The Job Is Yours, but First Get a Doctorate

San Jacinto College District, in Texas, has hired Brenda Hellyer, the system’s vice chancellor for fiscal affairs, to succeed its soon-to-retire chancellor on the condition that Ms. Hellyer earns a doctorate, Audrey Williams June reports on The Chronicle’s Web site:

Brenda Hellyer’s successful stint as the community-college system’s vice chancellor for fiscal affairs, preceded by her leadership of San Jacinto’s foundation, was viewed as a plus by the Board of Regents. But although she had a stellar record at San Jacinto, she didn’t have a doctoral degree, which nearly every college leader has earned.

So in an unusual move, the board hired Ms. Hellyer, the sole finalist, and then told her she had to get her degree before officially starting her new job in May 2009. She is now in her second semester of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin, on track to a doctorate in education.

“We definitely wanted our top person to have a doctorate. We felt very strongly about that,” says Marie Flickinger, chairwoman of the board. “And those working under her, justifiably so, would expect her to have a higher degree as well.”

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