Collegiate Times

After Vice President for Student Affairs Zenboia Hikes' sudden death created a difficult position for the Virginia Tech administration last semester, the hiring process to to name her replacement took a bit of a different tack.

Tech protocol to replace a top administrator typically involves a national search or emergency hire occupying a 130-day temporary term.

But when Ed Spencer was named vice president for student affairs after Hikes' death, the appointment was made out of a need to preserve stability in the department. According to top university officials, Spencer's seniority and experience made him a prime candidate for the job.

"Given the circumstance and the momentum of student affairs, I wanted to provide stability to the department," Provost Mark McNamee, who oversees the department of student affairs and has the final say next to president Charles Steger, said. "Dr. Spencer was the associate vice president of student affairs and second in command. He is very experienced and worked very closely with Dr. Hikes. He was the logical successor, especially in terms of an emergency situation."

Spencer was named the vice president of student affairs for a term of three years, coinciding with his planned retirement date. The official hiring was decided by the provost. The normal process would have involved a national search after which the applicant pool which would be narrowed to three candidates who then go through multiple interviews with members of the department along with top university administration.

According to the university guidelines for faculty hires, the target of opportunity for excellence positions allows for a faculty member to skip over the normal hire process if "a unique opportunity for an exceptional appointment presents itself, it may be appropriate to seek an exemption to search so that the individual may be recruited." McNamee said that it was in this case for an "exceptional" candidate, such as Spencer, who had already been a finalist for the position and held the experience level needed, that the normal recruiting process could be eliminated.

Given the situation, however, McNamee said he was forced to make a decision that would enable a much more stable transitionary period.

Spencer is the official vice president of student affairs, but will only be serving a three-year term, allowing for much more stable plans to be made in preparation for his retirement, McNamee said.

"It made this such a reasonable decision to appoint him; it will give us time to launch a national search for after he retires, and it is great to have someone with such experience," McNamee said.

During the days after Hikes passed away, the decision was made to appoint Spencer based on experience and seniority at the university. He has been a member of the Tech administration for 26 years and was seen as being able to walk into the position without a learning curve, sparing no time in playing catch-up or acclimation to his new post.

"I was the deputy to the vice president of student affairs, and many times acted as a substitute for the vice president," Spencer said. "I feel that the transition was smooth due to the confidence of coworkers, their collaboration and teamwork within student affairs."

Spencer had been promoted to the associate vice president of student affairs position in 2004, and was a finalist for vice president, but it ultimately went to Hikes, said university spokesman Larry Hincker.

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