On our campus, Christine Clements is leaving her position as dean of the College of Business and Economics to take a job elsewhere. Lois Smith, associate dean of that same college, will serve as the interim dean until the selection of a permanent replacement.
(I’ll assume that both Ms. Clements and Ms. Smith are wonderful people who are kind to children and small animals, and recycle plastics whenever possible.)
The change prompted a sharp reader kindly to suggest a poll about the selection of replacement officials for those who take jobs elsewhere or retire: How likely is it that Whitewater (city government or university) would choose an inside candidate rather than an outside candidate for a given position?
After all, American has 318 million people, the planet over seven billion, but Whitewater only fifteen-thousand residents; shouldn’t those numbers suggest that most replacement officials would be outside candidates?
And yet, it doesn’t seem to go that way, does it? Time after time, it’s one inside candidate after another getting job after job, or committee post after committee post.
What do you think? I there an unjustified bias in favor of inside candidates?
Many (not all) of the choices on campus are leaders who are supposed to stand up and sing. This kind of atmosphere is different than many other campuses where faculty members or administrators encourage true independence.
You hit the nail on the head, for sure.
its like a training wheels place situation when you can do some things but are told you are not ready to do others the city runs that way definately also
If outsiders got more jobs here they would begin to question what’s been done. they would learn that behind the scenes it doesn’t look professional or well run. Inside candidates are picked here unfairly because they’re safer choices to avoid questions about real performance.
city is same way
why try to join when they will just skip you for same old same old??
Look, here’s the deal. The city will put out an announcement inviting anyone to apply. But for the top committees they need to know you are a “sensible” choice. If you’re new or they don’t know you (even if you have lived here a long time) you get a cold shoulder. EXCEPTION: any new person they know will go along based on checking that person out. They know who will do what they want. Then its probably okay if the person is new. BIGGEST rule is that you cannot question any main view. You can talk about small stuff but cannot question the “BIG PICTURE”.