USC Aiken
Search underway for UofSC Aiken's fifth Chancellor
Aiken, SC (11/23/2020) — Following the announcement on October 30 that the University of South Carolina Aiken Chancellor Dr. Sandra Jordan, would be retiring effective June 30, 2021, the university began the process of selecting the next chancellor.
"One of the most important tasks faced by our university is the selection of our next chancellor," said Dr. Thomas Reid, who was tapped by system President Robert L. Caslen to serve as chair of the search committee.
"The early stages of this search require critical assessments of the institution's mission and how constituencies will be allowed to participate in the overall selection process positively and inclusively. Understanding where we want to go will guide us in knowing the qualities and skills we seek in applicants for this critical position."
To achieve these objectives, the USC System has retained the services of Academic Search, an executive search firm that focuses on higher education cabinet-level positions. That agency will use its extensive databases and network to build a pool of qualified candidates from across the nation.
A "pre-search" process led by Academic Search senior consultants occurred last week. The pre-search had three primary purposes. Firstly, to ensure that the search firm is well-informed about UofSC Aiken and the chancellor position to perform the consultative role with genuine understanding and sensitivity of the university and the community it serves. Secondly, to allow various constituencies to share their perspectives about institutional strengths and current challenges for the next chancellor. And Thirdly, to enable Academic Search to produce a comprehensive search profile that outlines essential institutional needs and priorities and proposes a related set of desired characteristics and talents to guide the search process and suggests procedures for the search itself.
The consultants completed a comprehensive interview schedule with all relevant constituent groups over four days to accomplish these purposes. These sessions included the University of South Carolina President Caslen, Chancellor Sandra Jordan, the chancellor's senior leadership team, and their staff. They also met with the Academic Council (department chairs and deans), Leadership Assembly (directors across divisions), Faculty Assembly (tenured and untenured; adjunct; across disciplines): two sessions, Staff Assembly (all levels of administrators), Students and student leaders (Student Government Association, Chancellor Ambassadors, athletes), the Faculty Welfare Committee. Discussions also occurred with the Inclusion Advisory Council, Aiken Partnership Board, and Alumni of the university, Aiken County Commission for Higher Education (ACCHE)
As a state institution, the university must publicly post meeting agendas with the date, time, and location of the meeting.
The search committee will have its first meeting on Monday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m., via Zoom. Meeting notices, agendas, and minutes will be posted on the university's website at www.usca.edu/chancellor/chancellor-search
USC Aiken
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