidates to interview in person and invite for campus visits May 10-12. The committee expects to select a new president to forward to the Board of Regents for approval by May 14.