The selection of a president is a governing board's most important responsibility, and the search process is the board's best opportunity to help guide its institution into a successful new era. This guide outlines the leadership roles during a search (those of the board, the board chair, the search committee, and others), briefs board…

The challenges facing public higher education are placing new demands and pressures on colleges and universities and those responsible for their governance and leadership. As higher education seeks to negotiate these and other 21st-century changes, the role of its "guardians" in stimulating change, supporting purposeful leadership, and…

This issue brief presents a meaningful strategy for how charter school boards can hire top-notch, well-suited leaders for their schools. Written by Mollie Mitchell, founder and president of The K12 Search Group, this brief is a how-to guide for managing the process of bringing on a new charter school leader. As Ms. Mitchell notes, the only thing…

The purpose of this study was to establish an accepted skill set, knowledge base, and overview of personal qualities necessary to be a director of a university or college based, non-proprietary intensive English program (UIEP). This research serves as a means of moving towards meeting three critical needs in the field. This research should inform…

The resignation, termination, and unexpected departure of several college and university presidents over the past decade have prompted much speculation about the state of the college presidency. An alarming number of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) presidents find themselves, and the institutions they lead, at the mercy of…

This article reports a study designed to identify the factors that both hiring bodies and applicants believe are most important when making decisions about principal selection, appointment and acceptance. Based on a quantitative study involving the four main groups of players in the principal selection process, we confirmed a four-factor…

Leadership transitions provide opportunities for organizational growth and development. In the field of education, choosing an effective school principal is one of the most significant decisions that a superintendent or school board can make, as new leadership can propel a district forward in meeting its goals. Principals are responsible for…

In this article, the author shares some of the lessons about leadership he learned when he became chancellor of the University of Georgia in 2006. He realized that the route to leadership in the private sector differs significantly from the route in higher education. The path to leadership in the academe is not only poorly marked, but it does not…

Examines mistakes often made in administrative searches. Discusses qualifications, advertising, salary, and interviewing. Argues that hiring an administrator is not like hiring another faculty member and that it does not pay to save money on the search, to hire someone like the person who left, or to hire someone who is like other faculty members.…

Describes one school system's successful development of a principal selection process that utilizes a screening/advisory committee. Includes methods for committee selection, sample interview questions, and evaluation and decision-making techniques. (IW)

Details the process that helped Oklahoma City school board members decide what they wanted in a superintendent and how they went about finding that person. (MLF)

The winnowing of a large number of presidential candidates to a smaller, more manageable group is discussed. Initial screening, candidate information, evaluation form, reference checking, and selecting interviewees are described. (MLW)

Effective principals are distinguished by their strong leadership, their focused approach to change, and their highly developed analytical skills. The screening and selection process used in reaching the decision to employ such a principal is critical; districts often fail to gather comprehensive information about candidates and fail to thoroughly…

The relatively new phenomenon of using search committees is described as the result of state and federal legislation, a more participatory approach to college administration, and an enlarged pool of qualified candidates. Committee functions include recruiting and screening candidates, checking references, handling interviews, and making…

Community colleges are filling high-level vacancies by going outside the higher education community due to a definite shortage of people applying for president and senior-level positions. From their tradition of hiring from within, search committees are now extending their reach to increase the applicant pool. Among the new target sectors is the…