Presidential Search Put Back Track After Temporary Halt

PALM DESERT — College of the Desert Board of Trustees on Friday voted unanimously to relaunch the search for a superintendent/president after it was halted due to a confidentiality breach. 

The breach is under investigation.

“The selection of the next permanent Superintendent/President of the Desert Community College District is of critical importance to the future of College of the Desert and its students, faculty, and staff. The Board of Trustees remains firmly committed to ensuring the integrity of this selection process, which is essential to our college community and the public at large,” Nicholas Robles, Interim Public Information Officer & Interim Director of Educational Partnerships, told Uken Report.

To uphold these standards, College of the Desert has initiated a neutral third-party investigation regarding confidential information related to the Fall 2024 search process, Robles said.

Trustees also approved a search committee structure and timeline

Recognizing it’s a tight schedule, Trustees approved a timeline in which they approve a new president/superintendent on May 16 or June 12 and set an official start date.

The first in-person search committee is scheduled for Feb.3 or 4.

Previously appointed committee members of the recently canceled 2024 Superintendent/President Search will not be eligible to be appointed to serve as committee members for the 2025 Superintendent/President Search relaunch. In general, 19 members of the search committee will include the following:

  • One (1) Committee Chair
  • Three (3) Full-Time Faculty
  • Two (2) Part-Time Faculty
  • Three (3) Classified Professionals
  • Three (3) District Administrators
  • One (1) Student Board Trustee Designee
  • One (1) Student Senate President Designee
  • One (1) Chair Designee of the College of the Desert Foundation
  • One (1) Chair Designee of the College of the Desert Alumni Association
  • One (1) Member of the District Diversity Committee
  • One (1) Member of the District Equity Committee
  • One (1) non-voting Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Representative
  • One (1) Confidential Representative

Finalist interviews are scheduled for the week of April 28.

AGB Search is conducting the search.

Meantime, Val Martinez Garcia is serving as Acting Superintendent/President. He was named to the position by unanimous vote in December. On Friday trustees approved his contract for $325,000 .

 

Image Sources

  • College-of-the-Desert: Sally Swanson Architects