A five-member committee of the UW board of trustees is charged with gathering input from the public concerning UW’s presidential search process.
The committee formed in response to UW President Dick McGinity’s recommendation the board initiate a search for a new president. McGinity’s contract concludes in summer 2016.
Appointed by board of trustees President Dave Palmerlee of Buffalo, the presidential search planning committee consists of board members Mel Baldwin of Afton, John MacPherson of Saratoga, Mike Massie of Laramie, Michelle Sullivan of Sheridan and Jeff Marsh of Torrington.
“It is important to gather information about the process from all the stakeholders,” MacPherson, who chairs the board committee, said. MacPherson said the committee would then present the information to the full board of trustees, who can then develop a process for the next presidential search.
Massie said public input is a particularly important component of this process.
“The University of Wyoming is a public land grant university, naturally the public should be involved in any way possible, particularly in presidential selection,” Massie said. “This is the first step by the board of trustees in engaging the public, which includes students, faculties, staff and all its constituencies.”
Edward Janak, chair of Faculty Senate, said UW is unique in that it is the sole comprehensive university in the state, and therefore belongs to all the people of Wyoming.
“As such, it makes perfect sense to seek input from the public. I am particularly appreciative of their actively seeking input from the on-campus constituencies of students, staff, faculties and administration in the process,” Janak said.
Janak said faculty are happy to have the opportunity to provide input, and are happy that the process will end with an open search with finalists on campus. Janak said the Faculty Senate assembled an ad-hoc committee soliciting faculty input on the search process.
MacPherson said the presidential search planning committee is scheduled to hold two forums on Monday, May 4. The first is for the campus community and will run from 4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. The second is for the general public, and is set for 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the UW Conference Center. MacPherson said both forums are open to everyone.
MacPherson also said they will be conducting a series of meetings on May 5, where the members of the committee will meet with the vice presidents, deans, directors, department heads, Staff Senate and Faculty Senate executive committees and the ASUW executive committee.
MacPherson said that he invites anyone to email his or her ideas to uw.presidential.search@uwyo.edu. A presidential search webpage has been established where people can offer input as well, at www.uwyo.edu/presidentsearch.
Brianna Wells looks at the website set up by the board of trustees to receive public feedback and commentary. The site was implemented to assist with the search for a new University President.
