University needs a set procedure for hiring administration, high ranking positions

When it comes to hiring high-ranking officials, you would expect the employer to have set standards and a process in place.

But Central Michigan University doesn’t really have rules and regulations when it comes to hiring.

How deans and others are hired is anyone’s guess.

The fourth largest university in the state should have standards in place for appointing administrators, especially when the positions are in the interest of thousands of students and faculty.

CMU is no small business. It’s a public institution, and the positions in question are the highest paid on campus.

When Dr. Ernest Yoder was announced as the founding dean for the Medical College, it came as a complete shock to many.

There wasn’t an open forum or a chance for students, faculty and university workers to voice their opinion.

Even former prospective dean Cam Enarson, the current interim, held an open forum, despite not taking the job.

But given the university’s track record of hiring people, this is nothing new.

University President George Ross was appointed without open forums or any official forewarning.

Although having open forums may not be the set procedure for hiring administrative staff at CMU, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held.

The hiring of Yoder, Ross and football coach Dan Enos involve six-figure salaries.

These are positions paid for by student tuition. Why don’t students get a voice in the hiring process?

These are positions that will affect professors and university workers — why weren’t they a part of the hiring process?

Candidates for the College of Business dean position are forced to have open forums.

Although the position is not as big as the university president or the medical college dean, it’s still of significant student interest.

The fact that these candidates must have open forums, but not the university president or other deans, reflects a double standard in the hiring process.

So here’s the message: Set a standard for hiring on campus, especially those who make major decisions and are paid the big bucks.

These standards should be public to everyone on campus so people know what to expect.

The majority of positions, if not all, should require open forums, just like that of the dean of business.

Officials worry that open searches will sway candidates from interviewing out of respect for their current employer, but it is a larger disservice to students and faculty when someone is hired without community discussion.

Those on campus deserve to know who the big wigs are and how they’re going to influence CMU.

In an environment that’s aimed at molding young people into entering the workforce and making a difference in the world, there’s no excuse for the lack of standards when it comes to hiring.

Lead by example and at least allow the university community to know what to expect.