Florida Atlantic University offers one product: a college degree. The next president won’t need to have one.
During last week’s meeting, FAU trustees approved the job description that will govern the second presidential search. The first version required applicants to have a “terminal degree”—the highest in each field—and higher education experience. The new version includes neither.
“Is this typical?” asked trustee Robert Flippo. He noted that companies would not hire a chief financial officer who had no financial background.
Trustee Chair Piero Bussani defended the wording, saying it was based on the 16 “listening sessions” that the search committee held in August and September and that the committee had approved the language.
The search consultant said the goal is to “leave the funnel pretty wide” for applicants. Too many restrictions, trustee Dan Cane said, “would not show well.” The search committee and the trustees, who must pick from among the finalists, will decide based on what Cane called “a combination of factors.”
Trustee Pablo Paez also argued for excluding a degree. Such a requirement, he said, “would eliminate many Fortune 500 CEOs.”
Paez is correct that some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs left college early to start their companies. Examples include Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg (Harvard) and Michael Dell (University of Texas.)
But they are the exceptions. By dropping the requirement, FAU is essentially saying that success doesn’t depend on attending college. FAU is looking for a new football coach; will it hire someone with no background in football?
Trustee Brad Levine pointed out that the University of Florida job description in its presidential search includes not just a degree requirement but also “some level of academic accomplishment.” If that’s good enough for the state’s “flagship” university, why not FAU?
But no one on the board of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees is listening to Levine these days. As the former trustee chair, he named himself to lead the first search committee that rejected then-State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay. He was the favorite of the governor and Barbara Feingold, who is the governor’s closest ally among the trustees.
Kim Dunn, the faculty representative on the board, said her colleagues were particularly concerned about not having that degree requirement in the job description. Her colleagues also wanted a president to “have a background in higher education.”
Bussani disagreed. “My job,” he said brusquely, “is to represent all constituents,” not just the faculty.
Dunn responded, “I have always cast votes [as a trustee] in the best interest of the institution.” Bussani, perhaps realizing how dismissive he had sounded, said, “I had no intention to question your integrity.”
Even though Dunn and Levine finally joined the unanimous vote to approve the job description, the wording and the discussion will further stoke fears among faculty and staff of an inside deal to pick the next president. The wish for a “transformational leader” could be cover to hire an inexperienced political ally of the governor.
That happened at UF, with former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse. He lasted 17 months.
The committee hopes to have finalists for the trustees’ consideration in January.
Interim Presidnet Stacey Volnick announces new hires
Though some key leadership positions at FAU—notably chief academic officer and chief fundraiser—remain unfilled as Interim President Stacey Volnick nears the end of her second year, Volnick has announced two key hires.
Dr. Lewis Nelson will start in February as dean of the College of Medicine. He has been chair of the department of emergency medicine and chief of the department of medical toxicology at Rutgers University. He also is board certified in addiction medicine.
In addition, Cameron Duncan will start in January as dean of the College of Nursing. He has been interim dean at the University of Nevada-Reno, where he previously served as director of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program. FAU recently submitted an action plan after the Board of Governors cited a drop in the first-time passing rate of the licensure exam by its nursing school graduates.
Both have a “terminal degree” in their field and extensive experience.
NFL Hall of Famer expresses interest in FAU head coach position
A new name is linked to the search for FAU’s next football coach: Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis.
According to published reports, Lewis has expressed interest through friend and fellow Hall of Famer Cris Carter. He was hired last year as the coaching staff’s director of player engagement. “Ray wants it bad,” a source told The Athletic, which said Lewis lives five minutes from campus. Lewis played at the University of Miami before spending all 17 years of his pro career with the Baltimore Ravens.
Still, the front-runner apparently remains Charlie Weis, Jr. He was FAU’s offensive coordinator under Lane Kiffin and now has the same job under Kiffin at the University of Mississippi. Weis makes $1.6 million, but reportedly would be willing to take a pay cut. Tom Herman, whom FAU fired this month, had a base salary of $1.2 million.
Despite a resume that includes winning two Super Bowls, Lewis has no coaching experience. If the coaching gig doesn’t work out, perhaps he could apply for the presidency.
Boca labor union employees return to City Hall
Boca Raton’s blue-collar unionized workers were back before this city council last week. The issue remains the union’s request for a one-time, lump-sum payment similar to what non-union employees got.
As before, City Manager George Brown said the Service Employees Union International (SEIU) could ask for such a payment in its next contract. Brown opposes amending the current agreement that expires next Sept. 30.
As before, union representatives pointed out that they asked for the payment and were told that the city didn’t have the money. Why, then, did the city have the money for the non-union, white-collar employees?
As before, the class and race issues behind the discussion—the employees in question tend to be lower-paid and of color—seemed to make some council members nervous. After some of the union employees claimed that the refusal left them feeling “not valued,” Mayor Scott Singer said, “We value all of our employees. It’s not a matter of not valuing.”
Councilman Andy Thomson responded, “Action speaks louder than words.” He said the refusal penalizes employees for being in a union. Despite Brown’s comment, the city did amend union contracts to give all employees a holiday this Friday—the day after Thanksgiving.
Brown is in an awkward position, since the contract was negotiated under his predecessor, Leif Ahnell. Thomson and Yvette Drucker have been sympathetic to the employees. Last week, Fran Nachlas said, “I would like to have the discussion,” asking Brown to meet with the union.
Delray applies for All-America City Award
Delray Beach has applied for its fourth All-America City Award. According to a staff memo, the city will seek the honor based on “achievements in sustainability and resiliency.” The city commission will discuss the application next month.
A Delray Beach Rhodes Scholar
Delray Beach has produced the world’s third-ranked women’s tennis player in Coco Gauff. Now the city has produced a Rhodes Scholar.
She is Sofia Corona, a student at Harvard. According to the Rhodes Trust, which administers the prestigious award, she is studying for a bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics and Economics. During her two years at Oxford University in England, Corona will pursue a master’s in Economics for Development and another in Sustainability. In her spare time, she has climbed the highest mountains in North American, South America and Africa.
Thanksgiving
The City of Boca Raton will be closed the Friday after Thanksgiving, a first for the city. That means that there will be no trash pick up that day. Hours for other city facilities can be viewed at that link.
Happy Thanksgiving. My next post will be Dec. 3.
