Now thatSouthern University System President has announced his resignation after eightyears at the helm, the SUS Board of Supervisors is now tasked with finding anew chief executive officer for the system.
“We are sittingon a national treasure in Southern University,” said Robyn Merrick, SUSDirector of Public Affairs. “And I’m hoping they will get someone who willuphold the tradition and continue the growth the university has seen in thepast few years.”
Tarver, whoselast day on the job is June 30, isthe CEO of the university system and serves as the secretary of the system’sboard of supervisors.
He isresponsible to the board for conducting affairs of the university system andfor executing and enforcing all of the decisions, orders, rules and regulationsof the board.
Other duties ofthe president consist of establishing administrative policies and developingsound fiscal management systems. The president serves as the spokesperson andambassador for the system, and is expected to maintain open lines ofcommunications with the chancellors of each campus.
According tothe press release announcing Tarver’s resignation, the president must alsoprovide academic leadership by promoting a respect for academic freedom, highacademic standards in the faculty and students and enhanced academicprogramming in line with the campuses’ missions.
In a statementreleased by Johnny Anderson, chairman of the SUS Board of Supervisors, he saida search committee will be appointed to “look near and far” for a presidentthat will bring the five-campus system to new heights.
“We hope tohave that person in place by the beginning of the fiscal year and will seekinvolvement of our various constituents in the search process,” Andersonstated.
Lakisha Green,a speech communications major from New Jersey, said that whoever fills Tarver’sshoes should be prepared to deal with not only the board and faculty, but withthe student body as well.
“I think theuniversity should be looking for someone qualified to oversee a general body ofstudents on a collegiate level,” Green said. She also said that though Southernis a historically black college, the committee should not confine themselvesracially.
“I don’t thinkthey should limit themselves to only blacks.”
It is againstthe law to discriminate any applicant because of their race. Merrick reinforcedthe statement and said they would not limit the search to blacks personnel.
“It will be anationwide search,” Merrick said. “The board of supervisors will conduct thesearch and they have procedures in place that they will follow.”
