But less than 200 students showed up. And nearly 80 percent of them were part of SGA.

The student body was given a chance to voice its opinion about something important at Central Michigan University. Yet the students refused to show up.

The forum was specifically held for students to give input on what they would like to see in candidates for the top position on campus. Board of Trustees member Sarah Opperman and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Ray Francis were at the forum as well. Both are on the presidential search committee. Students had a chance to tell them directly what they wanted to see for the future of CMU.

The forum was one of the few instances that students were given a direct chance to influence policy at CMU. SGA President Jason Nichol was there specifically for student input. As someone who is a part of the presidential search, Nichols takes to heart students’ ideals and opinions.

The university president is an important part of the university. The president sets the policies and goals of the university, shaping its future. There is nothing happening on campus he or she isn’t a part of.

It is understandable if some students have homework to work on or other meetings to go to. But such poor attendance sends the overall message that students could not care less who their CMU president is.

This is arguably the most important issue on campus this academic year. More important than the new tailgating policy, which is a huge controversy among students.

Don’t like the tailgating policy? Guess who will be addressing the issue when appointed. Rather see your tuition money go to something else besides a medical school? Too bad. If you didn’t show up to the forum, you have nothing to complain about.

Every student was given an opportune moment, and most did nothing with it.

Some students may complain that the forum had nothing to do with the actual selection of the president. That is nothing but an excuse for laziness. All the committee members are busy people and took time out of their day to listen.

It is easy to dismiss the next university president as no one of consequence. Most students are in a rush to graduate and move on with their lives, leaving very little time for attention to the school administration. But once students enter CMU, they will always be involved with the school. The university president molds CMU’s reputation, one that carries with every graduate through their resumes and in the work place.

The new university president will be appointed by the end of 2009, early 2010. No one knows what policies will be put into place. But the tragedy lies with the students; the administration may not have a clear idea of what they want.

And this time, it is not the administration’s fault.

“I want a president who has a keen eye for diversity,” said Ketchum, a representative for CMU’s NAACP chapter. “I also want them to be aware and understand that not everybody is majoring in everything and to keep in mind that I don’t want to pay a lot of money for somebody else’s major.”

The ideas were expressed at the presidential search forum Monday night hosted by the Student Government Association.

About 175 students attended the forum, with about 80 percent being SGA members.
SGA President Jason Nichol said SGA represents the student body, so he was not concerned that most of the students were members.

The committee consisted of Trustee Sarah Opperman, former chairman of Academic Senate and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Ray Francis, President of Isabella Bank and Trust Rick Barz and community member-at-large Tim Brockman.

Ketchum was assured that diversity, his biggest concern, would be a focus under new leadership.

“Diversity is absolutely key,” Opperman said. “It is something that was highlighted under (former University) President Michael Rao, and our job is not done.”

The committee told the crowd it was hoping a new president could not only uphold levels of diversity, but take it to more advanced levels.

Student connection

Others want to see a president more connected to the student body.

“I’m looking for someone who will work with the Greeks and the SGA more,” said Hesperia sophomore Killian Richeson. “I would really like a president who could go out of their way to do this.”

One of the biggest concerns voiced by students was that a new president would have to understand the situation in Michigan.

“I want a president who is conscious of my wallet and overall situation,” Ketchum said.

The committee did its best to assure students that would be taken into consideration. Brockman said the committee hopes candidates will be sensitive to the current economic situation.

However, it was emphasized that the new president would not necessarily have to come from Michigan to do the job.

“We’re looking for someone who has the ability to work in the political setting in Lansing,” Opperman said.

The students agreed an out-of-state choice could help provide perspective, suggesting that such a pick could provide a new outlook for the university.

Having a voice

The forum gave students confidence that the committee was taking their ideas seriously.

“I liked how when students asked questions, they asked questions back,” Ketchum said. “It assured me that they wanted to know what we thought.”

Having a trustee in attendance furthered the students’ belief that they were being heard.

“The trustee member that was there had a very busy schedule,” Richeson said. “The one-on-one dialogue makes me believe they’ll take our ideas and wishes to heart when making decisions.”

Our university is in a transformational period and the selection of a president will impact our educations, careers and lives.

At 7 p.m. Monday in the French Auditorium (Room 118) of the Education and Human Services building, the Student Government Association will sponsor an open forum where students, faculty, alumni and community members can voice their ideas, concerns and hopes for the next president of Central Michigan University.

Members of the Presidential Screening Committee will be in attendance to consider your input and answer questions.

As an important member of the university community, we urge you to participate in the presidential search process by attending this open forum.

Thank you.

Jason Nichol
Student Government Association
President

The CMU presidential search committee has 70 individuals nominated for consideration for the university’s next permanent president, said Trustee Stephanie Comai.

Comai, chairwoman of the presidential screening committee, said 25 people have completed all the information required for consideration and the committee expects around 10 more applications.

“I really have no doubt we’ll find an excellent president at the end of this process,” she said.

The application deadline is Oct. 1 and a candidate evaluation process will begin later that month.

Interim University President Kathy Wilbur took office July 1 after former University President Michael Rao left June 30 to become president of Virginia Commonwealth University in February.

Student Government Association President Jason Nichol, a Mount Pleasant senior, hopes to host a student forum with the presidential screening committee at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Charles V. Park Library auditorium, although he said the location may be subject to change.

“Student input is paramount because we’re ultimately the main beneficiaries of the next president of the university,” Nichol said.

Nichol is the only student member of the presidential screening committee, a 13-person council appointed by the CMU Board of Trustees in April to coordinate and search for the university’s next president.

He said he hopes to bring every member of the screening committee.

The search process

In an effort to determine the next president, Comai said the committee has placed advertisements in educational journals around the country and has wrote to individuals holding high-level educational positions nationwide to nominate someone for the job.

The selection process will start toward the end of the year and Comai said the committee hopes to name the university’s next president by Jan. 1.

“I’ve been really pleased with the level of support we’ve received from faculty, staff and students, and that really speaks well of the educational community we have,” she said.

Nichol said the committee is happy with the amount of interest shown in the presidential search.

“We’re happy with the responses we’ve seen so far and are excited,” he said. “We are looking for the best possible president to serve this institution.”

By the looks of it, he may be there for a while longer.

With many interim positions springing up all over Central Michigan University, Coles’ position will not be one to fill permanently this fall, said Interim Provost Gary Shapiro.

“I prioritize which ones need to be filled more immediately than others,” he said. “There’s a lot of movement in higher education. Roger Coles is doing a great job, and I have no doubt he will move the college forward.”

As far as Shapiro knows, no searches have been done for Coles’ position.

Coles jokes about himself being considered a senior interim. He said people constantly ask, “When are you going to get rid of the title?”

But Coles is not too worried about him still wearing the interim title.

“It’s still an interim position, but there’s no bones about it,” he said. “You can either tread water or move ahead. I know in this office, we have moved ahead.”

Coles has been with the university for 38 years, being department chairman of Recreation, Parks and Recreation before.

When and if a national search is done for dean of Graduate Studies, Coles will not hesitate to apply for the job.

“I will throw my name in the hat,” he said. “ I loved it.”

Shapiro said Coles would definitely be considered when that search comes up in the undetermined future.

This fall, searches will be done for a founding dean for the medical school, dean for the College of Education and Human Services and dean of the College of Business Administration.

In a May 27 article in Central Michigan Life, Associate Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Kent said the lack of a permanent university president can affect the recruitment of deans, because people interested in the position want to know who their boss is.

There is a limit to the number of academic searches that can be done, Shapiro said, so those were the top priorities currently. The university is in a transitional period, he said.

university@cm-life.com