Stop the Presses! CPE Does Its Own Due Diligence!

At last, somebody got the message. Rather than outsourcing their responsibilities, the members of the Council on Postsecondary Education has identified finalists, but delayed making a pick to give members time to dig into the backgrounds of their finalists.

That should serve as a model for all state agencies.

This from Ryan Alessi at H-L:

The Council on Postsecondary Education has narrowed its search for a president to two candidates but put off making a pick Wednesday until members could dig further into both men's backgrounds.

"We have continued to discuss two people that we're very interested in but we need to do more reference checking and discussion," said John R. Hall, the retired chairman of Ashland Inc. who is leading the council's search committee.

The two candidates met with the council Wednesday morning for the first time in closed-door meetings. Council members deliberated in private at Lexington's Embassy Suites Hotel for most of the afternoon before finally breaking up at 4 p.m.

Hall and other council members remained tight-lipped about the identities of the finalists, saying only that both men — who hail from the Northeast — are qualified to lead the group that sets state higher education policy...

Cowgill Steps Down

This from Art Jester at H-L:

Brad Cowgill announced Tuesday that he is resigning as president of the state Council on Postsecondary Education.

“I do this for one reason: In the foreseeable future, it would be necessary to devote excessive time and effort to unproductive activities, denying me the satisfaction of fruitful work,” Cowgill said in a statement.

Officially, Cowgill’s eight-month interim term as the council’s president ends Wednesday. The council hired him as its president on April 14, over the objections of Gov. Steve Beshear, who said the council should obey state law by conducting a national search to fill the post.

Council Chariman John Turner praised Cowgill for his work.

“Brad Cowgill took the reigns of the CPE as interim president last fall during a challenging time in the life of the Council.” Turner said. “Brad’s singular energy and intellect, attention to detail, and unique communication skills. He handled each assignment with distinction and aplomb.”

Earlier Tuesday, Turner acknowledged that it is “very possible” the council will revisit in a closed session on Thursday the group’s recent decision to appoint Cowgill as their presidentTurner and council member John R. Hall of Lexington, the former chairman of Ashland Inc., had little else to say after meeting with Gov. Steve Beshear in the Capitol for 38 minutes early Tuesday afternoon...