West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 133 - Higher Education Policy Commission › Title 133 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION › Series 133-05 - Guidelines for Governing Boards in Employing and Evaluating Presidents › Section 133-5-2 - State Universities

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
2.1. The selection
				of campus presidents is one of the most important duties of institutional
				governing boards. The procedures outlined in this rule are intended to assist
				the governing boards of the State's public institutions of higher education in
				fulfilling this duty. Considering the great diversity in size, scope, and
				mission of the State's universities, the specific search process at an
				individual university will be tailored by that university to meet its specific
				institutional needs;
Provided
, That the university's search
				process must conform with the authorizing statute and this rule.
2.2. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the
				position of president at one of the State's universities that is not
				administratively or statutorily exempt herefrom, the governing board of the
				institution shall undertake a search for a new president. The governing board
				is responsible for the search, both procedurally and financially. The governing
				board shall adopt a procedure, consistent with this rule, governing the search.
				The search procedure adopted by the governing board shall be submitted to the
				Chancellor for review and comment prior to being implemented. The procedure
				shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
2.2.1. A mechanism to receive input from
				faculty, staff, and student representatives, as well as alumni representatives
				and community leaders as to the characteristics and qualities they seek in the
				president.
2.2.2. If the governing
				board appoints a search committee other than itself, the appointed search
				committee shall include representation of faculty, students, staff, and other
				constituencies of the institution. The number and constituency of the
				membership of the appointed search committee is at the discretion of the
				governing board.
2.2.3. The
				governing board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a position announcement
				detailing the characteristics and qualities sought in a new president and post
				it on the institution's primary website, distribute it to newspapers and other
				media sources, heads of higher education associations and organizations, and
				other appropriate individuals, groups, or organizations for the purpose of
				advertising the position.
2.2.4.
				The governing board shall determine the finalists from the candidate pool and
				conduct on-campus visits with them at which students, classified employees,
				non-classified employees, faculty, campus administrators, community leaders,
				alumni, and other individuals shall be invited to meet with the candidates. The
				constituent groups shall submit their comments to the governing board, and the
				governing board shall consider those comments in its evaluation of the
				finalists.
2.2.5. The governing
				board may conduct background checks on each candidate prior to the candidate's
				interview with the search committee or governing board. The governing board
				should conduct background checks on finalists prior to any campus visit made at
				the invitation of the search committee or governing board and shall conduct
				background checks prior to any final selection by the search committee or the
				governing board. The governing board or appointed search committee may conduct
				on-site visits to the candidates' current and past places of employment. The
				governing board shall use standard industry practices in conducting background
				checks and, at a minimum, shall include confirmation of degrees and past
				employment and criminal and credit checks.