MORGANTOWN — The WVU Board of Governors took a first look on Monday at a proposed new rule to guide its search for a new president.
The BOG approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking during its special meeting and set a public comment period to run Tuesday, March 19, through April 18.
As previously reported, the BOG voted on July 31 to extend President Gordon Gee’s contract for another year, through June 30, 2025. The rule, when adopted, will govern the search for his successor.
The rule spells out that the BOG will conduct presidential searches via a committee-led process. The search committee will be a recommending body only, and the BOG must approve any recommendation. The committee will review the initial candidate pool, conduct initial interviews, participate in campus visits and recommend choices for final BOG interviews.
Search committee members will include BOG members, faculty, staff and students. The BOG may reject or add candidates during the search process. Candidates’ identities will remain confidential unless the candidate consents to disclosure.
The rule also spells out the terms for the BOG negotiating and renewing a presidential contract, including compensation — which may be based on presidential performance, peer institution salaries and relevant market data, and any other relevant information.
The rule provides for an annual performance evaluation plus a formal written evaluation at the end of the contract term and every third year thereafter.
Regarding the search, the rule also allows the BOG to hire a consultant or executive search firm to assist the search.
The BOG has already taken that step, releasing on March 13 a Request for Procurement proposal to engage a search firm. Proposals are due by April 12 and the anticipated contract start date is this spring.
Because Gee’s contract expires June 30, 2025, the RFP says, the firm’s work “should be conducted to ensure the selection and hiring of the new president such that the orderly transition is affected by no later than July 1, 2025.”
An evaluation committee will be appointed to look at proposals, the RFP says.
A press release on Monday’s meeting says that since November, the BOG Ad Hoc Governance Committee, chaired by Dr. Patrice Harris, has been providing guidance to the board on a number of matters, including the presidential search.
“This is a responsibility we take very seriously,” Harris said. “We will engage with campus communities, university stakeholders and other interested parties as we move through this process. We want to hear from all constituents and stakeholders, to understand their perspectives on the qualities, skill sets and capabilities our next president should have. This is an exciting time for West Virginia University, and we look forward to working collaboratively in the months ahead.”
The committee continues to work on finalizing the search timeline and will have more details at the April board meeting.
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