Faculty discusses qualities for CCSN chief

Heather Rawlyk

Tuesday, March 23, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

Faculty members of the Community College of Southern Nevada said Monday night they were looking for a "proactive" school president to replace Ron Remington, who was demoted to faculty by regents in November.

Remington's removal by the Board of Regents angered many CCSN faculty members, making the process of finding a new president emotionally difficult, said Mitzi Ware, president of the CCSN Faculty Senate.

"This has been really hard because a lot of us really loved Dr. Remington," Ware said at Monday night's meeting, which was attended by six faculty members. "But we have to move on and do the best we can to see that someone like him comes in here."

The faculty members also said they want to bring in a "organizational whiz" who would continue with the organization that Remington had started.

"Dr. Remington got a partial structure in place," Ware said. "He actually got a lot of things to come together and then right at the spot where it was forming -- boom, it was removed."

Terry Jones, CCSN resorts and gaming instructor, agreed.

"We need someone who can take those bits and pieces together without thinking he needs to make a name for himself by conquering this big project," he said. "We need someone who will take those basic nuts and bolts and is willing to put those small pieces together."

A president who has experience managing multi-campus institutions is also desired.

"We need someone with a lot of community college experience instead of university experience," Ware said. "We are a very different institution and we need someone who can communicate with the different campuses."

Eight faculty members who attended an earlier meeting at the CCSN Henderson campus shared similar desires in leadership qualities, said Dr. Narcisa A. Polonio of the Associated Community College Trustees Board Leadership Services, who led the meeting.

"You know, someone said earlier that you could say something good about the last eight presidents and something bad about them," Polonio said. "My advice to you is to make a list of all the good things about all eight and those are the qualities you will want to see in the new president."

Monday night's meeting, held at the Charleston campus, was the second of four forums scheduled on the issue of the incoming president.

The final two meetings are scheduled for March 30 at 9 to 10 a.m. in room B-201 at the CCSN Charleston campus and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in room 2410 at the Cheyenne campus.

For more information, nominations or inquiries, contact Polonio at (202) 775-4667, ext. 118, or by e-mail at Npolonio@acct.org.