CHAPEL HILL – UNC Board of Governors Chair Brad Wilson Friday debunked the notion that board members have decided on a replacement for President Molly Broad before the search process has even interviewed a single candidate.
Wilson, who spoke during Friday’s full Board of Governors meeting, said the Presidential Search Committee intends to review all possible candidates and proceed with integrity. The comments came as speculation continues to grow that former Clinton Administration Chief of Staff and two-time Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Erskine Bowles is the front-runner for the position. Bowles, who has received the support from legislators from both parties, has made it known that he would like to serve as the system’s next president.
Wilson said the committee will review all candidates before making a final decision. He did not say how many candidates the committee expects to evaluate.
“The search committee intends to remain true to its charge,” Wilson said.
The search committee began its work in April after Broad announced her plan to retire at the end of the 2006 academic year or whenever her replacement has been named. Since then, the search committee has held a series of town hall meetings, which were met with low attendance, to enable citizens to discuss what they wanted in a UNC president. Meetings throughout the summer have focused on the presidential compensation package. President Broad’s salary is $312,000 annually and the next president will probably receive between $350,000 to $450,000.
On Friday, BOG members approved the language that would be included in a letter of appointment when a president is named. Wilson said that the committee members did not want to proceed without the letter of appointment and a leadership statement approved by board members.
In the letter of appointment are the details about the salary package and incentives that the next president will receive. On top of the substantial salary, the president will be able to live at the president’s residence at 400 East Franklin Street, with the UNC system paying for utilities, maintenance, housekeeping and grounds keeping. The new president will also receive a car, membership at the Carolina Club, and reimbursement for moving expenses.
“The letter of appointment sets the parameters to be discussed with any candidate,” Wilson said.
The leadership statement specifies what board members expect in a new president. Among those qualities, board members want a president who “understands and values the purpose of a public university system,” and who “appreciates the State of North Carolina and its people.” The statement goes on to include topics such as management, relationship with the BOG, and advocacy.
Wilson said that the search committee will begin to meet more frequently as the bulk of the work begins. However, most of those meetings will be in executive session. The committee has been using a consultant to help with the search process.
In other action during the BOG meeting:
• Board members offered their praise for the 2005-2007 biennium budget that was passed Thursday. Molly Broad said the legislative session has been successful for the UNC system and the system received all of its highest priorities in the budget.
• Discussed a partnership with Dole Foods to create a research center at the former Pillowtex plant in Kannapolis. The partnership will also include UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and North Carolina State. Broad said the program “will foster economic development across the state.”
Shannon Blosser (sblosser@popecenter.org) is a staff writer with the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy in Chapel Hill.