PRESIDENTIAL ON-BOARDING

New presidents are hired because they are assumed to be ready for the job, but often the campus culture, internal and external expectations, and the inability to sustain the momentum of the early months result in a difficult first year on the job.  Working with new campus leaders, Bataille can help them lay out a communication plan, determine priorities, and assess their own strengths and weaknesses.  By doing so, a new president can provide clarity to the board and to the faculty about his/her goals for the future.  Bataille's mongraph Presidents:  Caught in the Middle provides a starting point for discussions about the role of the president as a mediator between the governing board and the faculty.  The onboarding process includes interviews with the leadership team and others close to the CEO, an executive summary, and a retreat to advance the goals of a new president.