College Moves Forward With Search Firm

BENTONVILLE — NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s board will work with a nonprofit agency in its search for a new president.

President Becky Paneitz announced her retirement earlier this year. Her last day will be June 30, 2013.

The college’s board reviewed the agreement in a phone conference Friday. The agreement shows the college starting services with the Association of Community College Trustees on Sunday.

The agreement states the college will pay a $30,000 fee for services, and no more than $15,000 for additional costs stemming from travel and search committee expenses. College officials could decide to spend additional money for things such as advertising and reference reports.

The college’s foundation plans to give the college $40,000 for the search from undesignated, unrestricted funds.

The Association of Community College Trustees is an organization set up to represent governing boards of community, technical and junior college across the country, according to its website.

The agreement states the association will conduct a national advertising email campaign, along with promoting the open position through websites, national meetings, network communications and direct contracts.

Candidates will be screened through resume reviews and telephone interviews, according to the agreement. The association must verify candidate references and prepare up to six preliminary reference reports and three summary reference reports.

The association will refer candidates to the college and help coordinate interviews by telephone and in person.

Trustee Hadley Hindmarsh questioned if the college needed a clause limiting the association from trying to recruit the college’s employees for a time after the search ended.

Glenn Kelley, college attorney, said he didn’t think the clause was necessary.

“I think if this was a true headhunter group it might be,” Kelley said. “A large part of what they do is not contacting individuals.”

Trustee Johnny Haney asked if the college needed to make a target date for the search to be completed.

The term will commence Sunday and continue until final completion, according to the agreement.

Alex Vasquez, board chairman, said college officials will review the need for a clause regarding recruiting along with a target date.

At A Glance

Contract

NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s board approved moving forward with a contract with the Association of Community College Trustees during a meeting early this month.

Source: Staff Report

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