INTERNATIONAL

Surviving a Presidential Transition
Carl Patton, PhD
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• Moreover, 30 percent of all new presidents (including those coming from
inside academe) have never been a faculty member.
‣ Ø Life for university presidents is more externally oriented than in the
past.
‣ Ø Most presidents spend little time with constituencies inside the university;
they rely upon their provosts and academic VPs.
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ADD TO THIS ANOTHER TREND:
Consequently, they make decisions affecting units they personally
don’t know about!
‣ Ø Some presidential searches no longer bring the candidates to campus to
meet with administrators, much less the rank and file.
THE QUESTION:
‣ Ø What can you do to prepare for and survive a presidential transition?
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HERE IS WHAT I FOUND:
‣ Ø Not Much Advice!
‣ Ø No articles or books.
When first asked this question, I made up some answers, based
on my own experiences.
The second time I was asked, I tried to find out what others
have written.
‣ Ø Lots on how to hire a president or how a president should approach the
new job.
‣ Ø My sources:
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Successful and less successful experiences of 16 VPs, AVPs,
and Division Directors.
One of my respondents, now a president himself, survived
under six presidents and three chancellors!
WHAT ADVICE DO THEY HAVE?
‣ Ø Change is normal; use it to reaffirm your goals.
‣ Ø Have a plan, or someone will have one for you.
‣ Ø Try to be involved at every step of the process.
THE FIRST RULE OF STRATEGY IS TO HAVE ONE.
‣ Ø Prepare a strategy for each phase of the transition.
1. Before the search begins.
2. When the candidates have been identified.
3. After the new president arrives.