DOWAGIAC — Southwestern Michigan College will be moving forward with an internal search for the college’s next president.

At the SMC Board of Trustees meeting Monday night, six board members approved to begin an internal search for a possible candidate to be the eighth president of SMC. Trustee Elaine Foster disagreed and spoke in support of a national search.

The candidate will succeed Dr. David Mathews, who announced his retirement earlier this month. Mathews will officially leave SMC at the end of 2019.

During public comment, two faculty members of the college expressed their hope the board would do a national search for the future president.

Natalie Anagnos, a member of the SMC Faculty Association, expressed her group’s desire to be involved in the process.

“We are excited about the opportunity for new leadership,” Anagnos said. “We sincerely hope that a national search will be taken to find out next president, and we look forward to participating in that
process.”

Gary Franchy, a member of SMC faculty, also expressed his hope in the search being extended nationally.

“Speaking in light of the significant challenges facing SMC that have been outlined at the recent board meetings by the chairs, president Mathews and others,” Franchy said, “I am hoping that the board would agree the search for SMC’s next president should cast a net as far as wide as possible to ensure we don’t miss the person most capable of successfully moving the college forward.”

The last speaker during public comment was community member Leon Anderson, who has previously served as a city councilman, county commissioner and on the county planning commission. He took a different stance than the prior two speakers and encouraged the board to do an internal search to keep SMC’s record of having continuity on campus.

“To bring someone else from the outside in to begin that process would be very difficult,” Anderson said. “I think, as a taxpayer. I would prefer you look internall.y … I would not want to see you stumble because you brought in somebody from a search from somewhere that you know nothing about and you know nothing of them.”

When it came time for board of trustee’s discussions, Foster was the only member to express interest in a national search from the beginning of the process.

“I think that it doesn’t defeat the fact that internals can apply also,” Foster said. “I think it allows the opportunity to see what else is out there. … SMC is at a pivotal point right now. Education is changing right now. A national search doesn’t need to cost $100,000. There are ways that require a little more effort on our part in regards to what we do from an internal screening and search committee.”

Trustee Beth Cripe expressed her interest in keeping the search internal after reading articles about negative situations at other community colleges, both inside and outside of the state when doing national searches. This included the mention of the high cost of running a national search and the possibility of turnover.

“A 60-minute interview is tough to try to get to know someone,” Cripe said. “There is a much higher rate of turnover with national searches. Looking at [Lake Michigan College], Glen Oaks [Community College] in particular, they have had high issues with turnover. Probably the most important con to me is the expense of a national search. … We have some possible great candidates from within.”

Trustee Dr. Heidi Grabemeyer-Layman agreed with Cripe and said she was more financially conservative and shocked at what it would cost to do an external search.

Treasurer Becky Moore said she would prefer to start searching for a candidate from internally, pulling from her experience in the past 20 years.

“It’s far easier to know that you are making a good choice if you are working with all the people here at the college who already work day to day with these people.”

For Chairman Thomas Jerdon, having a balanced budget — for the past 54 years like the college has — is important.

“We are in the top 10 percent if we look at our institutional report card of transfer and graduation rates,” Jerdon said. “When you look at that, a big part of it is the president and the top administrators are high performing. The idea that SMC being a top performing institution, that we are going to find somebody better or even equally good at a less performing institution at our top 10 percent in status and many of these categories, is to some degree wishful.”

Eileen Crouse, who runs the Citizens Concerned about Southwestern Michigan College Facebook Page, said the last time the board did a national search for a presidential candidate was back in 1971. Crouse also said she felt concerned about some board members’ use of examples when referring to national searches being unsuccessful at other community colleges, stating there have been colleges where national searches did go well.

For the Concerned Citizens, Crouse said the page just wants more transparency.

“Last night, when the board each spoke in turn, that was the first time since we’ve been recording these meetings that any of them have offered their personal beliefs,” Crouse said. “We felt that was a positive step forward that they actually spoke for themselves. We are also happy they are going to invite the public and invested parties to talk about what they think is important in a president.”

The group also wishes the compensation package of the future president and the retirement package of outgoing presidents would be easily available to taxpayers. Previously, the group used a Freedom of Information Act request to view Mathews’ compensation package.

Crouse said she felt Vice Chairman Keith McKenzie’s comments about Cass County’s ability to attract a quality candidate because of Cass County being rural was insulting to the community. 

“I think it’s not everybody that wants to move to a rural community like we have here,” McKenzie said during the meeting. “We don’t have a Walmart. It’s not an easy thing to get somebody to come in here.”

“I disagree and think many qualified people would be very interested in coming to SMC and staying, but [the board of trustees] would have to do a good job of selecting that person,” Crouse said in response. “If they don’t feel like they can do a good job, then I can see why they are taking that route. [Our group] really only has the college’s best interest at heart.”

At Monday’s meeting, the board confirmed the position of president would be posted as soon as possible so internal candidates can begin the application process. A closing date will be selected, ensuring enough time for application materials to be accessible to the board by its Sept.16 meeting.