Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The search for the next president of Baylor University is under way and interest is high among all constituencies, including the faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Without doubt, this appointment is perceived as critically important to Baylor’s future.
- 07-19-09 David Brooks, guest column: Second-guessers misrepresent '2012' designs
- 06-24-09 Charles S. Madden, guest column: 'Baylor 2012' painted as something it never was
- 06-03-09 Joseph Armes, guest column: Opportunities endless for next Baylor president
- 05-30-09 Rufus Spain, guest column: Root of Baylor's rift: Vision 2012
- 05-27-09 Kenneth L. Hall, guest column: Baylor's next president needs a Christian, global view
- 05-20-09 Henry Walbesser, guest column: BU regents should reconsider their goals carefully
- 05-13-09 Clifton Robinson, guest column: Waco's wellbeing key to next Baylor president
- 05-06-09 James G. Vaughan, guest column: Next Baylor president must be immersed in city
- 04-29-09 Patricia Pack, guest column: Our next boss at Baylor should be approachable, a listener
- 04-22-09 David Lacy, guest column: Entire Baylor family must agree on the next president
- 04-15-09 Robert C. Cloud, guest column: Baylor faculty seek 'first among equals' for top spot
- 04-08-09 Bryan Fonville, guest column: Trust issue crucial in Baylor's next president
- 04-05-09 Carlos Sanchez: We're asking: What qualities should Baylor's next president possess?
While the Board of Regents retains final responsibility and authority in selecting the next president, all members of the Baylor family have legitimate interests in the search process and final selection. Faculty, staff, student and alumni association organizations passed resolutions during the fall semester of 2008 requesting meaningful participation in the process and the opportunity to clarify what we’re looking for in the next president.
Faculty expectations in this regard focus on the following three key qualifications:
* Successful administrative and leadership experience in higher education at progressively higher levels of responsibility, including fundraising.
* Impeccable academic credentials as a scholar and teacher in one’s chosen professional field.
* A Christian presence and related personal qualities that will enable the next president to unify a divided university family, renew trust and restore harmony.
But first, the next president of Baylor must be experienced in conflict resolution and consensus building. To be successful, he or she must understand and commit to the principles of shared governance, participative management and academic freedom that characterize leading research and teaching universities. Through policy and practice, the president must ensure wise stewardship of university resources and fair compensation for all faculty and staff. The president we seek will consider himself/herself as first among equals in an academic community — no more, no less — and expect other administrators to do the same.
Second, the next president should be a scholar in his/her own right. As leader of a prestigious university, he or she must have outstanding academic credentials besides the required administrative experience.
A distinguished record of scholarship and teaching will offer the necessary credibility with faculty, alumni, donors and the academic community as Baylor continues efforts to join the top tier of American universities. With superior academic credentials, the president can speak with authority about what is required to attain that goal.
Finally, it goes without saying that the next president of Baylor must be a committed Christian whose faith in God is reflected in his/her relationships with others. The president will be a person of integrity who is honest, transparent, fair, humble and respectful in interactions with others.
A sense of humor will be helpful to the president as he or she deals with complex and stressful issues that defy solution.
Above all, the next president must personify the servant leader modeled by Jesus in John 13, acknowledging through word and deed that those who are first must be willing to be last for the sake of the greater good.
In summary, it is time for reconciliation, reunion and renewal in the Baylor family. Faculty members with whom I serve seek a qualified president who has the courage, ability and integrity to unite the family. Once that goal is accomplished, we can all coalesce around the university’s stated mission and renew efforts to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment” within a truly caring community.
Baylor University has a long, successful and respected history in that regard and our work together can and must continue. Pro Ecclesia. Pro Texana.
Robert C. Cloud is professor of educational administration and higher education at Baylor University.
