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The next time your local college or university is looking to hire a new President, Dean, or Provost, you may not have any information on who is being considered until the very end.  The legislation was up in for its final Senate Committee hearing this afternoon, but lawmakers decided to take some more time.

Four state colleges in Florida are currently looking for new Presidents. The application process is open and public, in part because naming a college President is a big deal. In the case of FSU’s recently selected John Thrasher, months passed from his application to his selection, allowing opponents plenty of time to voice their thoughts.

“You need to care what we think. This is what Democracy looks like” chanted dozens of students who protested Thrasher.

But legislation at the Capitol would make searches for Presidents, Provosts, and Deans secret until finalists ..or maybe just one finalist is announced. You would never know who applied. Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) is the bills sponsor.

“We will have a much broader applicant pool to choose from if we assure them the initial applications would be held in confidence”

Open government advocates say the legislation implies that former Presidents, like TK Wetherell here weren’t the best of the best.”

First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Peterson says the legislation could also set a bad precedent when it comes to other top government jobs. “Why not school superintendents or county managers or city attorneys.”

So we asked FSU President John Thrasher how he felt about taking searches behind closed doors, given the fact he had just come off a bruising battle for FSU’s top job.

“I think it was an open process for me. (Laughs) I think pretty open. Hey, I’m agnostic about it. I think to me it’s not a problem. I think you’re gonna get good people.”

As a State Senator, now FSU President Thrasher often supported keeping records out of public view. This time.

A full Senate vote could come next week.

Similar legislation in the House has two more committee stops. A fifth state college was looking for a new President…until last night when Pasco Hernando State College selected Timothy Beard to be its fourth President.