Survey reflects concerns about college presidential search

Rebecca Norden-Bright, The Daily Astorian, Ore.
·4 min read

The results of a community survey about the presidential search at Clatsop Community College reflect a widespread desire for a strong leader able to unite the college amid a tumultuous period, as well as concerns about the college board’s role in the process.

The college board voted in February to hire Gold Hill Associates, led by former Portland Community College president Preston Pulliams, as a consultant for the presidential search.

College

Clatsop Community College is searching for a new president.

A presidential search committee — comprised of board members, people from the community and faculty and staff — is aiming to announce a new president by June, the college’s first permanent leader since the departure of Chris Breitmeyer last year. Teena Toyas is serving as interim president following the resignation of Kevin LaCoste in January.

The survey drew 122 responses. Of the respondents, 32.2% identified themselves as from the general community, 27.1% as staff, 15.3% as faculty and 5.9% as administrators.

Respondents emphasized the importance of integrity and leadership in a future president, with high value also placed on goals such as “work effectively with all internal and external college constituencies on critical issues” and “focus on student learning and success.”

In an open-ended section on the survey, respondents — who participated anonymously — raised concerns about potential candidates’ backgrounds and expertise, along with the college board’s role in selecting the president.

“It is extremely important that the next CCC president be fully qualified and experienced in higher education,” one person wrote. “It would be great if they also had experience with smaller communities and colleges and the specific challenges they face.”

Last year, the board faced public scrutiny for its choice of LaCoste, a retired banker with no background in education, as the interim president to replace Breitmeyer.

Several responses raised concerns about the board overstepping its role in the process.

“I want to make certain CCC faculty and staff have a solid voice at the table and the board does not just place a puppet to serve their needs and wants in the presidency,” a respondent wrote. “The new president should serve the needs and wants of the students, faculty and staff.”

In March, the college board voted to change the composition of the search committee in response to questions about a lack of staff and faculty representation.

Two survey responses criticized the optics of board member Jody Stahancyk, who chairs the presidential search committee, donating money to fund the hiring of Gold Hill Associates. The $25,000 cost, directed through the college foundation, was covered by Stahancyk, former state Sen. Betsy Johnson and retired portfolio manager Helena Lankton.

“Is it REALLY appropriate to have Jody Stahancyk paying for Gold Hill Associates for this presidential search and her being the head of the presidential search committee?” one reads. “That seems like a dishonest, manipulative and corruptive situation that is being added to an already dire situation here at CCC.”

Another response calls Stahancyk’s position a “clear and direct conflict of interest.”

“(Stahancyk) is leading this search under you in order to persuade, manipulate and control the search committee,” the response reads.

Stahancyk, in response to questions from The Astorian, explained that she, along with Johnson and Lankton, initially donated the funds for the purpose of establishing an alumni database, but allowed the college foundation to redirect them for the presidential search.

“The college indicated they did not have the funds to be able to hire the person that we want, that we had selected, and that they would have to take it out of places that would negatively impact students and faculty,” Stahancyk said.

“I have absolutely nobody in mind for this job,” she added.

Stahancyk said that the search committee will discuss the rest of the survey responses at a future meeting.

“As the chair, I’m a facilitator,” she said. “And what I hope to be able to do, what I intend to do, is make sure everybody feels heard and everybody is listened to. And at the end of the day, we will choose the individuals — we will recommend to the board — the individuals that we are comfortable are the best candidates.”