As questions about search firms increase, so does UO’s use of them

Insidehighered has a story today about the role of search firms in hiring university administrators, focusing on Parker Search and the botched University of Iowa presidential search.  It seems that was a political set-up, and Parker president Laurie Wilder was just along for the ride. While Iowa paid Parker $200K, UO Trustee Connie Ballmer got them to run UO’s successful search for Mike Schill at a discount – just $90K. Thanks, Ms Ballmer!

This year UO is searching for 4-5 Deans and a VP for Research to replace Brad Shelton. Last year VPFA Jamie Moffitt had to hire the Aon / Hewitt consulting group at enormous expense to run HR after Mark Yuran, her hire to run HR, went south. (New hire Nancy Resnick seems to be working out very well.) UO’s Public Records Office is hiding the report, of course, but they recommended UO hire a Director of Talent Acquisition (sic) to run searches. It looks like that position is still vacant though, and word is that UO will hire 5 different firms to run the upcoming searches. Expensive.