Presidential Criteria
The Southern University Board of Supervisors seeks to appoint an individual with a vision and successful record of academic experience and leadership, higher education administrative experience and demonstrated commitment to quality and excellence in education to be the President of the Southern University System (SUS).
Challenges and Opportunities include:
- Ensuring the growth and development of the diversity of the University System teaching, learning, research, and community outreach initiatives.
- Assuring that the campuses within the University System maintain comprehensive program offerings to serve a wide array of population needs, using innovative pedagogy and research.
- Providing the leadership for public and private funding initiatives.
- Raising the visibility and building relationships and partnerships for the University System globally.
- Building a strong working relationship with businesses, higher education institutions, and all other stakeholders and constituencies.
Qualifications Expected in the New President As Approved by the Board of Supervisors and Presidential Search Committee:
- An earned Doctorate from an accredited institution of higher education (Preferred)
- Commitment to the highest level of personal and professional integrity
The new president should have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate the highest level of personal and professional integrity and should affirmatively support and encourage these values on behalf of the administration, faculty, staff, and students.
- Commitment to vision and strategic planning
The new president should have a demonstrated record of ability to articulate the vision and mission of the University System, to anticipate and lead the structural and cultural changes necessary to their attainment, and to engage in strategic planning that will result in sustained recognition and support from the administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and communities at large.
- Commitment to the teaching, research, and public service mission of a land-grant and complex state university system
The new president should demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the mission of a land-grant university system and the unique missions of the various campuses and institutes within the Southern University System and a willingness and ability to foster supportive relationships with other state higher education institutions, elementary and secondary education, businesses, boards, and all other stakeholders and constituencies.
- Commitment to academic excellence consistent with a flagship university and the missions of all Southern University System campuses
The new president should strongly support efforts to meet the highest standards in education, including innovative methods of teaching, research and attention to the needs of a diverse population of students, fostering the highest standards for the administration, faculty, staff, and
students on all campuses.
- Commitment to intellectual diversity
The new president should have a record of fostering a climate of intellectual diversity, debate, and inquiry among faculty and students, recognizing that resulting dialogue is at the heart of the University’s System search for knowledge.
- Commitment to a global perspective
The new president should be capable of drawing from and contributing to the global academic, technological, and business communities through collaborative international partnerships and faculty and student interchange.
- Commitment to recognition, understanding, and support of the University System
The new president should have a commitment to national and international recognition. The new president should demonstrate the ability to represent the University System to business and industry and to serve Southern in a manner that will gain their respect and further support for the University System, including a strong commitment of support to and engagement in private fundraising. Additionally, the new president should demonstrate the ability to represent the University System to state and federal legislative bodies in order to gain their support for the enhancement and development of the University System.
- Commitment to superior leadership, fiscal responsibility, and management skills
The new president should have a significant record of motivational leadership that demonstrates devotion to the university mission and an ability to lead energetically a diverse and multifaceted University System; to provide effective fiscal management, accountability, stewardship of university resources and oversight of a complex budget.
- Commitment to Fundraising
The new president should demonstrate a strong commitment of support to successful fundraising and the procurement of resources.
- Commitment to diversity and equity
The new president should have a record of active, visible support for the affirmative action and equal opportunity policies in effect at the Southern University System campuses; a strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity throughout the University System community; and a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with this historically underrepresented constituencies to fulfill that commitment.
The new president shall lead by example by having a sustained record of productivity in teaching, research and service. The new president should have a demonstrated record in understanding and appreciating the vital role and culture of faculty in high-quality, research-oriented educational institutions.
The new president should facilitate effective communication between students and administration and have a demonstrated record of nurturing academic excellence as well as excellence in facilities and programming for day-to-day student life to afford every student the maximum opportunity for learning, personal development, and involvement in the University System.
The new president should have a record of a close working relationship with alumni through alumni programming as well as a realization of the importance of alumni devotion to the University System.
The new president should facilitate effective communication between staff and administration and have a demonstrated record of appreciation for and support of staff, including providing opportunities for staff development and promotion.
- Commitment to public service
The new president should demonstrate a strong commitment in the role of the land-grant University System to engage itself in the communities it serves, to cultivate talent and leadership for public service, and to be a center for the debate of great public issues and for research and development of sound public policy.
- Commitment to the Southern University System
The new president should exhibit a passion for and a devotion to the Southern University System and demonstrate a willingness to put the interests of the University System first. In addition, he/she should possess:
- a strong record of successful budget and resource development and financial management experience
- the ability to oversee and develop a diverse corps of students and employees
- excellent verbal and written communications skills
- senior level administrative experience, preferably in higher education
- prior or current service on and/or demonstrated ability to work with institutional governing board(s)
- commitment to student-centered learning programs and innovative teaching which promotes student access and retention
- knowledge of current issues and trends in higher education, especially technological developments, community education, development and implementation of academic programs and accreditation standards
- demonstrated political astuteness and broad knowledge of the legislative processes
- demonstrated involvement in the community
In addition, the President of the Southern University System will be a person who:
- emphasizes excellence in research, teaching, learning and outreach initiatives
- has demonstrated fiscal integrity and has successfully managed resources
- has demonstrated success in generating alternative sources of funding and will provide aggressive resource leadership development initiatives
- has demonstrated ability in collaborating and effectively working with governmental, education, community leaders at the local, state, and national levels
- has a vision to develop effective global collaborations
- has the ability to be a persuasive, effective, and politically sophisticated advocate for the University System in the community, with the state legislature and other state organizations
- recognizes the need for raising the visibility of the University System globally
- has successful collaborative experience in labor relations
- is an open and effective communicator and understands the need to assure healthy communications throughout the University System
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