Operating Guidelines for the Search for the Tenth President of Winthrop University
Purpose
This process pertains to the recruitment, nomination, evaluation, and recommendation of candidates for the tenth President of Winthrop University.
Exclusion of Candidates
No presidential candidate may participate in any subsequent step of this process.
Search and Selection Committee (SSC)
Regular Members
The chair of the Board of Trustees shall appoint members of the SSC. The committee members shall be knowledgeable about the duties and responsibilities of the position of president and shall represent the interests of Winthrop University.
Chair
The chair of the Board of Trustees shall appoint a chair of the SSC who will provide leadership and facilitate meetings and interviews.
Ex- Officio Members
A staff liaison will also be appointed to assist the chair of the SSC in the planning and organization of committee meetings and on-campus interviews. The liaison will have administrative responsibility for the presidential search and will receive and maintain all records and conduct correspondence as appropriate during the search process.
Search Consultants
The Board of Trustees will engage the services of an executive search consultant. The consultant will assist the SSC with recruitment and evaluation of candidates.
Search Procedure
Announcement
A presidential vacancy announcement, inviting applications and nominations, shall be advertised by the Board of Trustees. The notice of vacancy, containing the responsibilities and qualifications for the position, shall be available to all persons making application or who have been nominated for the presidency.
Equal Opportunity
Winthrop University recognizes that employees are the essential resource of the institution and is committed to the principles of equal employment. It is the policy of the University that all personnel related decisions be made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40+), protected disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Confidentiality and Access to Information
Confidentiality in the search process is essential to supporting a successful search. SSC members will be required to maintain strict privacy of all applicant data received in the search process and be required to sign a Statement on Confidentiality.
Recent amendments to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act will require the identification of three finalists considered in response to a properly executed Freedom of Information Act request. Only those candidates chosen to be interviewed by the appointing authority, i.e. the Board of Trustees are considered finalists.
Applications and Nominations
All candidates applying for or accepting nomination for the position of the tenth President of Winthrop University will provide a letter of application, current resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of references or otherwise make application in a manner which provides all necessary information to the SSC. The staff liaison shall process all the applications or nominations of candidates and shall notify all candidates upon receipt of materials. All complete applications will be forwarded to the chair of the SSC for review by the committee.
Evaluation Materials
All rating forms and written materials used by the committee during the evaluation and interview process shall be retained in a secure manner at the institution and returned to staff liaison upon completion of the interview process.
Preliminary Evaluation
The SSC will develop, for screening purposes, a rating system to be used in measuring candidates’ qualifications against the position description. The credentials of each candidate shall be rated according to the specifications of the vacancy announcement and consistent with rating procedures prepared and approved by the SSC.
Candidates who do not meet the specifications will be advised in a timely fashion via a Declination of Interest letter.
The committee shall develop a protocol to handle reference checks for named references. After reviewing all application materials, the SSC will select a pool of semi-finalist candidates for further consideration.
Semi-Finalist Evaluation
The SSC will develop and implement procedures for evaluating semi-finalists. Confidentiality of the semi-finalists during all phases of the process, including, but not limited to, reference checks, telephone contacts, and “off-site” interviewing procedures will be ensured. The SSC will reserve the right to contact any and all who might contribute to the committee’s deliberations. Other references will be sought in addition to those provided by the applicant. This procedure will be made clear to the candidates.