IPSAC Updates Campus; Transparency Concerns

Editor: The committee that selected candidates for the position of interim president of Gallaudet has forwarded its three recommendations to the Gallaudet Board. Unfortunately no one is talking about who those three candidates are. Here's the latest statement from the head of the search committee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 6, 2006

Dear members of the extended Gallaudet community,

We would like to update you on the work of the Interim President Selection Advisory Committee (IPSAC). IPSAC has reviewed 13 comple ted applications for the position of Interim President. This is an 18 month position with a possible 6-month extension beyond the 18 months. IPSAC used a rating scale based on the qualifications for this position as stated in the position announcement.

Five candidates were selected for a 40 minute videophone interview. Each candidate was informed at the beginning of the interview that the person selected for Interim President cannot be a candidate for the permanent position of President.

Interview questions were developed using the input of constitutent groups from the community: faculty, staff, students, alumni, Clerc Center, and administration. At the completion of the interview process, IPSAC rated the five candidates and has recommended that three of these five candidates be interviewed by the Board of Trustees.

Today IPSAC has completed a summary report evaluating the candidates and has sent that report to Board Chair Pamela Holmes.

Members of the campus community have asked IPSAC if it would be possible to make the search process more transparent. Suggestions ranged from asking IPSAC to announce the names of the candidates to having community forums for candidate presentations. IPSAC considered these suggestions very carefully. We have been operating under a stringent timeline, which makes it difficult to collect community input on the candidates in a timely manner. Since the position itself is short-term, it seems to be most appropriate for the Board to select the best-qualified candidate based on its interviews and input from IPSAC.

Unquestionably, an extensive process for community input must be developed for the search for a permanent President with appropriate time frames given for this important process.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege for the members of IPSAC to serve on this committee. We appreciate the support we have received from the campus and from the Board of Trustees.

Sincere regards,
Jane Dillehay, Chair, IPSAC