Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 135-5-2 - Community and Technical Colleges2.1. The provisions of this rule apply to the employment of presidents of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, the Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Marshall Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, West Virginia Northern Community College, and West Virginia State Community and Technical College.2.2. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the position of president at one of the institutions set out in Section 2.1, the governing board of the institution shall undertake a search for a new president. The governing board is responsible for the search, both procedurally and financially. The governing board shall adopt a procedure, consistent with this rule, governing the search. The procedure shall require, at the least, that:2.2.1. A statement of characteristics and qualities which the new president should possess shall be adopted by the governing board and utilized in soliciting and evaluating the candidates.2.2.2. If a search committee is appointed, it shall include representation of faculty, students, and staff, and other constituencies of the institution. The number and consistency of the membership of the committee shall be at the discretion of the governing board.2.2.3. A position announcement shall be prepared detailing the characteristics and qualities sought in a new president and distributed to appropriate newspapers and other media sources, heads of higher education associations and organizations, and other appropriate individuals for the purpose of advertising the position.2.2.4. Interviews with the finalists, as determined by the governing board, shall be conducted on campus and, during the campus visits, students, classified employees, non-classified employees, faculty, campus administrators, community leaders, alumni, and other individuals shall be invited to meet with the candidates and their comments shall be solicited by the governing board.2.2.5. Background checks may be conducted on each candidate prior to interviewing with the search committee or governing board. Background checks should be conducted on finalists prior to any campus visit made at the invitation of the search committee or governing board and shall be conducted before any final selection by the search committee or governing board. On-site visits to the candidates' current and past places of employment may be conducted and are recommended for the final candidates. Standard industry practices shall be utilized in conducting background checks and, at a minimum, shall include confirmation of degrees and past employment, and criminal and credit checks.2.3. Candidates may be considered through their own application or by nomination.2.4. Members of the governing board, or any search committee appointed, may not provide information about the names or backgrounds of any candidates without their consent to anyone who is not a member of the governing board or search committee or authorized agents or staff. When candidates are invited to a preliminary interview with the search committee, they shall be notified of the conditions under which confidentiality may be waived as to background checks and that in the event they are invited for a campus interview, their names and backgrounds shall be publicly released at the time they accept an invitation for a formal campus visit.2.5. At the request of an institution, the Council may provide the governing board with staff assistance to manage the search process, or the governing board may enter into a contract with a consultant or executive search firm to identify potential candidates in addition to those who have applied or been nominated or to assist in the search.2.6. The governing board shall confer with the Chancellor and agree to a method and process for Council members to interview the finalists when brought to campus, or the Council may schedule its own interviews with the finalists before approving the final selection of a president. The agreed upon process shall not permit Council members to serve on the institutional presidential search committee. The governing board, or any search committee appointed by it, shall promptly transmit to the Chancellor a copy of the procedure adopted to govern the search and provide agendas and minutes of meetings involving the search.2.7. Terms of compensation and contracts discussed with or offered to candidates shall be consistent with the sections of this rule regarding presidential compensation and contracts.2.8. Interim presidents appointed by a governing board shall be approved by the Council.