Bethany College President Paul K. Formo resigned Dec. 4. The following are some commonly asked questions about his resignation and the transition to the next presidency at Bethany.
Why is the president leaving?
Since July 1, 2001, Dr. Formo has been fully devoted to Bethany College and its students, available to and working on behalf of the college 24/7. After much hard work and many accomplishments, he feels called to pursue new challenges and opportunities. The closure of the 125th anniversary celebration is a fitting time for him to take his leave. His resignation will give him and his wife, Pat, the quiet time and space they need to discern where God is leading them next.
When is his last day?
Dr. Formo will serve as college president through the fall semester, which ends Dec. 14. He will continue to assist college administrators and staff until an interim president is appointed, and he will be available to assist the interim president as need.
Does he have another job or other plans?
No, Dr. Formo has no specific plans. He does plan to spend time discerning where and how he can serve others.
How soon will there be another president?
The Bethany board will move quickly to bring new presidential leadership. The more important goal, however, is to find a president of the same caliber as Dr. Formo. That will take time—six, seven, eight months or more.
Because the board wants to take time to find the right candidate for Bethany, the board will first secure experienced interim leadership for the college. An interim president could be on campus within a matter of a few months.
How will they choose the next president?
The board of directors will appoint a chair for the search committee. One of the search committee’s responsibilities is to solicit input from the college community on what gifts and talents are needed in the next Bethany president. After receiving a charge from the board, the search committee will determine how it will solicit community input.
The search committee itself will represent the diverse constituencies in the Bethany community—students, faculty, hourly staff, administrators, alumni, community members, church, and so on.
Once the prospect list is narrowed to a few candidates, everyone in the college community will be able to interact with the candidates as a part of the on-campus interview process. Comments and feedback will be considered.
What will happen to Campus Green, SEM, and other new initiatives we’ve started on campus? Are they on hold?
There are many capable, committed people on the Bethany staff. Fundraising and construction on Campus Green will continue. SEM and its associated advisory committees will continue working to increase net revenue. The interim president likely will have new ideas on how to implement these programs, and the new president very likely will have new ideas about what strategies and tactics to use. In the meanwhile, Bethany moves forward.
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