3: My Friend Can Do the Job

A new Historically Black College and University (HBCU) administrator need to create a support team that will allow them to be successful in their post. Some leaders recruit from within the organization, and others bring in external personnel whom they are familiar with their past work history. It is also essential to create a culture and an age balance for a particular position at the university. In the HBCU culture, there is a term “Seasoned Administrator,” which means someone who has 15 plus years in higher education, but most importantly, of senior age, 60 years, and older. The problem with the term “Seasoned Administrator” does not mean the person can successfully do the job. A lot of HBCU leaders create a cadre of “seasoned” friends that produce a sustainable platform of mediocracy.