Following the December resignation of former Colorado State University-Pueblo Provost Carl Wright, proceedings are underway to select the man or woman who will take over this important administrative position.
Wright, who began his new role with CSU-Pueblo in January as a tenured professor for the Hasan School of Business, has taught business and accounting courses since 1976. As he now turns his focus back to teaching, the CSU-Pueblo campus community has turned its focus toward who will take his place as Provost for the coming years.
In an email announcing Wright’s resignation to the university last December, President Lesley Di Mare commended him for his service, saying, “I would like to thank Dr. Wright for his work at CSU-Pueblo during a very difficult period which involved budget reductions and eliminations in workforce. I appreciate his efforts to move the campus forward despite the barriers we encountered and wish him the best in his new role.”
Wright’s resignation has left the provost’s duties temporarily in the hands of Di Mare, who now spearheads the committee charged with the task of selecting his replacement.
In a January email to campus staff and faculty, Di Mare said, “(Because of Wright’s resignation) it is therefore necessary to begin the internal process of searching for a replacement who will begin his/her new duties in February 2015.”
In order to qualify for candidacy, applicants must adhere to stringent academic, as well as professional requirements.
According to the schools written description of the provost position, these requirements include, “An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited college or university,” as well as, “five or more years of progressively responsible academic administrative experience on a university level including working as a department chair, director and/or dean.”
The official position description goes on to detail numerous other requirements, as well as preferences for candidates, including experience with enrollment management, academic program coordination and also a “demonstrated leadership style suitable for a culturally diverse staff, faculty, student body and community.”
Nominations will be submitted by faculty and staff, and accepted until Jan. 28, at which point, “The selection committee, comprised of members of the cabinet and presidents of the faculty senate, administrative/professional council and classified staff council, will review nominations and recommend the top three candidates for consideration to me Friday, Jan. 30,” Di Mare said.
The top three candidates will then be asked a series of questions concerning their perception of the provost’s role, to which they will share written responses not exceeding three pages.
These short written responses will then be made available for campus review and feedback from Feb. 9-Feb.13.
At the conclusion of this review period, “Both the selection committee and I will review campus feedback to candidate responses and the selection committee will make their final candidate recommendation,” said Di Mare.
According to Di Mare, the university community will receive word of the selection committee’s collective decision in an official notice announcing the individual appointed as provost Wednesday, Feb.18.