Well, at least for faculty: EMU Faculty Council president Russ Larson sent around an email the other day that outlined the format and the questions process for the “final four” EMU President candidates at the faculty sessions. I am assuming that these are far from a secret for the candidates themselves, so I thought I’d pass them along here. These apply to faculty, but I have to assume that other “stakeholder” groups will have similar formats.
Format for Sessions with Presidential Candidates:
Sessions will all be at 3 PM in the Student Center auditorium. The schedule is Michael Flanagan on May 6, Ken Burnley on May 7, Don Shelton on May 8, and Susan Martin on May 9. Russ Larson, President of Faculty Council, will introduce the candidates and ask the seven questions listed below. An overview of the process follows:
First, each candidate will address the session for approximately five to ten minutes.
Second, each candidate will respond to the same seven questions. The candidates will be sent the questions in advance and have three to five minutes to answer each question. The time limit may force candidates to answer with less detail but will encourage concise, direct, explicit responses. These questions will give us a better means of comparison and ensure that important questions are asked and answered.
Third, the remaining time will be open for faculty members attending the forum to ask their specific questions. We would like faculty members to bring their questions written out on 3 x 5 cards that can be collected and organized at the beginning of the meeting. We will also supply additional 3 x 5 cards for faculty who develop questions during the presentation process. A member of Faculty Council will read the questions. Although some may prefer a more open session, this process eliminates certain problems. For example, those asking questions are restricted from taking too much time, and we can avoid unnecessary repetition. Most important, we can make sure the important questions, including those generated by those attending, are asked and answered during the session.
Fourth, members of the audience will fill out an evaluation form that they will turn in at the end of the session. The results will be compiled and sent to the Regents and the Presidential Search Committee. The entire process will last for approximately ninety minutes
QUESTIONS
1) Funding is a major issue for EMU. What actions would you take to assure increased revenue for EMU from donors, Lansing, our regional constituents and Washington?
2) EMU’s image has been severely damaged by events during the last five or six years. As President of EMU, what steps would you take to divert, refute, and/or dilute the recent negative press accorded EMU by the media? Please give us a specific example from your past in which you improved an institution’s image with the public.
3) Given the fact that the relationship between faculty and administration at EMU has been somewhat strained in recent years, what specific actions would you take to address this issue? How would you build an effective working relationship based on trust and respect?
4) Faculty traditionally are expected to do research, to teach, and to perform service. How should these activities be balanced in the workload of faculty members at EMU?
5) Faculty traditionally have participated in the governance of universities? How do you see the issue of governance? Give a specific example of appropriate faculty involvement in governance. Give an example of inappropriate faculty involvement in governance.
6) What are EMU’s greatest challenges as an institution? What specific actions will you take to address these challenges? (If not part of answer, the candidate will answer this follow-up question: What will be your approach to EMU’s enrollment and retention problems?)
7) What are EMU’s greatest opportunities as an institution? What are our main strengths? Where and how can we most productively expand? What is your vision of EMU as an institution of higher education by 2020?
