UNC Trustees Discuss Presidential Search, Approve Update to Board Policy
January 19, 2018
Consultant Alberto Pimentel presented to the presidential search committee during a special meeting of the UNC Board of Trustees Friday, Jan. 19.
Pimentel spent the past two days meeting with members of the university community to gather additional input on the characteristics and qualities sough in the next president. He shared that the forums made it clear that there’s an affinity among the university community for the institution and the students served. He added that a strong desire was expressed for a leader with “well-defined strategic leadership” and a compelling vision for the university of which individuals can contribute.
The feedback will be used to help match potential candidates for the position, which will open in June when current president Kay Norton retires.
Pimentel also updated the board on the progress since his campus visit in November. The search is now being advertised in a range of higher education online publications to help generate awareness. In addition, his firm Storbeck/Pimentel has made 900 phone calls and received 400 responses to “cast a wide net” in ultimately developing a pool of diverse and qualified candidates.
The search committee will next meet Feb. 7 to review candidates before deciding who to interview. While Pimentel stressed transparency and inclusivity during the search, he noted that the committee will need to be sensitive to candidates who may require a measure of confidentiality during the process to be considered for the position — necessitating the process may need to be restricted at points.
In other news, prior the special meeting, the board held its regularly scheduled meeting and:
- Approved a Faculty Senate approved amendment that clarifies and streamlines procedures in the faculty grievance policy of the Board Policy Manual. Faculty Senate president Stephen Luttmann noted that the update tightens deadlines throughout to improve efficiency.
- Heard a student recruitment and enrollment presentation by Dan Weaver, vice president of External and University Relations. UNC continues to take an approach, using traditional and digital platforms, to reach prospective students and their families and keep the university top of mind among their choices.
- Re-elected Dick Monfort to board chair, Paul Washington to vice chair, Michelle Quinn to secretary and Dan Satriana to secretary.
