Presidential Search Committee Update to the Radford University Community

Dear Radford University Community,

We are writing to update you on the progress of the Presidential Search Committee and outline some of the steps in the search for Radford University’s next president.

We think it would be helpful to recap some of the basic roles and responsibilities of those involved in the search process. First, the Board of Visitors has the responsibility and authority for appointing the RU president; this important role is specified in the BOV’s bylaws.

Secondly, the Board of Visitors has established the Presidential Search Committee, giving great effort to select a diverse committee made up of members of the BOV, faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni. The Presidential Search Committee was charged to serve in an advisory role to assist the BOV in the presidential search. The Committee’s roles include providing input into the presidential position announcement; developing the Presidential Profile, utilizing input received from the BOV; gaining the RU community’s input in advance of the review process and assisting in the review of the pool of applications. The goal of the Presidential Search Committee is to recommend two to five candidates for the Board’s consideration.

To assist the BOV and Presidential Search Committee, Greenwood/Asher and Associates, Inc., a professional search firm that specializes in higher education has been retained. The search firm’s duties will include, but not be limited, to advertising the position to attract a diverse pool of candidates, facilitating reference checks and conducting background reviews of the finalists.

Most recently, the Presidential Search Committee met on July 22nd to discuss the Committee’s advisory role to the Board of Visitors; to recommend desired skills, experiences and qualifications being sought in prospective presidential candidates; and to recommend strategies to seek the RU community’s input into the selection process for the future president.

The Committee looks forward to facilitating forums to gather faculty, staff, students and alumni perspectives on the desired attributes of the future president. Several meetings will be held on the Radford University campus on September 21st and 22nd to receive input from faculty, staff and students; additional information about these meetings will be forthcoming. We will also be arranging for several forums to follow, hosted in a variety of locations around the Commonwealth of Virginia, so that a diversity of alumni has an opportunity to share their inputs with the Committee. We anticipate all of these alumni forums will be held the last two weeks in September.

The Committee, aided by the search firm consultants, intends to begin reviewing applications later in the fall semester. Because the pool of candidates may include individuals whose current positions require their candidacy remain confidential, these interviews will be kept confidential throughout the process. The sensitivity and respect of confidentiality is necessary to attract the largest pool of diverse and highly qualified candidates for the presidency.

As more details regarding the RU community forums become available, the Presidential Search Committee will announce them. You may also keep updated on the presidential search by visiting the Presidential Search website at www.radford.edu/content/president-search/home.html.

The Presidential Search Committee looks forward to gaining your thoughts and input as part of the important process in identifying the next president of Radford University.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mike Wray
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
 
Mary Campbell
Vice Chair, Presidential Search Committee
 

Aug 3, 2015