By AC Putong
A public forum will be held to select the next Silliman University (SU) president after the search is narrowed down to three candidates, SU Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairperson Ricardo Balbido, Jr. said.
He said the forum will include a panel discussion and question and answer session for candidates to present their visions, thoughts, and objectives to SU stakeholders.
“Our stakeholders can start participating in how these candidates would reply to very important questions that relate to the needs of the university,” Balbido said.
The forum date will be announced by the BOT once it has chosen the top three candidates.
This follows SU President Betty Cernol-McCann’s resignation last June 1, which began the search for a new president on February 16.
Balbido also said that they are seeking candidates with the expertise to lead SU amid modern digital demands.
“Most academic institutions are progressing their attention to digital [technology] and AI,” he said. “So, we need somebody that can lead [SU] in such a direction that we will not be left behind.”
Balbido also said they are seeking external applications “in accordance with an inclusive search” and revealed one to two applications from international universities.“If we feel that we need somebody from the outside who [has] the skills and the expertise and the experience, then that’s when the search for an outsider comes into play,” he said.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research Lily Ann Bautista also said that the SU administration is seeking a candidate who can “represent the university on a larger scale.”
“Not only in academics, but also with all of our other aspects like our businesses, endowments, scholarships, sponsorships, and academic programs,” she said.
Applications and nominations for the next SU president previously closed on May 15, but were extended by two months until July 15.
Balbido said this was due to the low number of applicants in the initial deadline.
“After May 15, we only had three or four applicants, and we feel that it is not enough considering that we really would like to have more basis for hiring a qualified one for Silliman,” he said.
Balbido said that they will confer the new president one to two months after the forum.
This is a developing story.
