Presidential search process/Crisis in "leadership" & "low morale"

[tornado]

as the University continues their search for a new President they have hosted two "FORUMS" and have allowed students, faculty & staff to voice their thoughts supposedly for ...
"gathering information about desired attributes in Bradley’s next university president".


However - things did not go as planned -
The discussions
"went beyond looking forward, however, as they centered primarily on frustrations of faculty, staff, community members and students."

"..most comments did not directly relate to the four questions about presidential qualities listed as a guide for the forums."

Most of the discussion in these poorly promoted forums that only small numbers attended centered on major concerns and even fears of low morale, no leadership, and serious budget issues.
Sounds like just about everyone associated with Bradley University is at the breaking point....and they want answers and some leadership!

Here's a Scout article summarizing some of what went on...

Most of the comments were about fears & anxieties that the staff and faculty have with the "vacuum of leadership" and "difficult financial situation". (in other words - there's still a major, widespread panic and anxiety among students, faculty & staff about all the fallout from the massive mistakes & bad moves by Dr. Glasser and Dr. Cross.
It's not like all of this is falling precisely into line with what many here have predicted for almost 5 years!!)

"Instead of bleeding $8 million into athletics, maybe we should make our priority academics; that’s the primary goal of the institution, and that’s what we should strive for,” junior political science major ******* ******* said."

"I see morale as the lowest it’s ever been since I’ve been here,” associate professor of marketing **** ******* said."

http://www.bradleyscout.com/news/frustrations-suggestions-shared-at-presidential-search-forums/

[tornado]

Here's more...the next Search Committee meeting isn't until late April when it sounds as if they will review the candidates..
but no timetable yet - not even the "in place before the fall academic term - August or September" - as Calvin Butler says...
“We would love to have a new president hired by the start of the academic year...But we are not going to let that force us into a decision of someone who we think may not be the right fit because it’s convenient. We are going to take our time. ... it’s all about making the right decision.”

Lastly - "Butler said no internal candidates have expressed interest thus far."
What?? Not one person working there now has even expressed interest? Wow, morale must be destroyed - no wonder everyone wants out.

http://www.bradleyscout.com/news/university-president-search-continues/

[bradleyfan124]

Complaints and negatives of what happened in the past can be used as direction and positives for the future

[tornado]

There is one new member who has been hired in administration
Director of Diversity

http://www.bradley.edu/about/news/article.dot?id=a83e0df5-0e6a-45c1-a63f-230bb460674f

[QPS]

Lastly - "Butler said no internal candidates have expressed interest thus far."
What?? Not one person working there now has even expressed interest? Wow, morale must be destroyed - no wonder everyone wants out.
http://www.bradleyscout.com/news/uni...rch-continues/

So, the announcement for the president's position was posted on March 23. You can find it on Chronicle.com. The deadline for full consideration is June 1. The forums were on March 26 & March 30. Maybe it is taking the internal candidates a few extra days to prepare their applications.

Question: Were you at any of these meetings? Or are you just relying on a student's description of what happened?

[Da Coach]

So, the announcement for the president's position was posted on March 23. You can find it on Chronicle.com. The deadline for full consideration is June 1. The forums were on March 26 & March 30. Maybe it is taking the internal candidates a few extra days to prepare their applications.

Question: Were you at any of these meetings? Or are you just relying on a student's description of what happened?

I am not sure if I am looking at the same quote as you are referring to. There were some statements attributed to students, but the one you quoted in your post was by Presidential Search Committee Chair Calvin Butler. He is not a student. As you probably know, Calvin Butler is a member of the Board of Trustees.

http://www.bradley.edu/offices/president/trustees/

[ollienanyes]

So, the announcement for the president's position was posted on March 23. You can find it on Chronicle.com. The deadline for full consideration is June 1. The forums were on March 26 & March 30. Maybe it is taking the internal candidates a few extra days to prepare their applications.

Question: Were you at any of these meetings? Or are you just relying on a student's description of what happened?

I was at the first of the forms (the one for the campus community). And what is posted here matches my recollection.

The gist: "don't make the same mistake twice".

[QPS]

I am not sure if I am looking at the same quote as you are referring to. There were some statements attributed to students, but the one you quoted in your post was by Presidential Search Committee Chair Calvin Butler. He is not a student. As you probably know, Calvin Butler is a member of the Board of Trustees.
http://www.bradley.edu/offices/president/trustees/

The student I am referring to is the author of the article cited as the source of this information. It's in the Scout, a student newspaper.

