The meeting was called to order at 3:50 by John Kolena. Guests included Henry Kuo (1982 alumnus and President of the Alumni Association), Danny Watson (Staff Council), Nelly Reilly (Parents’ Council), Brock Winslow (1986 alumnus and Chair of the Search Committee), Helen Legette (Board Member), Roshan Baliga (SGA President), and Steve Warshaw.

The above members of the Search Committee were present to share with us information about the search and to get faculty input. Specifically, they want to hear what we would like to see in the next director. The committee consists of thirteen individuals who represent all areas of the NCSSM community. They have met three times and have drafted a job description and the vacancy announcement. Robert Bridges was instrumental in drafting the job description and Helen Legette lent her expertise in drafting the vacancy announcement. To date the committee has met with the Parents’ Council and the Cabinet. Alumni have had input via email. After meeting with the Faculty Council today they will meet with the Staff Council tomorrow and the SGA. They will also have a "make-up" meeting for anyone who has not had the opportunity for input.

Brock Winslow stated that he sees this as an opportunity for the NCSSM community to pull together. He wants to keep everyone well informed and aware of their progress as well as giving everyone the opportunity for input. The committee has been charged with finding three candidates to recommend to the Board. The Board, with input from the Search Committee, will make the final decision. Their goal is to fill the position with as little delay after John Friedrick leaves in July, but plans are currently being studied for interim leadership if this timetable is unrealistic. The committee does not want any viable candidate to be excluded because of the desired starting date.

At this point the faculty reacted by expressing concern that if three acceptable candidates could not be found but one or two excellent candidates emerge, that the committee should not delay the search. Members of the committee felt like they had the flexibility to recommend fewer than three candidates if this were the case. Faculty also expressed the desire to have candidates visit campus and meet with the faculty. Committee members said that confidentiality was important in the early stages of the search, but as the search narrowed, the committee would discuss bring candidates on campus. Candidates who want to visit campus should be allowed to do so.

Faculty members feel that the time is right for more open communication on campus. The committee should consider candidates that are more to the faculty, students, parents, staff and the Board. More open communication and leadership are desirable.

In response to a question about the UNC President’s role in approving the Board’s choice of director, Brock stated that our board has full authority to select the new director.

Faculty asked about the scope of the search and placement of the vacancy announcements. We were assured that this would be a national search. The Search Committee is considering using a search firm to help in the search. The announcement will appear in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Dr. Charley Coble of the UNC Board of Trustees is lending his expertise, time and perhaps funding to aid in the search. The committee feels like NCSSM has many active and concerned support groups who will be helpful in attracting viable candidates to apply. Faculty and other groups in the NCSSM community were encouraged to notify potential candidates about the position and urge them to apply.

Faculty members reminded the Committee that NCSSM has a dual mission; to serve our residential students and to provide outreach to other students and teachers across North Carolina. We need a director who will maintain a balance between these two groups.

There was concern that our desire to have an open process might deter a viable candidate from applying and appearing on campus. Openness will only happen at the very last stages of search. We need to trust the committee to make good decisions. However, if a candidate wants to come to campus, we certainly should allow this at any point.

Faculty would like to see a leader we can respect. We recognize that we can be ungovernable at times, but having a director that we respect intellectually will help. We need a director who can harness our energy and intellect while not hampering us in our best efforts. Good communications skills are a must.

Henry Kuo, expressing his personal opinion, stated that he is looking for a leader who can operate effectively using many different leadership styles, one who must be able to act decisively when needed and also act to build consensus when appropriate. The director should be open to new ideas. Henry wants to find a director who will work toward making NCSSM the best experience its students will ever experience, who will work to make NCSSM the top institution of its kind. He must also be able to raise money and operate in the political arena.

We need a director who will support staff excel and grow. We need to use state resources to assist and support staff.

We would like to see a director who has intensity, enthusiasm, and passion for day to day occurrences at school, who is willing to take risks and risk making mistakes and willing to admit being wrong.

We want leadership which is sensitive and responds and encourages followership, who can encourage us to be our best. We need someone who can unite the different groups on campus and bring us together to work on common goals.

The director should be tenacious in the pursuit of change, someone who will ask why we can't do things differently. The director must have integrity, be good at managing people, delegating duties and not micro-managing. The director must trust the faculty and other administrators to do their jobs while paying more attention to the big picture.

The next director must be able to make NCSSM an attractive place for students. The director must possess many different leadership styles and be able to consider more than one solution to problems, recognizing that not all problems can be solved with the same solution.

To attract the best candidates, we might need a longer search. It is unrealistic to expect excellent candidates to come to NCSSM in July or August. We may need to wait until midyear or later to fill the position.

Nelly Reilly asked us to think about the one or two questions we would like to ask the candidates. Following are some of those questions:

Who would you hire to work for you? What are your goals for the school?

What is your greatest accomplishments so far?

How would you attract more students to NCSSM?

What is the telephone number of your worst critic.

What are your limitations?

Describe a typical day at your present job. How do you spend your time?

How they would handle situations where there are different points of view?

Give evidence from your life that speaks to your emotional and intellectual security.

Do you know what it is like to be a teacher in a classroom?

What are the resources that a teacher needs to be effective?

What do you think this school has to offer students?

What are your favorite books, why?

Brock thanked us for our input and stated that John Kolena represents us well as our representative to the Board and as a member of the Search Committee.

John thanked the Search Committee members for remaining through the entire meeting to hear our input.

Henry Kuo announced that there would be an alumni career day. Last years event was very well received by the currents students and alumni. We were encouraged to help publicize this event.

Julie Graves announced that we need more volunteer proctors for the American High School Mathematics Exam.

Steve Warhaw announced that we currently have 650 applicants for next year. Some applications are still coming in. This is close to the number who applied last year.

Dianne Futrell, representing the Academic Technology Committee, announced the following:

Plans are underway to design and build a new computer lab with 20 computers. This lab is the result of a gift from an alumnus, NAME. The intent of the gift is to enhance our computer science program, but the lab will be used as a classroom for other classes as well. A design team is being formed with representatives from each department.

A Foundation gift has provided for a state-of-the-art multimedia classroom.

Finally, there are three multimedia carts that will be checked out to the three departments. These are network compatible and include a zip drive, CD-Rom. A VCR and projection system are included on each cart.

Marylin Link introduced Dr. Cathy Jansen, our new biology and leadership faculty member. Jo Ann Lutz introduced Dr. David Reed, our newest mathematics faculty member.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 by John Kolena.

Respectfully submitted,

John Goebel, Secretary