Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 48]

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36

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[August 5

The special meeting was called to receive presentations from a selection of executive search firms concerning their proposals to assist the board in searching for a new president of the University. The five firms selected to make presentations to the board were chosen because each had demonstrated, in materials sent to the board, that they had experience in two of three areas: (1) searches for university presidents; (2) compiling diverse pools of candidates for executive positions; and (3) general experience in the search for executives for organizations. Dr. Bacon explained that the business for this meeting was to hear presentations from several executive search firms, discuss the presentations, and then to consider individually what each had to offer the board in this important endeavor. She noted that observers from the University Senates Conference and the Chicago Senate were present. 1 Dr. Bacon then asked the first presenter, Mr. Allan Ostar, representing Academic Search Consultation Service (ASCS), to begin his presentation. Mr. Ostar thanked the board for the opportunity to be with them and described his career in higher education administration and the special service of his organization in seeking out high level leaders for academic institutions. He emphasized that higher education was the only market his organization served and that ASCS had extensive experience in identifying candidates for high level positions in academic institutions. He cited his recent work with the search committee for the vice president for academic affairs at the University of Illinois as an example of the type of service his organization provides. Further, he emphasized the networks his firm has nationally due to the backgrounds of the principals and to the specialization of the group. He also shared with the trustees his views of the needs of public research universities today and the characteristics needed by leaders of such institutions. He also stressed the national role always played by the president of the University of Illinois and the need to identify someone who could carry on that tradition. Questions followed from the trustees concerning his group's success in identifying and recruiting women and minority candidates and the fee structure his organization has established for major searches. Mr. Boyle and Mr. Rose joined the meeting at this time. Chair Boyle assumed the chair from Dr. Bacon and made a few remarks. He then invited representatives from the firm, Carrington & Carrington, Ltd., to the board table to begin their presentation. The chief spokesperson for this firm was Dr. Nelvia M. Brady. Also, Mr. Willie E. Carrington and Mrs. Marian H. Carrington were present and made remarks during the presentation. Dr. Brady stated that the firm was 15 years old and that their emphasis was on efforts to identify

1 University Senates Conference and the Urbana-Champaign Senate Council: Kenneth E. Andersen, professor of speech communication; Chicago Senate: Edward A. Lichter, professor and physician surgeon in medicine, College of Medicine at Chicago, and professor of community health sciences, School of Public Health.