I would disagree with the student author's opening statement where she claims that the forums were to be "outlets for gathering information about desired attributes in Bradley??™s next university president."

There was a broader purpose as outlined by the questions distributed by the search committee.

If you look at the bottom of the Scout's article, you will see that the search committee asked for feedback on four questions. The first question was "What are the major challenges and opportunities the next President will inherit?"

People were very honest and told the search committee about challenges: finances, centralized budget control, too little attention on academics, to name a few. I also heard many people speak about their long and loyal service to Bradley and that they were frustrated.

The second question asked " what kind of person do you feel is best equipped to address challenges and utilize opportunities?" Faculty asked for someone with private school experience, a scholar, or financial expertise. Students also spoke about making sure the new president is accessible. Two people from the community were there on Monday and asked that the new President be aware of the University's relationship with the community.

Also, while the next search committee meeting is not until April, they have been communicating by conference call.

I believe the above more accurately states what happened. I was there.

Also, still waiting for tornado to answer my question: Were you there? Or did your information come from the article written by a student that was published in the Scout?

[Da Coach]

OK, thanks for your report. I am pretty sure he did not attend the meeting, and that seemed pretty clear to me since he said:
Here's a Scout article summarizing some of what went on...

Plus he put almost everything into quotation marks, plus he posted the link to the article he was referencing-

http://www.bradleyscout.com/news/frustrations-suggestions-shared-at-presidential-search-forums/

So maybe if your account differs and you wish to take issue, you should contact the Bradley Scout or the author Kristin Dimaggio (her email is on the Scout site- kdimaggio@mail.bradley.edu )

[Tommy]

Also, still waiting for tornado to answer my question: Were you there? Or did your information come from the article written by a student that was published in the Scout?

Dude, what's your play? Is this an inquisition or what? Lighten up, man, this is a message board, not the President's Press Secretary.

[tornado]

the description of these two forums parallels the other Q&A forums Bradley hosted & opinions - (LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK)
all these meetings plus the letter one of the department chairmen wrote (Dr. Doug Early)- ALL are saying the same thing...
that all the Bradley employees, faculty, and even the students feel like they are being stepped on, used, poorly treated, and they are being given either no answers or they are being given lies, or getting BS shoved down their throats when they simply want answers.

[ollienanyes]

The student I am referring to is the author of the article cited as the source of this information. It's in the Scout, a student newspaper.

I would disagree with the student author's opening statement where she claims that the forums were to be "outlets for gathering information about desired attributes in Bradley??™s next university president."



People were very honest and told the search committee about challenges: finances, centralized budget control, too little attention on academics, to name a few. I also heard many people speak about their long and loyal service to Bradley and that they were frustrated.

The second question asked " what kind of person do you feel is best equipped to address challenges and utilize opportunities?" Faculty asked for someone with private school experience, a scholar, or financial expertise. Students also spoke about making sure the new president is accessible. Two people from the community were there on Monday and asked that the new President be aware of the University's relationship with the community.

?

I attended the first forum. I believe that the first sentence, while not 100 percent logically accurate, was a reasonable paraphrase. I remember that the leaders of the forum said that they wanted feedback on 4 questions, which were to be taken sequentially and that the forum did get a bit off track in that regard; even the facilitators admitted as such.

Though some faculty and staff (admissions?) did address the first question, there were expressions of low morale and extreme frustration and some admonishment that the BOT didn't do a good enough job of either vetting the previous hire nor of providing oversight.

And yes, there was the one student who lamented the loss of "their Jo-Jo"; someone who made the time to listen to them and their concerns.

[Tommy]

Ollie Nanyes, are you a runner, and do you attend Team Steam regularly?

[ollienanyes]

Ollie Nanyes, are you a runner, and do you attend Team Steam regularly?

LOL. I help out with Building Steam regularly (not Team Steam) and I regularly embarrass myself at local road races.

[Tommy]

LOL. I help out with Building Steam regularly (not Team Steam) and I regularly embarrass myself at local road races.

I thought that might be you! I am a Team Steamer on a regular basis, so I thought we had crossed paths! Glad to see another runner on the boards here, buddy!