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Delaware Valley College helps RHPF test new trustee search process

In a cooperative experiment between Delaware Valley College (DelVal) and the R. H. Perry Foundation (RHPF), a first test of the new trustee search process was conducted. Dubbed the alpha test, the search was limited to a review of the College’s alumni data base (“internal search” see Search Process).

DelVal College President Dr. Joseph Brosnan enthusiastically credited the Foundation for its work to find trustee candidates. “This was a highly successful collaboration and a pleasure to help the Foundation test its new trustee search process. The R. H. Perry Foundation gave us a slate of candidates generated from its unique approach to finding the best trustee to match a college’s specific needs. We will continue to draw from that list as we consider new candidates for board service.”

To conduct this test, Brosnan provided the Foundation with a profile of needed governing board expertise, skills and a request that candidates come from a corridor of states to afford easy access to the College in Doylestown, PA, where all board meetings take place. Under conditions of confidentiality, the Foundation was provided with the College’s alumni data base, coordinated through DelVal’s Development Office.

Selecting from a universe of more than 19,000 records, the Development Office sent RHPF a list of approximately 8,200 records containing reliable address and employment information. The Foundation was able to reduce and research records received to produce a list of 10 prospects meeting all requirements set forth by the president. A summary report was prepared containing short biographical sketches of each prospect and ranking them as top candidates for immediate consideration or as excellent prospects to keep tabs on for the future.

Southeastern University asks RHPF to Find Trustee Candidates with Academic Expertise

In early October, Southeastern University (SEU) of Washington, DC, sent out an appeal to the R. H. Perry Foundation for help to bolster its board in response to a severe warning from its accreditation agency.

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) issued a “show cause” order (the last step before termination of accreditation) to SEU when it determined the university was noncompliant with 10 of the agency’s 14 accrediting standards. These focused on issues of long-term planning, leadership, faculty, and educational offerings. Several of these shortcomings were related to board oversight requiring specific areas of academic knowledge and expertise.

To assist SEU, the Foundation team rapidly launched a search to find prospective trustees with academic leadership experience in accreditation reviews, outcomes assessments, distance learning, and a background overseeing academic affairs. In a matter of just days RHPF had 14 positive responses, all with significant higher education administrative experience.

In less than one month, SEU’s Board Nominating Committee invited two RHPF recommended prospects to interview, made a recommendation for full board review and elected Dr. Michael Steinman to join the Board and head up the Academic Affairs Committee.

Dr. Steinman received his PhD from the University of Chicago and has served as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at UMass, Dartmouth, Associate Provost at UMass and, most recently, Provost & Senior VP for Academic Affairs at John Jay College of the City University of New York. Mike’s entire career has been in institutions with mostly first generation college students and that serve surrounding minority communities. He has experience with accreditation reviews, particularly addressing deficiencies related to outcomes assessments as well as assessment of planning and budgeting.

“An excellent job!” exclaimed Doris McGhee, Chair of SEU’s Nominating Committee. “We are so pleased with the people the R. H. Perry Foundation brought to us and we are excited that Mike Steinman will be joining our board. We immediately felt that he was someone we could work with and learn from.” Mike jumped right in by assisting with preparations for the MSCHE accrediting team site visit scheduled to take place only two weeks after his election to the Board.

Registry for College and University Presidents Hear Foundation Update at Annual Seminar

Rob Perry, founder and CEO of the R. H. Perry Foundation was invited to address the membership of the Registry for College and University Presidents at its 16th Annual Seminar in early November. Rob’s message, “A New Opportunity for Service to Colleges and Universities,” described the Foundation’s unique search process and offered an opportunity for service as board members. The audience of former presidents and senior administrators could indicate a preference for interim service to at-risk schools or as full term board members of institutions aspiring to their next level of excellence.

Speaking to a near-capacity audience, Mr. Perry presented an overview of the Foundation’s first year of operations which included defining and testing each aspect of its trustee search process, researching the incidence of college and university closings, as well as its quest for funding and client schools. He used examples from recent searches on behalf of Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA and the District of Columbia’s Southeastern University to demonstrate the spectrum of needs for trustee service presented to the Foundation over the preceding year.

Following this presentation, Perry invited those in attendance to indicate interest in volunteering as trustees for independent colleges below the Tier I level. Approximately one third of the audience expressed the desire to be considered for trustee service. The majority of these respondents requested serving on governing boards of colleges and universities at risk.

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