Open the UNC president search

Arguments for and against opening the selection process for a chancellor or president for the University of North Carolina are well known and worth reviewing as lawmakers again discuss the issue.

Here is the “pro” argument: Releasing names would provide an extra vetting of possible presidents. Yes, search committees are supposed to thoroughly screen candidates, but giving the public a glimpse of finalists would mean if anyone knew something that might be pertinent there would be a chance to get the word out.

Also, anyone who wants to head a large public university ought to be comfortable in coming before the public for review. (That happened, without problems, with the selection of the last Wake County school superintendent, for example.)

The “con” argument to openness is that good candidates won’t apply if they know their names will be released. That may be the case with candidates who are testing the market – or have an uncertain status in their current positions. But the failure of such candidates to apply hardly outweighs the benefits of transparency.

In practical terms, the issue may be moot. By the time a selection committee gets to the final three candidates, the word is usually out. And sometimes those being considered want their current employers to know they’re being courted. That’s not going to get anybody fired from a current job if highly regarded. It may get them a raise.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Open the UNC president search."