This morning at 10 a.m., Pima Community College faculty received an e-mail from the PCC Education Association's Scott Collins regarding the selection of the college's next chancellor in reaction to PCC Chancellor Roy Flores' recent announcement he's stepping down the end of the year and a recent story in the morning daily about Provost Suzanne Miles stepping in to take his place without much input:

From: Collins, Scott
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 10:00 AM
To: #PCCFACULTY
Subject: Selecting our next Chancellor

Good Morning,

PCC is much in the news of late but you may have missed the article: PCC Set to appoint Provost Miles to succeed Flores. [Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/education/pcc-set-to-appoint-provost-miles-to-succeed-flores/article_c6ee0294-3cbd-5ec9-8279-c58807b54f68.html#ixzz1lWVnm01V] The official College documents detailing the agenda for this Wednesday’s Board of Governors meeting contain the proposed employment contract for Dr Miles. The contract states that Dr Miles’ employment “as Chancellor shall begin on the first day that [Dr] Flores is no longer serving in that position, but no later than, January 1, 2013 and shall continue through and including June 30, 2014.” Accompanying documents indicate that the contract would be subject to extension. The primary justification for this action is that it facilitates “a smooth and cost effective transition.”

PCCEA has a long history of working effectively with Dr Miles who has consistently supported Faculty efforts and priorities. She has performed admirably in virtually every possible administrative role at the College including, most recently, a stint as Acting Chancellor. She is as qualified for this position as any administrator at the College and deserves careful consideration for the post.

As qualified as Dr Miles is for this position, PCCEA contends that it is essential that the Chancellor position be filled via a national search. Not just the normal national search that we routinely conduct to fill faculty, administrative, and high-level staff vacancies, but a high profile national search with a large and diverse Advisory Committee comprised of employees and community members. Candidates who are invited for interviews should meet with the Committee, the Board of Governors, and other community leaders. Finalists should conduct public forums that enable employees and community members to ask questions and provide feedback to the Board. This is broadly the process that was used 9 years ago to hire the current Chancellor. It is not quick, easy, or cheap but it is appropriate, justified, and worthwhile.

This process will ensure that Pima College selects the next Chancellor from a pool of the highest caliber educational leaders in the nation. We are very fortunate to have a number of local candidates who deserve to be in this pool. An institution the size and prestige of Pima College and the citizens of Pima County deserve nothing less.

PCCEA will be making a statement at this Wednesday’s Board of Governors meeting to this effect. We encourage you to make your opinion known. In an effort to facilitate that, we have provided contact information for the Board of Governors below. You have every right to contact the Board to make your thoughts known. You may also choose to make your own statement to the Board on Wednesday evening February 8th. PCCEA invites you to take a moment to indicate your support [or lack thereof] of PCCEA’s position by clicking on this link to a one question survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9VWY8KQ

The survey above is intended for Full-time faculty members and is our effort to get a sense of how you (our constituents) feel about this issue. If you know others (adjunct, staff, friends, community members) who agree with PCCEA that it is essential that our next Chancellor is selected via a robust national search with significant employee and community participation, feel free to forward the next e-mail from PCCEA as you see fit.

Earnestly,
J Scott Collins
Immediate Past PCCEA President