Candidate declines offer; committee is accepting applications for new search.
By Melissa Luna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
In its fourth attempt to hire a vice president for student success, this college’s search committee is regrouping after the candidate offered the position declined the job.
The candidate was not identified but officials said he declined because of personal reasons.
“Even though there was an overwhelming positive response to the candidate and we offered the position to him, what happens in their personal life is out of our control,” President Robert Vela said.
Committee Chair Tammy Perez is prepared to start the search over again in hopes of finding a candidate.
“This doesn’t mean we stop searching,” Perez said. “It’s a process and it takes as long as it takes.”
“The committee has done its job and continue to do so,” Vela said. “I have absolutely no reservations.”
Perez said the committee did not hire anyone from the first batch of candidates in fall 2014 because the committee felt none were qualified enough.
The second search was completed summer 2015 with two candidates visiting campus and resulted in a candidate being offered the position, but not fulfilled because of problems with human resources, Perez said.
Perez will now meet with college leadership and the search committee in the next few days to ensure everyone the process remains the same.
The current committee members include Harley Williams, Student Government Association president; SGA vice president Jamie Keeton; Faculty Senate president Lisa Black; Staff Council president Jacob Martinez; Chaye Pena, senior coordinator of student success; and Richard Farias, interim dean of student success.
The committee also includes another faculty member and a staff member each from counseling, admissions and records and student development.
The new search has to remain open for at least 30 days before the committee can start reviewing applications, Perez said.
“Since it’s mid-February, I’m guessing we’ll be reviewing after spring break,” Perez said.
There is no definite timeline for when the next candidates will come to campus, she said.
“It’s been great that we have had consistency with Dr. (Lisa) Alcorta,” Perez said. “There has been no effect on students.”
Alcorta has been serving as interim vice president of student success since January 2015.
“I think the committee has stepped up their game,” Alcorta said. “They have done a great job of moving forward to ensure we get the perfect candidate.”
Perez is hoping for more student involvement for the new search.
“I don’t want students thinking they don’t have a voice in this,” she said. “Their opinion matters.”
Contact Perez at 210-486-0379 or tperez@alamo.edu.