Presidential Candidate Search Committee holds first meeting
Posted on: June 4, 2021; Updated on: June 4, 2021
By Dana Woodward, ddhaesel@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3691
The Presidential Candidate Search Committee met for the first time today (June 4) after being appointed during a May 21 called Board of Trustees meeting. Led by Thad H. Westbrook, the 21-person committee began its work to find candidates to become the next university president with a charge from Board Chair Dr. C. Dorn Smith III: "Let’s commit to demonstrating to the public, the press, and all USC System stakeholders our diligence and our focus on search processes, toward the best possible search outcomes. Let’s commit to conducting ourselves as stewards of the University System’s reputation and as ambassadors of the University System’s diversity and excellence."
The commitee reviewed Board Policy BTRU 3.01 [pdf], which was adopted as part of the Board's governance reformation process undertaken
in 2020. The policy defines the composition of and provides guidelines regarding the
conduct of the search committee. Each member of the search committee signed a copy
of the policy to indicate that they read and understood it.
Let’s commit to conducting ourselves as stewards of the University System’s reputation and as ambassadors of the University System’s diversity and excellence.
C. Dorn Smith III, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Several university administrators gave counsel for the committee to consider as committee members embark on the search:
- Terry Parham, General Counsel, explained how the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and the South Carolina ethics law apply during the presidential search.
- Carl Wells, Interim Director of Equal Opportunity Programs, shared how to avoid discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process, including applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
- Julian Williams, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, discussed some best practices for cultivating a diverse pool of candidates and avoiding bias in the search process.
- Caroline Agardy, Vice President for Human Resources, gave an overview of UofSC policies that pertain to the presidential search. She also offered advice about the hiring process, including selecting a search firm, creating a position description, reviewing candidates and conducting interviews.
The committee also put together a preliminary calendar for future meetings and agreed to meet on June 10, June 24 and July 1.
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