Search for SLCC president is extended again

Salt Lake Community College interim President Judd Morgan joked to legislators in a meeting Thursday that he has been in his temporary position as long as State Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell.

And he'll be there a while longer. The State Board of Regents announced Thursday that Morgan will lead SLCC for a few more months.

He agreed to become SLCC's interim president in May 2003 while regents looked to replace former SLCC President H. Lynn Cundiff. Kendell said Thursday that such searches often take from six months to a year.

The $140,000 starting salary for the SLCC job is at least partly to blame for the delay. The first search was completely scrapped and the latest extension is being called a "continuation" of a second search process.

"We do believe this salary issue is something we have to address," said State Board of Regents chairman Nolan Karras. "I don't know quite what we're going to do."

Regents said Thursday that they have interviewed "several very good candidates" but that a search committee is still looking for three to five candidates to refer back to the full board for consideration.

The salary issue, Karras said, is a reason some people have decided not to enter the candidate pool. The remaining candidates, he added, are "nervous" while the regents own anxiety level has "gone up a bit."

Some "good" candidates have agreed to stay in the pool while the regents try to deepen that pool a little more.

"I don't think the school itself has been unduly harmed," Karras said. Still, some at SLCC may be asking themselves, "Gee, why is it taking so long?" Karras said.

On Tuesday, Morgan sent a memorandum to SLCC staff at the behest of Kendell and the regents. Morgan said in the memo there were "rumors" that finalists would be visiting the main SLCC campus and that Kendell is still "committed" to making that happen.

"In the meantime, we can't let this announcement slow us down," Morgan wrote. "SLCC is stronger and more attractive to potential presidential candidates than ever before, but we can use this time to make our institution even better."

SLCC spokesman Joy Tlou said the memo from Morgan illustrates "the kind of progressive and dynamic nature of this interim presidency." Tlou said he doesn't see the process as dragging on, rather that Morgan is setting up SLCC to be a "great place" for the next president.

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