“The presidential search committee is useless,” Rasa said yesterday.
“I don’t think the committee constitutes a forum that can ensure the selection of the most capable president,” he added.
The committee headed by Regent Paz C. Younis has said that applicants must have experience working in a multicultural environment, the accreditation process, personnel management, budget development and presentation, strategic planning, institutional assessment, fundraising, mediation, team building, and must have knowledge of federal programs and grant applications for higher education.
But Rasa said the selection will be “judgmental” based on the criteria.
He said the regents should find out if the applicants for president have underwent academic and cross-cultural environment training.
Rasa believes that there should be an independent entity for licensing and credentialing of college positions.
“This entity will certify whether the applicant meets the academic and experience requirements,” he said.
But a candidate’s academic record and experience should not be the basis alone, he added.
Rasa said he obtained credentials “for life” for the positions of community college chief administrative officer, college president or superintendent.
He said he also obtained instructor credentials from the California Community Colleges which, he added, authorized him to teach government theory and practice, public services and administration.
He said these credentials are valid for life.
Rasa said he just wants to help standardize the structural setup of the college and its hiring requirements.
“This independent board must be created to oversee a candidate’s education background and deter the possibility of politics getting involved in the selection process,” he said.
He said the Legislature should seriously look into the creation of an independent board for licensing and credentialing.
