2008 Woodie Awards
Greek Life director search unsuccessful
Tiffany Gibson
Issue date: 7/9/08 Section: News
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After completing two unsuccessful national searches over the past year, the position of Greek Life director remains unoccupied, prompting an upgrade in job responsibilities and salary.
The first search committee began reviewing prospective candidates in fall 2007 but was unable to find a person to properly fit the Greek Life position.
As an attempt to recruit people to apply for the position during the second nationwide search, Gene Fitch, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of Student Life, and Robert Glenn, vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost for Enrollment Management, attended conferences to encourage possible candidates.
"During the search in the fall, we did not feel we had a strong enough candidate," Glenn said. "We had a number of good people who I think will have good careers, but they simply were not strong enough to handle the challenges of our Greek Life situation here."
Glenn said that MTSU "has gone to a lot of trouble to upgrade the position and make it more of a senior level position" that includes a higher salary.
"One of the things we have had trouble with over the last several years is the revolving door of young professionals that come in for a few years and then leave," Glenn said. "We think that's a problem because our Greek community needs strong and consistent leadership over time."
During the spring search, Glenn said there were at least three qualified candidates. One withdrew from the offer, the second accepted another position before MTSU could make an offer and the third visited the campus and came to the conclusion that she did not want the position.
"We need to make sure we maintain the highest level of quality as we evaluate candidates, because we don't want to accept just anyone because the position is open," Glenn said.
Carrie Youell, Greek Life coordinator, currently serves as the Interim Greek Life director after Gentry McCreary, the former Greek Life director, left in July 2007.
"We recently just finished our second search for a new life Greek Life director," Youell said. "The position was offered to someone but they did not accept it. I think it's kind of up in the air about what we are going to do."
Youell said the university is looking at candidates with very specific qualifications including experience in working with the Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council and the Nation Pan-Hellenic Council.
"They are looking for someone who has a minimum of five years of professional experience," Youell said. "They don't have to have all Greek experience, but a Greek background is preferred as far as being a member of a fraternity/sorority or having some Greek affiliation."
To aid with the Greek Life director search, MTSU hired a new associate dean of Student Life to work with Gene Fitch. According to Glenn, the new associate dean, Danny Kelly, will work with Fitch in overseeing specific departments in the Office of Student Life and help "pick up some of the slack" until the position can be filled.
"We looked more closely at the associate dean candidates' qualifications because that position supervises the Greek Life area," Glenn said.
While an associate dean will be able to help manage the Greek Life vacancy, Glenn said that MTSU would continue searching until the right person for the job is hired.
"Hiring a person is the most important thing you do," Glenn said. "Because firing an incompetent person is the most difficult thing you'll ever have to do."
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