Paul Carney first to visit campus in search for new vice president
Liberal arts, challenge, interesting, relatable to students; one candidates interests in being a part of campus community
April 18, 2018
Paul Carney, vice president candidate, speaks on increasing marketing for the liberal arts aspect of Midwestern State University at the Candidate Forum in Dillard 101 on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Since January, the vice president for enrollment management search committee members have met with an academic search consultant, narrowed the pool from 43 candidates to 10 candidates and video interviewed those 10 to narrow it down to three. From those candidates is Paul Carney, the first candidate to visit campus, participated in an open forum on April 5.
The committee consisted of Jacob Warren, economics senior, Sam Watson, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, faculty members and staff members. Debbie Barrow, chair of vice president for enrollment management search committee and director of board and government relations, said it was important to have a diverse group, so there were many voices from different aspects of the campus community.
“It’s important for all the areas to have a voice,” Barrow said.
According to Barrow, enrollment is a big part of the campus, so it is important for people to come out and ask questions that pertain to them and their department.
“It’s important to give people the opportunity,” Barrow said in regards to people attending the forum and asking questions that pertain to them.
Barrow said the committee was looking for someone who brings experience to the table that touches all the areas for the position, such as language of admissions, registrar and financial aid. She also stressed that the candidates don’t have to be experts in each of those fields, but they do have to use data to drive decisions.
“We feel very strongly that the three of these candidates can meet those requirements exceedingly well,” Barrow said.
Barrow said she is confident in the choices the committee made in narrowing down the candidate pool.
“Listening to even just the 10 interviewees talk about how they approach planning and developing a plan, I think it’s going to be all encompassing for the university,” Barrow said. “It’s going to be a good step forward.”
There were many reasons on why Carney said he is interested in coming to campus. The first is he believes a liberal arts education is important.
“It’s important for every student to have the opportunity to think, who am I, why am I here, what do I stand for,” Carney said. “It’s important to me that MSU Texas is a state supported liberal arts college.”
Another reason he is interested is because he likes interesting schools and he likes taking risks. The last school he worked at shut down due to not receiving a loan from the state, resulting in him having to help students find other schools that fit them and what they needed for their education.
“I knew it was a risk, but I wanted to take it because I thought I could make a difference in the place,” Carney said.
Carney believes that he is a good match for the students here on campus because he shares a key aspect with some if the students here on campus.
“I am a first generation college student my wife is first generation high school,” Carney said.
Carney also said he likes challenges. According to Carney, during the forum the goal he was given was to raise tuition by 2000 students by 2020.
“I’m going to take a shot and this is my shot,” Carney said.
Search Committee Timeline
Jan. 11-12 | Academic search consultant meets with constituent groups.
Jan. 15-19 | Search consultant and committee finalize ad and profile. Advertising plan is approved.
Jan. 19-March 15 | Recruiting and evaluation. Academic search advertises position in approved print and/or online media.
Feb. 2 | Committee begins to review applications on a rolling basis.
March 15 | Deadline for full consideration of applications.
March 21 | Deadline for each committee member to submit to academic search a list of top 10 candidates of interest.
March 22 | Consultant and committee conduct conference call to select semifinalists to be recommend for video interviews.
March 29-30 | Search committee conducts video interviews with academic search observing remotely. Select finalists to be recommended for campus visits.
April 5-12 | Campus visits by finalists.
April 13 | Search committee meets to review and present strengths and weaknesses of the finalists to the President.
Late April | Appointment made and announced.
July 1, or earlier | Appointee assumes office.
Other Candidates
