June 27, 2016

I received a peculiar piece of mail at work today.  The Registry for College and University Presidents sent me information on their Premier Interim Placement Service Brochure.  The information was rather scant and sent me to their website to learn more.  I am not sure the website reveals much more.

In short, this company will provide institutions with interim presidents, provosts, chief financial officers, various vice presidents, deans, and whatever other unique executive position your institution has created.  Apparently ReCUP (my acronym) will provide an institution three candidates for an interim position so that "interims . . . make decisions that are highly objective, focused, and in the best interests of the institution."  Apparently, because these interim executives cannot be hired for the permanent position, the institution can proceed with the search for its permanent person without conflict of interest.

I am truly dumbfounded. Search firms for the permanent executive already litter the higher education landscape, now we have a search firm basically for the hiring of interim executives.  It is only a matter of time until an interim search firm is hired until the permanent search firm is hired by the local college down the road.

ReCUP promises a stable of "over 500 pre-screened members and veteran executives."  Over 500!  How many university executives are out of work and so able to move across the country for six months while some small private college looks for its next president?  Some of the names in the testimonials from the interim executives come up as permanent presidents when I searched them on Google.  Makes me question the advertising promise of "registry interims are always subject to 30-day notice--they cannot be candidates for the permanent position--but they can be extended by mutual agreement."  It all seems pretty fishy to me, perhaps nothing moreso than the last line of my letter: "the registry is always prepared to work with Academic Officers on a strictly CONFIDENTIAL basis" (ReCUP's emphasis).  Do I want my name put in this mix with 500 other easily available executives?

Which makes me wonder about this idea of a Registry for College and University Presidents.  Is this Higher Education's version of a wedding gift registry?  Is the registry for presidents to identify what they want others to give them?  Is the registry made up of presidents desperate to be picked?

I think the website could do so much more.

Welcome to our Executive Registry.  Institution planning your new wedding of external executive with internal staff?  Then sign in here.  Pick the presidential hopefuls you want to choose from. 

Budget a little tight?  Start with our bronze level executives, such as Rick Smooth-talker here.  He is barely used, having been the Vice President for Academics at Obscure University for the last four years.  He will be a great addition for only $185,000.

Wanting to make a bigger splash and know your Board of Trustees believes that money is necessary to elevate the institution?  Then our silver level executives are the choice for you. Choose Bob Three-Piece here.  He's been a president at three community colleges over the last 6 years and always leaves institutions smiling after he has done his job and leaves.  He is a bargain for the wedding season at $281,000.

Trying to move higher up the College Rankings and know you have to hire the best candidate, no expenses spared? You are going for gold! Then, Dr. Lewis B. Clark is your man.  While at Midwestern State University, he raised 5 billion all while turning his back to the various shenanigans that didn't derail the football team from a national championship.  He will bring his 33 years of executive experience and fund-raising talents to your institution for $645,000.  He's a bargain.

While bonuses and fringe benefits are negotiable, the basic salaries listed above are not.  This isn't the K-Mart of Higher Education Wedding Registries.

We should expect nothing else out of a company that promises "Agents of Change for the Academy."