Suffolk CC in hunt for new president

SELDEN - After spending 37 years at Suffolk County Community College, President Sal La Lima said he plans to retire by next fall. The college's board of trustees has responded by beginning a nationwide search for a replacement.

Michael Hollander, who was appointed chairman of the board in October,

said the board is putting together a search committee, a process he said should be finalized by Dec. 12. The committee will undertake the national search, Hollander said, supervised by an as-yet unnamed "search company," which will help finalize the job description and draw up a profile and "make sure we advertise in the right places," said Hollander, who is also president of the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"I think that the first goal of a new president is to be compatible and compassionate to its stakeholders - for someone to have good relationships with the students, the faculty, the state, and the county Legislature," said Hollander.

La Lima, who will help smooth over the new president's transition period, said he's looking forward to the time off. "I came here to teach, and moved all the way through the ranks. I'll be 72 [next year], so I think it's time to go play with my toys."

Among the 16 members of the search committee will be "alumni, people from the business community, people from the Suffolk faculty, and people from our custodial staff." There will also be three board members on the search committee, and representatives from the student government and faculty senate.

Hollander credited Suffolk's strong marketing program with the rise in the college's new student population, which has gone up 7 percent in thee past year.

Some of the school's recent draws have been new sports facilities and a tough job market - which pushes county residents back into the classroom for more training, Hollander said.