College Update

From: Sanford Shugart
To: All Faculty and Staff
Date: 1/21/03  9:23 AM
Subject: College Update 

Several months ago, I wrote to you about several pending retirements among executive officers of the college. The Kinsers, of course, have already made their big transition. The search for a Provost for West Campus is well under way. I have reassigned the office of College and Community Relations to report to Susan Kelley and she is in the process of hiring a new Director.

Today I want to share with you some adjustments I will make to the organization that will effect many of you. For some time, I have thought our office of Human Resources had much more to contribute to our development as a learning college. While doing a fine job serving the many needs of employees, much more will need to be done in the future to recruit, retain, and develop great staff and faculty. Our performance review systems, compensation systems, employee orientation, employee records management, dispute resolution, and many other functions are in need of attention. In addition, I have come to believe that our leadership for diversity in the college, long the responsibility of Geraldine Thompson who is retiring in June, should be vested in a senior officer with line authority. Therefore, I am establishing a new leadership position effective this summer: Vice President for Human Resources and Diversity. The staff position of Special Assistant for EAEO will be eliminated when Ms. Thompson retires. Further, I have asked Dr. Stan Stone to assume this responsibility on or about July 1. Dr. Stone has great passion for the opportunities Human Resources and Diversity has to contribute directly to the learning environment. He is uniquely equipped to engineer the systems in HR to serve the staff and faculty who most effect learning on the campuses. His legal training and deep roots in the community will also serve us well.

Of course, this means East Campus will need a new Provost this summer. So a search will commence immediately, again led by Dr. Edwards and a team from East Campus. We hope to have a new Provost on board by August 1.

You may also recall that both Bob Austin and Jim Reinschmidt are retiring on June 30. Searches for a new Vice President for Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Vice President for Facility Services are already underway. We expect to hire in April for both of these positions. The search and interview details will be shared by Mr. Austin shortly.

Finally, with increased responsibility for statewide political advocacy and many irons in the fire here, as well, I am seeking a Special Assistant with a strong business and education background to handle some of the functions of my office and assist with the transition to a new Chief Financial Officer later in the year. The position is currently advertised in the Sentinel and should be filled shortly.

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