MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday, June 16, outlined the process it will follow to hire a new president to replace Sidney A. McPhee, who will step down from his leadership role at the end of this year.

Board Chairman Stephen B. Smith said a Presidential Search Committee will be appointed by July and will engage key stakeholders for input on the position profile, to be released by September. Trustees will soon sign a contract with an executive recruitment firm to aid them in the process.

Smith said he anticipates calling a special Trustees meeting by December to make the appointment.

Trustees approved a statement of qualifications for the next president, which says the successful candidate “will bring a record of distinguished executive leadership and a demonstrated capacity to lead a complex, public institution as its chief executive officer.” Other qualifications include:

• Championing initiatives that improve student success; support outstanding teaching, research, and scholarship; and ensure that academic programs align with workforce and societal needs;
• An effective university ambassador, with a proven ability to build and sustain strong relationships with state, local, and federal leaders, alumni, donors, industry partners, and community stakeholders;
• Ability to navigate complex political and regulatory environments, as well as experience leading comprehensive advancement efforts.

“The successful candidate will combine strategic, visionary leadership with operational discipline to ensure that the university continues to adapt to evolving educational, economic, and workforce needs, guiding MTSU confidently into its next era of growth and distinction,” the statement reads.

The committee will review applications by October and identify up to three finalists for the presidency, Smith said. The finalists will be invited to campus for interviews and public forums in November and December.

McPhee, president for more than a quarter century, announced March 17 that he will retire as MTSU’s chief executive officer when his contract ends in December. As a tenured professor, he plans to take a sabbatical to retool and prepare to ultimately return to the faculty in the College of Education.

In other actions, trustees:

• Approved a 4.49% increase in tuition and fees starting this fall, which will add $497 per year to the cost of a full-time student taking 15 credit hours per semester. The increase was needed to cover mainly scholarships, faculty support, new programs and rising costs. MTSU remains the most affordable of the state’s three major public universities.

• Approved a capital project submittal to the state for a $144.5 million second phase of the Department of Aerospace’s flight training facility under construction in Shelbyville. The second phase would be needed to support other Aerospace concentrations beyond flight training now in Murfreesboro, including aviation maintenance, aviation management, aerospace technology, unmanned aircraft systems technology, flight dispatch, and aviation safety and security. The submittal is the first step in the annual state budget process.

• Approved the appointment of James Bridgeforth as vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Bridgeforth, currently assistant vice president at Virginia Tech, will begin at MTSU on July 1.

• Approved the selection of former Student Government Association President R.J. Ware as student trustee. Ware, who received his bachelor’s degree from MTSU in May and will be a graduate student this fall, replaces Michai Mosby.

• Approved the appointment of Cynthia Ray as chief audit executive. Ray, now director of internal audit at Motlow State Community College and who served as an auditor at MTSU for 17 years, begins her new role July 1.

• Approved 20 faculty candidates recommended for tenure and 43 candidates for promotion.

• Approved policy changes, as required by recently enacted state law, that explain the procedures for disciplining faculty for adequate cause related to misconduct and unsatisfactory performance, as well as reaffirms MTSU’s commitment to protecting free and open expression on campus.

— Andrew Oppmann ([email protected])