By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE GOVERNMENT is pushing for the next College of The Bahamas president to be a Bahamian, Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald said yesterday.
Mr Fitzgerald said the government has made strong recommendations over the appointment of a new head for the country’s leading tertiary institution as Dr Betsy Vogel Boze is expected to step down by mutual consent at the end of the year.
“We have mandated that as we move to university status we want the president of the College of The Bahamas to be a Bahamian,” said Mr Fitzgerald. “That is a view that is shared by the chairman and the board, and it is something that we in government are strongly recommending.
“I think at the end of the day we will see a Bahamian president take the College of The Bahamas into being the University of the Bahamas, and I’m very excited about that,” he said.
An internal unsigned letter sent from Dr Vogel Boze to COB council Chairman Alfred Sears and leaked to this newspaper, confirmed that she would not seek an extension on her contract when it expired on December 31.
Dr Vogel Boze’s presidency took effect on January 1, 2011. Her background includes Kent State University Stark campus dean and executive officer at the same university from 2005 to 2009. She also held several high ranking position at universities throughout the United States.
The Tribune was also informed that a special committee, among COB’s College Council members, is expected to be formed this week to start pin-pointing and vetting possible successors to Dr Vogel Boze.
Speaking to media outside cabinet, Mr Fitzgerald said the search for a new president “will begin right away.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 5 months ago
No prblem with a Bahamian in charge. BUT NO CRONY APPOINTMENTS!
stillwaters 11 years, 5 months ago
Sounds great!!! Lets try hard, though, to keep politics out of the selection of the new president of COB.
ADubbs 11 years, 5 months ago
We just looove to suggest these positions are given to Bahamians. Good luck finding a qualified Bahamian who is willing to take it on. If you find him/her, AWESOME. Otherwise, just find someone with the experience and qualifications. It's more important to have a competent person in the position than to push onto someone just because he/she is a Bahamian. Just find the best candidate. God knows COB needs it.
USAhelp 11 years, 5 months ago
Dr porter outstanding person maybe we can get a perfect review from Canada.
stillwaters 11 years, 5 months ago
Come on Adubbs, try harder to BELIEVE IN BAHAMIANS, okay?
justthefactsplease 11 years, 5 months ago
Sadly, I believe it will be given to a PLP crony with little or no regard for qualifications. I like how they force Vogle to resign and say they reach a MUTUAL understanding ... yeah right ... how much did they have to pay her out so that one of theirs could get it???
ohdrap4 11 years, 5 months ago
CoB has had four Bahamian presidents, the first 2 carried the title principal.
the faculty at cob is indomitable.
two Bahamian presidents with all academic qualifications were ousted.
they cannot find another Keva Bethel, that is the problem.
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 5 months ago
So if we can't find Keva Bethel, do we appoint a Bahamian so we can say we appointed a Bahamian? Do we go to university status and still have students standing in long lines in the rain to register for courses? How many students near graduation have to scramble because there is no teacher available for a 3rd level course? Has any looked at the state of the COB campus lately. Would you be proud to tell an outsider that that is the University of the Bahamas? Can we please stop letting the tail wag the dog...
sansoucireader 11 years, 5 months ago
Are any qualified Bahamians interested in applying for the job? There are many qualified Bahamians working around the world in different occupations, but that doesn't mean they want to come home and work. Being a Bahamian should not be the most important thing,
JohnDoe 11 years, 5 months ago
If we are to be guided by history, its a very good possibility that the next COB president has already been identified and promised the job and we the general public have just not been informed as yet. Don't get me wrong, we are likely to see three or four names circulated for our gullible consumption, but that will be all smoke and mirrors because the fix will already be in. Anyway, the only reason a suitable qualified Bahamian would be interested in this post is to give back to our society but they would likely be totally frustrated by the political interference and uncertainty when the government changes. Why give up tenure and possibly take a pay cut to come home only to have some ego-maniac politician without a college education micro manage you.
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