District searches for vice chancellor of academic success

After Dr. Robert Aguero retired in December, the Alamo Colleges opened the position of vice chancellor of academic success.

The district advertised the position beginning Nov. 18.

The job posting advised that applications submitted after Jan. 13 were not guaranteed a review, but Mario Muñiz, district director of public relations, said the position closed Jan. 27.

Dr. Thomas Cleary, vice chancellor of planning, performance and information systems, is chair of the 13-member search committee. He said today 37 people have applied.

Cleary said he would not name the members of the committee because he did not want to put them in an "awkward" position; however, he said the committee is composed of district officials, college administrators, faculty and staff.

"We tried to make it as broad based as we possibly could," he said, adding the committee will reduce the pool of candidates to a manageable number based on experience.

Cleary said if the committee cannot agree to narrow the field of candidates to fewer than five, they will conduct telephone interviews before conducting in-person interviews.

He said he wants applicants to visit the colleges so they can "get a feel" for where they will work. "We want this to be a good fit for us and the candidate, too," Cleary said.

After the committee conducts in-person interviews, they will send the recommendations to Chancellor Bruce Leslie for a final decision.

Cleary said college presidents and vice chancellors will have an opportunity to meet applicants before a decision.

He said Leslie will submit his finalist for approval by the board of trustees.

Jo-Carol Fabianke, associate vice chancellor for academic success, serves as interim vice chancellor for academic success.

According to the Alamo Colleges operating budget for fiscal year 2010-11, the vice chancellor for academic success was paid $181,029.60 during 2010-11.