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Higher ed chancellor search ignites debate Students, faculty say they want more input earlier in the selection process Wire and staff reports Some faculty, students and higher education board members are upset they won't be included in the search for Oregon's new chancellor of higher education. Formal public comment isn't allowed in the early stages, and a confidential search committee will finalize the job description, screen initial candidates and select the finalists for the top job in Oregon's university system. Erin Watari, a political science senior at Southern Oregon University and the only Oregon University System board member to vote against the search process adopted last month, said students are basically excluded from the search committee because they are allowed to serve two-year terms only. The search committee is composed of board members with four-year appointments. "It's a huge problem," said Watari, a former student body vice president and a leader in the drive to register student voters. "By the time the student appointees are up to speed, they're off the board. It's our job to represent all sides of the higher education community and we've not achieved that goal. "The search to find a chancellor who will uphold the quality, affordability and accessibility of our universities must be taken very seriously and should be done with students and faculty as an integral part of the process all the way through." Watari said she expects the search committee to act in the best faith, but as a student, her chief concerns are that the wrong leadership in the Oregon University System could lead to further tuition hikes and exacerbation of the "brain drain" of young students from Oregon because of a worsening economy. Watari, a Portland native, said her lone stand has found broad support among SOU's student body and its Faculty Senate. Both bodies have passed resolutions asking for student membership in the selection process, she said. Higher education board President Don VanLuvanee said some confidentiality is required early on, when prospective candidates might be skittish about announcing their intentions. "The ultimate decision is that of the whole board, and we will listen to any interested party, period," he said. "What I can't understand is any belief there is a secret deal. There is none." Chancellor Joe Cox, who has said he will step down next summer after his successor is hired, said the public will have plenty of opportunity to weigh in as the process progresses. Cox's office plans to release a draft of the qualifications and job description to the search committee this week. Cox also will seek suggestions from elected officials, business leaders, university presidents, faculty and students. Once the pool is narrowed, the public will have opportunities to ask questions of the candidates. Cox said the process was basically the same when he was hired seven years ago, and it was also used for his predecessor. Still, faculty senates at Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University and Oregon Institute of Technology have passed resolutions asking the board to draw up a new search process. "This is probably going to be the most important vote I cast as a board member," said Tim Young, a board member and UO student. "If I can do anything to make that the most informed vote as possible - by golly, I should have the opportunity to do that. ... I should not be excluded." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.