Faculty at Colorado State University publicly rebuked the system Board of Governors for conducting an internal‑only search to replace Chancellor Tony Frank, arguing the closed process limits the applicant pool and creates conflicts of interest. The CSU Faculty Council and the campus AAUP chapter warned that the expedited six‑week timeline and apparent role of the outgoing chancellor in soliciting applications undermine transparency. Professors cited concerns that an internal search for a position of this scale is misaligned with peer practices and could foster the impression that the selection is predetermined. Trustees defended the decision as an opportunity to promote system continuity; faculty leaders pushed for an open external search and independent evaluation. The conflict signals broader tensions between governing boards and faculty over shared governance, search protocols, and the criteria universities use when recruiting senior leadership amid fiscal and political pressures.