Firm withdraws; chancellor search
to proceed with campus advisory group

March 30, 2006 -- The company that Arkansas State University hired in February to assist in its search for a Jonesboro campus chancellor has terminated its contract with ASU because of issues surrounding its requirement for confidentiality. As a result, the search will be brought back to the campus and handled by the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee that was appointed in February.

Academic Search Consultation Service of Washington, D.C., notified ASU President Les Wyatt Wednesday that the firm could not continue its national search for the most qualified candidates. The company had been hired to develop the best possible pool of candidates by using its proven expertise, extensive contacts, and long-time experience.

Confidentiality at this stage is essential to the success of the firm’s proprietary search process, the firm’s finance and administration director wrote to President Wyatt. “In light of the fact that confidentiality of the prospecting phase of the search process has now been questioned under the freedom of information laws of the State of Arkansas, Academic Search Consultation Service is hereby terminating under mutual consent its contractual relationship with Arkansas State University.”  (letter in PDF format)

The firm has not provided any names or information to ASU, and it is returning all fees and expenses ASU has paid thus far, about $20,000. The firm also will not bill ASU for expenses.

Dr. Glen Jones, chair of the Campus Chancellor Search Advisory Committee, met with members today to advise them of the change and to discuss how they will pick up the responsibilities in the search. Dr. Jones said it would be premature to discuss the committee’s next moves in any detail, but he expects the search will move forward quickly after adjustments are made.

Much of the work already conducted, such as development of a formal position announcement, institutional reference material for prospects, and the web site, will need only minor revisions to reflect that the university is now handling the search. The position description was developed largely with ideas and suggestions offered by faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends during a series of public forums held in Jonesboro and Little Rock Feb. 15-17.

“The consulting firm has an outstanding record for its ability to find the highest quality executives who otherwise may not be seeking a new job, then bringing them into consideration,” Dr. Jones said. “We also respect a legal precedent that suggests that use of an outside firm can be interpreted as an attempt to circumvent the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. ASU respects and will comply with the law in all aspects of this search.”

The justification for using a search firm was largely based on its ability to find the widest pool of qualified candidates through its proprietary and confidential procedures that protect the identity of individuals whose effectiveness in their current position might be jeopardized if their names are publicized during the early stages of the search. However, the ASU search committee will still attract, screen and select a strong pool of candidates through a process that includes advertising and personal contacts.

Most of the original plan will not change -- the finalists’ names will be announced, as previously stated, and each will visit the campus for interviews and meetings with campus constituencies. The goal to have a chancellor on duty before the fall semester starts still stands.

The Board of Trustees voted in December to separate the duties of president and campus chancellor. Dr. Wyatt, as president, will devote his full attention to providing leadership for the ASU system of campuses, while the chancellor will serve as the chief executive of the Jonesboro campus. While ASU campuses at Beebe, Mountain Home and Newport all have a chancellor, or campus executive, Dr. Wyatt has filled that role at ASU-Jonesboro in addition to his duties as president of the ASU System. Florine Tousant Milligan of Forrest City, who was serving as Board chair at the time, said that the Board “ . . . would like for Dr. Wyatt, as president of the ASU System, to focus his attention on resource development, government and constituent relations, interaction with campus chancellors, and to continue to oversee the development and coordination of the ASU campuses.” The Board’s charge and the parameters for the search and appointment will not change.

Applications for the position must be submitted online through the Chancellor Search web site, http://www.astate.edu/ChancellorSearch, which is currently being revised but should be accessible again by Monday, April 3. For more information about the search process, contact Dr. Jones in the Office of the President, (870) 972-3030.

Jones said that review of applications and credentials will begin in May. Following campus interviews, President Wyatt will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. The Board will make the final selection of chancellor.

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