Three of the four Emporia State University presidential candidates have visited Emporia and the last one will visit next week.
It has been nice to hear the candidates’ ideas for making the university better and learn what they have to offer. Emporia has been good at welcoming the candidates on their whirlwind tour of Emporia and it has been interesting to hear the community discussions after the candidates have left about who would make the best president.
So far, the candidates seem to have successes with growing enrollment and strong connections with their community. However, there has been one thing missing from all of the candidates, and that is prior university presidential experience.
It raises the question: should the next leader of ESU have prior university presidential experience or is it not necessary?
As we have said before, ESU is at a critical juncture with a four-year decline in enrollment, flat fundraising, and no foundation director — it will take a special person to turn things around. ESU is also competing against seasoned veteran presidents in the Kansas Regents system who have their organizations on a roll.
Can a person who has never held a presidential position before be strong enough to move the university forward? Or, do we need someone with a proven track record?
With the search consultant, the search committee, and the community visits, we hope the right candidate will be selected.
The bottom line is we hope someone good is selected because ESU success and community success depends on it. Whoever is selected will need to hit the ground running and perform like a seasoned veteran.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
When a man with experience meets a university with cash, the university gets the experience and the man gets the cash. Chris, what kind of experience did you have when you took over the Emporia Gazette?
November 17, 2011 at 12:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbOAdu...
November 17, 2011 at 12:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Experience on the job can be a two edged sword.
Hiring someone with experience brings their expertise to the job. It also can bring their bad habits and entrenched ideas.
ESU is at a pivotal point right now. It's growth and success will determine the future of our city. If it were to lose it's regents status as a state school it would be a death knell for Emporia.
Those who will make the choice of hiring the new university president would do well to put any politics aside and hire someone with drive, energy, and new ways of thinking.
Experience is not a requirement, when there is drive, energy and love of the job.
November 17, 2011 at 4:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Having strong, new ideas are always going to be a plus for presidential candidates. However, a president without experience would mean he or she just might more easily fall prey to the powers that be in the regents system.
On the other hand, enough drive and energy might get an individual past regent politics. Unfortunately, it takes being on the job for awhile before anyone, experienced or not, can recognize both the positive and negative about the entire ESU picture. I wonder why the Gazette doesn't ask the professors themselves and guarantee them anonymity. Believe me, they know the truth about a lot of things up there.
Perhaps the question should be related to whether ESU needs someone with energy and drive or purpose and quiet resolve.
November 17, 2011 at 5:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
I went to two of the three public meetings with the first candidate and the most recent one. I was quite impressed with Dr. Hughes.
November 17, 2011 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Chris,I hope the new Pres will be a force at the chamber and rda,not just a figure.We need a mover and a shaker.I want to see defined goals of increased enrollments that the town can get behind and support ,not fluff mission statements from the new President.I could care less if he or she has past pres exp,at this point I want a powerful leader who will demand results....this will not be a job for a glad hander,if it is given to a glad hander, im afraid he or she could be like the captain on the EXXON VALDEZ
November 17, 2011 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
NO FUN = NO STUDENTS !!!!
How' s that for an equation ?
What' s the answer/solution ?
Build a giant student playground/beer garden ?
Build it and they will come ?
This could be Emporia' s offical theme song/anthem .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDHErN...
November 17, 2011 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Methusla,you are soooo correct,,,,ran a couple needles over the Bboys im my past too.
November 17, 2011 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
I like the giant student playground/beer garden meth, ha. Staying in college as long as possible to play in a giant beer garden sounds much more enticing than graduating into an economy that sucks.
We don't need to build anything. I hope the president brings about changes to how this town perceives and treats its students. If all they are worried about is getting more butts in the desks; it is not going to change what is plaguing ESU's enrollment.
November 17, 2011 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
The culture at the city admin along with the chamber @ rda have to change to promote growth at ESU, this I agree AMERICUS.This is why a strong leader at ESU is so important now...A leader who will not be afraid to object to the status quo.
November 17, 2011 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marko (anonymous) says...
every eight years or so this country has a president with no prior experience as president if it works for the nation it could work for the university
November 17, 2011 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Has it really worked for the country lately ??
November 18, 2011 at 7:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )