Friday, November 28, 2014
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Eastern Gateway Community College’s enrollment is expected to grow to 10,000 students in five to 10 years, so its next president must be able to manage that growth while improving student retention and completion.
That’s included in the presidential profile approved last week by college trustees after a series of forums at which the public could offer input.
Jack Gilmore, trustees chairman and a search committee member, said 23 people have applied so far.
Though the public forums, both in the Mahoning Valley and Jefferson County, were poorly attended, the 10-member search committee “took as much information from them as we could and built off that” to develop the profile, Gilmore said.
About 4,300 students in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Jefferson counties attend the college, which has three principal locations: the main campus in Jefferson County, the Valley Center in downtown Youngstown and the Warren Center, which opens a new facility in January. Classes are offered at other locations throughout the four counties including career and technical centers.
Laura Meeks, EGCC president for 15 years, will retire in July.
“The president of Eastern Gateway Community College will be an energetic, community-oriented and visible leader” who is committed to building upon the college’s success while improving student retention and completion, managing the growth, fostering existing partnerships and growing new ones and providing “high-technology training for new and expanding industries,” the profile says.
The new president also should be a student-focused leader and fundraiser experienced in labor relations and expanding student enrollment who understands financial aid, can advocate on the local, state and national level and who is “an approachable, friendly and likable leader who will actively engage with students, faculty, staff and administrators, the profile says.
The candidate also should have a successful track record as a senior-level administrator, particularly at a community college. A doctorate is preferred.
The search committee includes representatives from all four counties, trustees, students, administrators, members of the college bargaining units and the public.
The college has retained the Association of Community College Trustees of Washington, D.C., to assist with the search for $30,000. That price also includes a succession plan.
“I just thought it was important enough that we get professional guidance,” Gilmore said of ACCT. “They do this so many times a year that it’s second nature to them.”
The search committee will receive resumes electronically Monday with a meeting set for Dec. 8.
The committee, with assistance from the association, will narrow the list to a smaller list, which will be turned over to the board.
Interviews with semifinalists are expected in January with finalists expected to visit campus in late February and the board to choose the new president in March.
“The board will make the decision,” Gilmore said.