The Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees took a step closer Thursday in the search for a new superintendent and president.
After a brief discussion over a draft president profile that was compiled after several recent discussions, the board unanimously approved an amended profile that included tweaks to a few preferred qualifications.
“The whole point is to cast a net so you do have people apply,” said Marcia Wade, interim vice president of the college’s Human Resources Department. “You want to get as broad a base as possible.”
The president profile includes information about the position, the college and surrounding community. It also includes a list of minimum and preferred qualifications, ideal characteristics and opportunities and challenges.
The minimum qualifications include that the candidate must have earned a master’s degree from an accredited institution, has significant leadership experience in an executive level position and an understanding and respect for various groups of students, faculty and staff.
The preferred qualifications are that the candidate earned a doctorate degree, has experience in supervisory roles and has a commitment of the college’s mission.
The ideal characteristics included in the profile are operational knowledge, decision making, interpersonal skills and a list of personal attributes sought for the next president.
The board is being assisted in the search by the Association of Community College Trustees and its consultant Dr. Pam Fisher.
Ms. Wade explained that there will be opportunities in the future to narrow the field and for the board to ask more questions of the applicants.
“Finalists have a very extensive process in terms of their presentations on campus, their actions with all the various groups. there are a number of mechanisms that are built in the process to help narrow this down so that you will have your opportunity to ask questions,” she said.
The conversation on the draft profile was brief and for the most part the board expressed a desire to move forward in the selection process.
Trustee Craig Nielsen expressed an interest to “get the ball rolling” as the process moves forward.
“This is not our first rodeo,” he said.
On March 2, Dr. Helen Benjamin was selected as the interim superintendent and president. Dr. Benjamin replaced Dr. Anthony Beebe, who in February announced his retirement citing significant health-related issues. He was selected for the job in May 2016.
Dr. Benjamin is expected to remain at her position through December.
Dr. Fisher and college staff will work to finalize the amendments approved by the board Thursday evening and the profile is expected to be uploaded to the college’s new website redesign that will launch Monday. The target date for receiving applications is Sept. 16.
