By Alex Cook | Staff Reporter
WSU Vancouver’s next chancellor will be chosen in a matter of weeks, but not without on-campus sessions in which students, staff, and faculty can first meet the finalists and ask questions. WSU’s incoming president, based in Pullman, will make the choice and may take community sentiment into account.
Up to four chancellor candidates visiting the campus will hold open forums in Room 110 of the Dengerink Administration Building every Monday and Wednesday from March 17 to 27. Each date has three time slots, one each for faculty, staff, and students:
9:00 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. for faculty,
10:00 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. for staff,
2:00 P.M. to 2:45 P.M. for students.
The decision-making process is multi-layered. National executive search firm Isaacson, Miller leads it, helping to build and then narrow a field of candidates. Finalists were selected by the chancellor search advisory committee, a 20-member group that includes faculty, staff, administration, community members, and students.
Cynthia Cooper, a faculty member at WSU Vancouver, and Lindsay Fisher, a member of the WSU Vancouver Advisory Council, are the committee’s co-chairs, with Sherri Bennet, chief of staff to the chancellor, supporting the search. Incoming WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell gets the final say, but the chancellor search committee assures the Vancouver community that “your input and feedback are essential to her decision-making process.”
In recent weeks The VanCougar was repeatedly denied an interview with Cantwell to discuss her vision for the university and also her values in selecting Vancouver’s next chancellor. Meanwhile, a directive was issued at WSU Vancouver barring selection committee members, whose work began last year, from speaking to the press at all.
Co-chair Cynthia Cooper last month announced: “At this time, the Chancellor Search process and candidates remain confidential and cannot be discussed.”
Jessica Masterson, a faculty committee member who had agreed to be interviewed by The VanCougar, abruptly canceled, stating: “Upon further reflection, and given the highly confidential nature of the chancellor search, I was advised not to speak to the press at this time.” The VanCougar’s interest all along was not in identifying finalists but to learn of the experience and qualities sought in candidates—qualities that may define the course of the institution in the years ahead.
Each candidate will be on campus for two days. Prior to their visit, the candidate’s CV will be available for review on the chancellor search webpage. The following is the list of open forums and their time slots provided by the chancellor search committee:
Monday, March 17 Open Forums:
• Faculty: 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
• Staff: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
• Student: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19 Open Forums:
• Faculty: 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
• Staff: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
• Student: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Monday, March 24 Open Forums:
• Faculty: 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
• Staff: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
• Student: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 Open Forums:
• Faculty: 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
• Staff: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
• Student: 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.