By Paul Basken

After watching colleagues flee the job, head of Endicott College decides it’s time to tell candidates what the job is really like

“Boards are looking for experienced presidents,” especially at institutions that are facing challenges in enrolment and fundraising, he said. “They want somebody who’s been in the seat before.”

The need for something aimed more at setting and managing expectations does seem clear, said Michael Horn, a higher education strategist.

“We’re clearly not landing with candidates that can stay at an institution for a couple [of] decades,” said Mr Horn, a co-founder and fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation. “If you look at the successful leaders, that’s the time frame by which they stay to really affect meaningful change and transformation in their institutions.”