With SF State President Robert A. Corrigan set to retire at the end of the academic year, the campus must now begin organizing what it wants from its new leader.
The process begins with the chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, who is responsible for setting up a committee known as a Trustees Committee for Selection of the President and as well as Advisory Committee to the Trustees Committee for Selection of the President. The new president is selected by the Board of Trustees after potential applicants are narrowed down to three candidates, but the University is allowed its input.
“As it stands, when a president is being selected, the trustees go to the campus to meet with faculty, staff and students and get their input through meetings and Q&A sessions,” said Stephanie Thara, CSU spokeswoman.
The ACTCSP also acts as a voice for the campus as it consists of the chair of the academic senate of the campus, two faculty representatives elected by the campus faculty, one member of the campus support staff elected by the staff, one student elected by the representatives of the campus student body, one member of the campus advisory board elected by that board, one alumnus or alumna elected by the campus alumni association, one vice president or dean of the campus and the president of another CSU campus, who is elected by the chancellor.
After both boards have consulted with each other and determined a group of potential candidates fit for the position under the criteria established between the two boards, they may elect a second panel to assess the candidates as well. The boards also visit the campuses of the candidates while making sure to maintain anonymity.
The Board of Trustees is currently considering revising these provisions, proposing to eliminate the campus visits in order to better ensure anonymity of the candidates, as well as remove the second panel, citing that it is seldom employed. The board is also proposing adding another trustee to the TCSP. No changes have been made at this point.
“Because nothing has been voted upon yet, it’s too soon to say whether or not this will affect (SF State’s) search for a president,” Thara said.
As the Board of Trustees prepares to compile the two committees needed to begin the search, students have their own concerns when considering a new president.
“I’m not sure if this is even possible, but the transfer process was so difficult that I would like for everything here to be easier,” said Natalie Pearce, business management major. “I want a president who is active in making sure resources are more accessible and available for students.”
Other students are in agreement with this sentiment and believe that there was a lack of involvement by the current president.
“I never felt much of a presence from Corrigan,” said Emily Irving, English literature major. “We need a president who at least shows they care about the University. To literally be a student here and not know what our president has done, what he stands for, or what he looks like is really an embarrassment.”
