News
32 Apply To Be Next Hocking College President
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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There are 32 applicants under consideration to become the next president of Hocking College.
Chairman of the Hocking College Board of Trustees Andy Stone stated via email on Wednesday morning that as of Feb. 25 there are 32 applicants that met the minimum qualifications for the position. There were initially 33 qualified candidates but one has withdrawn.
“The applicants are from both the higher education world, as well as non-traditional candidates from business, government, and the military. All of them are extremely accomplished individuals,” stated Stone.
A search committee consisting of individuals from around the region was formed over the past few months to assist with the selection of the next president.
The search committee is scheduled to meet again on Thursday to review the applicants and narrow down the list of candidates. Search committee meetings are not open to the public. Prior to that meeting the committee members are to individually rank the candidates from 1 to 32.
On Thursday, the committee will meet and talk through the applications, led by a facilitator from ACCT (Association of Community College Trustees), in an attempt to narrow the field to 7-9 candidates who will proceed further. Once the search committee reaches consensus on this 7 to 9, teleconference interviews will be arranged for the next search committee meeting on March 16,” stated Stone of the next steps in the search process.
After those interviews are complete the committee will narrow the search to between three and five finalists for the position. The Board will then conduct interviews of the finalists and the committee’s work in the process is complete. The method for interviewing the finalists has not been determined according to Stone.
“The search committee members are charged with strict confidentiality in order to protect the fidelity of the search process. Many applicants are currently employed in high level positions at other institution, and it could harm them if their institution determines they are out looking for other employment,” stated Stone of the reason why search committee meetings are private. The search committee is charged with reporting back to the Board of Trustees.
Interim president Betty Young was appointed to the position in late October following the resignation of Ron Erickson on Oct. 2. Young could not be reached for comment as to whether she is one of the 32 applicants. She had stated earlier this month that she was not yet prepared to comment on the matter.