CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The contract for West Virginia’s higher education chancellor is up at the end of this month, but Paul Hill says he is still on the job.
The search for a new chancellor of higher education in West Virginia kicked off in March when Hill announced he wouldn’t be extending his contract. He has been chancellor since 2012.
West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission announced a search committee and hired a search consulting firm, AGB.
“I’m still here,” Hill said this afternoon. “I did not issue a resignation. I said I would at such point the search committee completed their work and a new person was appointed to the position I would step back into the lower-level position.”
So Hill intends to step away from the chancellor’s role once the search committee has completed its work, but he means to keep on working for West Virginia’s higher education system for a couple of years.
“That was the agreed upon plan between me and my commissioners,” Hill said today.
The chancellor’s position was recently posted by AGB and the state to “identify a mature, student-centered, politically astute leader with proven skills in innovation, fiscal management, and creative problem solving.”
A timeline posted at the Higher Education Policy Commission website indicates July 13 is the deadline for applicants.
Semifinalists are to be selected by Aug. 2 with finalists identified by Aug. 13-14.
By Aug. 23, the Higher Education Policy Commission is to meet and select a new chancellor.
“I’m keeping my commitment to the commission that I will remain here at the helm until such time that they fill my position,” Hill said today. “I’ve heard nothing otherwise.”
Meanwhile, there has been talk circulating about Governor Justice establishing a commission to review the structure, funding and governance of higher education.
The commission would be comprised of legislators, higher education and business leaders.
Hill said he has not received any confirmation of such a commission, although he has heard talk of it.
“That is probably a positive thing, something I would participate in,” Hill said. “We’re all about innovation, all about trying to move forward and do things in a new and improved way if that’s at all possible. I’m very open to that idea, but no one has approached me about it.”
House Education Chairman Paul Espinosa has heard similar talk of a commission to examine higher education in West Virginia.
Espinosa, R-Jefferson, said he has no objection but wants to be sure such an effort wouldn’t circumvent a legislative directive to look at higher education funding.
“While I have no objection to the formation of a commission to examine these issues, and in fact support a careful examination if the governor so directs, I’d oppose any effort to circumvent the legislative directive contained in HB 2815 that required the HEPC to present a proposed higher education funding formula to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2018, a directive that has not yet been completely fulfilled,” Espinosa said.