OPINION: College Board approves advisory committee in its search for Jackson State president

At its November meeting in Starkville, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (College Board) approved the selection of the five-member advisory committee in the search for a permanent president for Jackson State University. They are: Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Crear; Alumni President Patrease Edwards; Dr. Nicholas Hill, Dean of the Business School; Dr. Candice Jackson, Faculty Secretary; and Dr. Deidre Wheaton, Associate Dean of the School of Education. 

The advisory committee will apparently work under the direction of Higher Education Commissioner Alfred Rankins and Member Vice President Steven Cunningham, and with the contracted search firm, AGB Search.

Some JSU alumni are expressing concerns about this new wrinkle as the search process unfolds. Among the concerns are: 1) the majority of the advisory committee members are alumni of other institutions; 2) the persons guiding the search, Rankins and Cunningham, guided previous searches with unfavorable results; 3) the College Board is relying on relatively inexperienced rather than seasoned individuals; 4) individuals having been and are likely to remain publicly vocal on the matter were passed over; and 5) there is nothing particularly unique or praiseworthy about what seems to be taking place this time around.

Hopefully, these and perhaps other emerging concerns about the JSU presidential selection process will not become another source of division within the JSU community. If it does, however, some can testify that such has happened before, perhaps with the unspoken and unacknowledged expectation of the powers in charge.

In order to avoid such outcomes and to demonstrate a desire to involve JSU constituents more fully in the process, each relevant constituent group – alumni, faculty, staff, and students – should be able to select / choose several individuals as advisory committee members. Also, the role of the advisory committee should be expanded so that it becomes the major arbiter in terms of the criteria needed by those candidates to be interviewed and ultimately hired.

Such an arrangement or structure has been utilized on many campuses before. It was in fact suggested for JSU when the College Board sought presidents in the 1990s. Each time, the process was, nevertheless, subverted when it came to selecting the finalists for interviews. The arrangement can and should be used again in order to help restore confidence in the College Board and to assure the candidate who aligns most ideally with the needs and goals of JSU.

On the other hand, if the more-narrow approach is taken, with the College Board not only deciding who is selected for final interviews and hired, but even the description of who should apply and all of the individuals who will serve as advisors, loyal JSU alumni and friends will understand again that the “fix” is in and the best and most ideal person for the position will not be selected. 

The time has long since passed for JSU and other HBCUs being treated in an inferior, paternalistic manner. We need a real change in how JSU presidents are selected rather than having to accept whomever the College Board chooses and for whatever is its purpose.