Provost Search Update March 2009

Behind the scenes the search for the first University Provost has been under way. A job description and position qualifications were published in late January, and have been available on the Bethel Office of Human Resources website for a number of weeks. Since mid-January, we have received a number of inquiries, applications, and nominations.

Inquirers and nominees include five women and 20 men. This group is not particularly diverse in ethnicity. Of the 25, two individuals are from Asian backgrounds, one is African American, one is African, and at least seventeen of the remaining twenty-one are from European or European-American backgrounds. Several are Bethel alumni; five others graduated from other Christian colleges. Some are current Bethel employees. Three are from outside the United States, including administrators from Australian, African, and Canadian universities. Their terminal degrees include fields as diverse as theatre, family studies, theology, communication, physics, and computer science. One is in government service. Eleven hold master’s-level degrees in religion or religious education or the master of divinity degree in addition to terminal degrees.

We have begun to refine the group of inquirers, and within the next day or so each will receive a letter from us. Those whom we will invite to complete an application, respond to a number of specific position-related questions, and provide references share a number of characteristics:

+ clear Christian commitment

+ significant academic leadership experience

+ appropriate academic qualifications

+ experience in diverse academic settings

+ commitment to Bethel’s core values, including our commitment to be reconcilers

Currently, we plan to request formal applications from seven of the 25 inquirers. Applicants will be asked to address two of the standard faculty application questions, the first related to personal faith, and the second focusing on their understanding of the relationship of biblical perspectives to their scholarly discipline. The advisory committee has also agreed on five additional questions dealing with institutional values, leadership style, vision for holistic education, preparation to lead an evangelical university, and understanding of the contribution of each of Bethel’s academic units.

In the last month, we have also employed a senior member of People Management, a search firm that has helped us in the past. Mark Stevenson has interviewed 19 search committee members, administrators who would work with the provost, and senior faculty members regarding the appropriate characteristics desirable in the individual named to the post. He will report his findings to Rich Sherry this week.

Jay Barnes
President