While the process of selecting a new school president is extensive, Las Positas College may have a permanent school president as early as January 2014. The Board of Trustees may even receive a recommendation from the chancellor as early as Oct. 15.
The public will have a chance to contribute to the decision on Oct. 2, when the forums presenting the finalists for the job of LPC school president will be held on campus. Students, faculty and the rest of the Las Positas community will have the chance to listen to the candidates’ platform and provide feedback to help the chancellor and the Board of Trustees decide who will lead LPC next year.
The forums are one of the final steps in the presidential search process. District Chancellor Jannett Jackson is optimistic about the results.
“I think whoever is selected will be welcomed into the Las Positas family,” Jackson said in a phone interview with The Express.
The process began during the summer, when applications were sent in for the position of president. By mid-August, the application process had closed, but that was just the start of the search. The Presidential Search Committee, composed of representatives from various campus constituencies, established screening criteria to view the applications. The criteria were based on a variety of standards, including qualifications, according to Jackson. On Sept. 5, they selected the individuals that would advance as semi-finalists.
“I have faith that the committee will base their decision on a variety of factors that affect the entire campus and everybody on it,” Associated Students of Las Positas College President Chris Southorn said in an email to The Express.
Currently, the CLPCCD Human Resources Department is contacting all of the semi-finalists to set up interviews.
The interviews for the semi-finalists will be conducted off site Sept. 18 through the 20. The location provides confidentiality for the candidates, in case they are already working in the system.
On Sept. 20, the committee will forward a list of names to Jackson, and these will become the finalists. There is no maximum number as to how many will be selected, yet Jackson has a standard that must be met.
“I want them to forward the names to me that they feel would be someone that they could live with as the president,” Jackson said. “I have looked at a preliminary list of individuals that they’re going to be interviewing, looked at their resumes, and I think that we have an outstanding group of people that have applied.”
Following this selection will be the college forums. These will take place on campus on Oct. 2 and will provide the Las Positas community with a chance to listen to and provide input about the final candidates. The district will announce times for each individual candidate after Sept. 20.
“You get an opportunity also,” Jackson said. “I want whoever is selected for them to feel as welcomed and as honored as I was when I was selected. It is an honor to work as a leader within this district.”
After the forums, Jackson will then interview the finalists. In the end, several factors will be considered: her interview and interaction with the finalists, feedback from the forums and ranking and information provided by the committee. She will then discuss it with the Board and make a recommendation to them on who she believes is the right choice. The date for this recommendation is tentatively set for the Oct. 15 Board meeting. Then the Board will decide.
“I hope that people can find time within their schedules to come out on Oct. 2 and listen to all the candidates,” Jackson said, “because one of those individuals will be selected as the future president for Las Positas College.”
In the meantime, Jackson will be conducting interviews with individuals that are being considered for the role of interim president. Dr. Guy Lease, current interim president of LPC, will be leaving at the end of September, which leaves a gap in administration. The selection for next interim president will be internal, meaning that it will be someone from the district. On Sept. 17, Jackson will announce to the Board of Trustees who has been chosen. This meeting will be held on LPC’s campus.
“I think it would be appropriate,” Jackson said, referring to the announcement. “I wanted to do that so people would know that there is going to be someone in place, not just a lag once Dr. Lease leaves at the end of September.”
