The consultant helping with the search for the next president of Western Nebraska Community College is in Alliance and Sidney today with public forums that are part of the search process for the next president of WNCC.
Dr Angela Provart, president of the Pauly Group, is looking for input on the qualifications the next president should have.
Dr Provart led a similar session last night in Scottsbluff, but earlier in the day gave an update on the search process to the WNCC board that included discussion on candidate characteristics, salary expectations, and the selection timeline.
Provart said the Position Profile, detailing what the school is looking for in its president as well as showcasing WNCC and the region, should be ready for approval by the board at its regular meeting next month. She recommended a salary range of $225,000 to $245,000.
Board chair Lynne Klemke said the school needs someone who is “forward-thinking (and) sees opportunities to move this college forward,” continuing the process begun over the past 18 months by Interim President Dr John Marrin – described by Klemke as visionary and seeing opportunities to move forward.
Provart expects 30 to 35 applications, primarily current vice-presidents looking to move up but possibly a “needle in the haystack” of a current community college president with ties to the area that wants to return.
The WNCC board has formed a Search Committee of board, faculty, staff, student, and community members that Provart expects to screen applications as they come in before a Feb 13 deadline.
The Search Committee will pick up to 9 applicants for virtual interviews in early March with 3 or 4 finalists then recommended to the board for in-person campus interviews in early April.
Selection of the new president is slated for later in April with final approval of the contract for the new president tentatively set for May.