Formation of Search Advisory Committee for the Dean of Metropolitan College
From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
I write to announce the formation of a Search Advisory Committee to identify a permanent Dean for Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET). As you know, Professor Tanya Zlateva has served as Dean ad interim of MET since January 2013 and has played an essential role in leading the College and sustaining its forward momentum over the past 3 1/2 years. Because of the important role MET plays in BU’s academic ecosystem through its part-time and full-time continuing education offerings as well as online programs, the search for the next Dean of MET, while open to external applicants, will focus on identifying qualified candidates from within the University community.
The process for constituting a Dean Search Advisory Committee, outlined in the BU Faculty Handbook, specifies that: “the advisory committee shall consist of three faculty members elected by the faculty of the School for which a dean is to be selected, two faculty members elected by the Faculty Council from other Schools, and as many as three members designated by the provost.”
The faculty members who are appointed to serve on the Advisory Committee will have responsibility for directing the search effort and should be among our most thoughtful, engaged, and committed scholars, teachers, and leaders. Please note that no member of the Advisory Committee may be considered him or herself for the position of Dean.
Accordingly, I am requesting that faculty in MET organize internally to solicit nominations and to elect three faculty representatives to the Search Advisory Committee.
Boston University’s Faculty Council will also be sending an email communication to all members of the faculty on both campuses requesting nominations of candidates external to MET to fill the two elected seats on the Dean’s Search Advisory Committee. Nominations or expressions of interest can be sent to the Faculty Council (fafc@bu.edu). Please note that membership on the Faculty Council itself is not an eligibility requirement for election to the Search Advisory Committee by the Faculty Council. I request submission of the results of both of these elections by August 7, 2015. Following receipt, I will appoint additional members so that the Committee will be assembled and prepared to begin its work by the start of the fall semester.
The MET Dean Search Advisory Committee will report its recommendations to me. The committee is charged with:
- Refining the initial position description;
- Actively soliciting nominations for candidates from appropriate sources within the University;
- Evaluating the qualifications and assessing the strength of nominees and applicants;
- Presenting the names of 2-3 qualified candidates and outlining the strengths and limitations of each for final selection by the President and approval by the Board of Trustees.
The MET Dean Search Advisory Committee should not vote as part of its process and deliberations. Rather, the work should be accomplished by discussion and consensus. Ideally, the committee will conclude its work and submit its recommendations no later than October 30, 2015.
Formation of Search Advisory Committee for the Dean of Metropolitan College – 7.15.15