Accrediting agency addresses hiring of new CFCC president

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Community College recently announced James Morton as it’s new president, but did the school follow the correct process in selecting him?

The Southern Association of Colleges and the Schools Commission on Colleges is requesting CFCC Trustees turn over details on how they selected Morton.

Morton was serving as the interim president when he was tapped to take the position full time.

Representative Deb Butler raised concerns that the board did so without going through a proper process of vetting and conducting a proper search and hiring process.

“If they had done the search and Mr. Morton emerged as the best candidate that’s one thing. But the attempt to even do a search wasn’t even made and that’s the disappointing part,” said Rep. Deb Butler (D) of New Hanover County.

CFCC trustees selected Morton at the end of 2017 to step in as interim president by March he was approved to take over the position fully.

Butler says that happened without the board going through an extensive candidate search, something she says is a disservice to the taxpayers.

“I think this undermines their confidence in the institution if we’re not going to find the best candidate for the job by whatever means,” Butler said.

She took her concerns to the college trustees as well as state board of community colleges. She says they never gave her a response.

“The fact that they were non-responsive in any fashion was troubling to say the least,” said Butler.

WWAY’s Andrew James reached out to the college for their side of the story. They responded saying they are working on the request made by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

SACSCOC got involved after Rep. Butler sent her concerns to them.

“I am requesting that the institution prepare a report that explains and documents the extent of its compliance with following standard of the Principles of Accreditation,” wrote SACSCOC Vice President Denise Young Ph.D. in her letter to CFCC board of trustees chairman Maston White.

SACSCOC is requesting the board of trustees reveal:

• Governing board documents that outline the role of the board in the selection and evaluation of the president
• Details on the process used fore the selection of the current president
• Board minutes dealing with selection of the current president
• Job description, including qualifications, for the position of president

The board of trustees bylaws leave the hiring process for appointing a president open to change saying that Powers and Duties of the Board of Trustees are to, “Elect a president or chief administrative officer of the College for such term and under such conditions as the Trustees may fix, subject to the approval of the State Board of Community Colleges.”

SACSCOC has given the board until May 21st to comply with their request.

“I’m hopeful that they will comply with the request, evaluate their process and implement best practices moving forward,” said Rep. Butler.