The process behind replacing a dean is more intricate than students may think.
"Auburn has had several deans replaced in the past few years for various reasons, such as the previous dean retiring, being fired or simply moving on," said Norman Godwin, associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Business.
Godwin said a college in need of a new dean will advertise the open position.
"Normally, a search committee is formed within the college consisting of staff representatives, faculty members, student representatives from the undergraduate and graduate curriculums," Godwin said. "We try to get a wide representation of the folks that the dean will work with."
Godwin said a search firm is often employed to help locate candidates.
"We are the consultants of this process," said William Funk, founder and president of R. William Funk & Associates. "We present the University's search committee with candidates, after which it is the committee's responsibility to evaluate the pool and ultimately recommend three or four persons to report to the University for further interviews and to meet all of their constituents. The provost and the president will make the final decision from there."
Funk said his firm has a longstanding relationship with Auburn, and it played a role in selecting the new provost and new deans for colleges including the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture.
"A good amount of deans have stepped down in recent years because the instability the University faced with grounding a new president before Dr. Gogue came into the picture is no longer present," Funk said. "Many of the older deans felt it was their responsibility to stay around until stability was reached. Now that the University has Dr. Gogue, these older deans have decided to retire or, in some cases, return to the classroom."
Godwin said two types of interviews take place.
"The first interview is sometimes called the 'airport interview,' which is when the search committee flies in candidates and meets with them at a hotel or at the airport to conduct the first round of interviews," Godwin said. "From that pool the committee chooses a couple candidates to invite to campus for public interviews."
Godwin said the second round of interviews usually lasts one full day.
"This is when the candidates basically meet everyone they will potentially be working with," Godwin said. "From there we make a suggestion to the president and the provost as to who's best for the position."
Godwin said many deans continue the work and projects of their predecessor.
"As long as we find the work to be applicable to our office and to the University, we will continue a previous dean's work," Godwin said. "However, if the new dean decides to drop a particular project and begin a new initiative, he or she may do so."
Godwin also said students' opinions and concerns are crucial to the search process and to the focus the new dean's work will take.
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