Faculty members say they are “shocked” by the Piedmont University Board of Directors’ decision to exclude faculty, students, and other stakeholders from the Presidential Search Committee. Board chair Gus Arrendale informed faculty and staff Wednesday that the committee would only consist of trustees. This, despite assurances from the committee chair that the process would be “collaborative” and “transparent.”
Committee reversal
In his email announcement, Arrendale wrote: “After considerable discussion among trustees and search firms, it has been determined that the Presidential Search Committee will consist only of trustees in order to maintain the level of strict confidentiality required by potential candidates.” He announced that, in addition to chair Barbara Strain, the board’s executive committee selected trustees Walter Crowder, Kimberly Melton, Michael Santowski, and trustee emeritus Eddy Ariail to serve on the committee.
The reversal comes just one week after Strain publicly stated “the committee will include representatives from the faculty, staff, administration, alumni, student body, and community at large.” Arrendale himself said as much in an email to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.
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On Thursday, June 30, the executive committee released this statement: “The faculty at Piedmont University are shocked by this complete reversal of position by the Board of Trustees. The many professional staff and faculty at Piedmont are alarmed and insulted by the stated reason given for this change being a need for ‘strict confidentiality’ and question what information must be hidden from the community.”
The statement continues, “It is deeply concerning that the executive committee of the Board of Trustees made the decision to reverse the position of the full Board of Trustees on the composition of the Presidential Search Committee. This action is in direct conflict with Arrendale’s note to the University members on May 11, 2022, clearly stating that ‘addressing your concerns and building a stronger faculty-administration partnership will be the primary focus of leaders throughout the university for the future.'”
“We implore the full Board of Trustees to call a meeting to review this decision and once again make the committee one that includes representation from all areas of the university.”
Now Habersham reached out to Arrendale and Strain for comment. Neither has responded to our request.
Arrendale did state in his email to faculty that “All other constituencies will have ample opportunity to provide input to the committee along the way and the committee will keep everyone apprised of developments.”
Heightened tensions
This latest development has only served to heighten the tensions that already existed between the faculty and administration at the Demorest-based university. The tension has been building for years over a series of ongoing allegations and lawsuits. It came to a head back in May when the Faculty Senate passed a no-confidence vote against President James Mellichamp. In June, the university provost and a religion professor resigned in protest over budget cuts and alleged administrative misconduct. On the heels of those resignations, Mellichamp announced his own resignation, saying he would step down when a permanent successor is named.
Arrendale, one of the school’s largest donors, has remained a stalwart supporter of Mellichamp’s even amid faculty calls for his dismissal. The Board of Trustees did not act on a request from the Faculty Senate to appoint an interim president while Mellichamp’s successor is chosen.
Strain announced on June 21 that Arrendale had chosen her to chair the search committee. At the time she said, “I am committed to a prompt, collaborative, transparent search that will result in the selection of our ideal next president.” She encouraged those with a stake in the private liberal arts school to stay informed and share their opinions.
The university added a Presidential Search section to its website to keep alumni, students, parents, and other stakeholders updated on the search. A check of the website late Thursday revealed no mention of the selection committee members.
