“Search for TWU provost ongoing” plus 2 more

Search for TWU provost ongoing
Search for Van Buren Township's permanent public safety director may be coming to a close
Find support and keep busy during lengthy job search

Posted: 12 Jun 2010 09:53 PM PDT

The search for a new provost at Texas Woman's University could continue into the fall semester as university officials look for the right person to lead the university's academic programs.

Administrators originally intended to hire a provost by the end of August, in time for the beginning of the fall semester. However, the search is taking longer than expected, officials said.

The provost search committee — whose 12 members include administrators, students and faculty — is reviewing roughly 60 applications for the position, said Don Edwards, an associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chairman of the search committee.

"The search could possibly go into the fall semester, but our target is to find someone this summer," Edwards said. "Our priority is to find the right person for the position."

Interim Provost Keith McFarland told regents at a quarterly board meeting this month that he would be willing to extend his six-month contract, if needed, to ensure that TWU finds the right person for the job.

Provost hires typically take anywhere from six to nine months, and TWU's search isn't anything out of the norm, he said.

McFarland, who was brought out of retirement to serve as interim provost, has been asked by regents to accept the permanent position, but he said he is a happily retired ex-university president living in East Texas.

The former president of Texas A&M University-Commerce replaced Kay Clayton, who left her position as TWU provost because of health reasons March 1.

"We all know how important that position is for the university and its future," McFarland said. "We're going to try to get someone in by the fall, but we've got to get the right person for the job. That person will help set the direction of the university."

At the meeting, regents Chairman Harry Crumpacker said the provost position is an important role at the institution and the search committee should select the right individual for the job from a pool of national applicants.

McFarland and the search committee are looking for a provost who is able to set the tone for TWU's academic programs and is able to communicate well with the faculty and administrators.

The applicant would need to be approved by regents.

Crumpacker praised McFarland for opening communication between the Faculty Senate and top administrators.

"I'm hopeful we'll be able to resolve these issues and return to educating students," he said.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.

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Search for Van Buren Township's permanent public safety director may be coming to a close

Posted: 13 Jun 2010 05:41 AM PDT

By Gerald LaVaute
Heritage Newspapers

The search for a permanent Public Safety Director for Van Buren Township is nearing completion, and a permanent director may be selected as early as next month, according to township Treasurer Sharry Budd.

The post is currently being filled by interim Director Carl McClanahan, whose nine-month contract began in December 2009.

Budd said that 37 applicants competed for the job, from which the seven elected township officials selected a top five list, and then developed a separate list of the next five highest-ranked candidates.

These lists were provided to Supervisor Paul White, who developed from the votes of each of the officials a single list of the top five candidates for further consideration.

One candidate among the remaining five dropped out of consideration. The remaining four candidates asked that their names not be disclosed until further along in the selection process.

EMPCO, the firm that the township hired to help conduct the final stages of the search, met with the four candidates earlier this week, for an orientation on what to expect in the testing and evaluation stage, planned for next week, the week of June 14.

After the evaluation is completed, Supervisor White will select a date and time during which all remaining candidates will be interviewed by township officials in an open, public forum.

Budd said that she thought that that could take place next month, in July.

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Find support and keep busy during lengthy job search

Posted: 13 Jun 2010 03:18 AM PDT

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"Initially, we were quite surprised by the findings. But among our discoveries was that conscientious individuals also may evaluate that their lack of employment is due to a lack of ability," Boyce says.

Boyce says those taking long-term unemployment especially hard — such as the conscientious individuals in his study — should find extra support. He also urges people to use unemployment as a "chance to re-evaluate your life and find purpose."

While Lewis was not part of Boyce's study and says he wouldn't necessarily call himself a conscientious person, he says he understands how hunting for work for months on end can affect all areas of your life.

That's why he says that while he spends much of his day trying to find employment or an internship, he also takes time to volunteer for a literacy program at an elementary school.

"The volunteer work helps me a lot. It's a nice break. It gets my mind off the job search, and it's a way to contribute," he says.

Such a strategy is one that Boyce recommends. He says that job seekers can benefit from finding something to keep them occupied during unemployment, whether it's volunteering, networking or helping their family.

"They need something where they can direct their skills," he says.

Lewis says that in the beginning of his unemployment, armed with a severance package, he wasn't overly concerned about finding work. Now that the severance money is gone, he tries to stay focused on finding a job. He lives with his mom since he's without a paycheck and says her moral support and professional advice are valuable.

While he has a college degree in business and marketing, he is expanding his job search into other areas, such as advertising.

"There are definitely days when I feel like I get a lot done. I'll find a job resource or apply for a job," he says. "Then, there are other days when I don't feel like I'm doing as much. I just try to spend a majority of my day doing things that will advance my job search. I treat my day hours just as I would my full-time job. Looking for work is a full-time job."

Anita Bruzzese is author of "45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy ... and How to Avoid Them," www.45things.com. Write to her c/o Gannett ContentOne, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va. 22107. For a reply, include a SASE.

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Sunday, June 13, 2010