After finding neither of the UNH presidential candidates a fit with the university community, the Presidential Search Committee decided to go back to the drawing board dropping both candidates and continuing the search.
In early November, the committee narrowed a field of 80 candidates to two: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research of the University of Colorado System, Dr. Jack Burns, and President of the University of West Florida, Dr. John Cauvanaugh.
But when the candidates were brought to campus in early December, neither one was able to meet the demands of "campus constituents," said Chairman of the Presidential Search Committee Edward Dupont.
"The decision was made as a result of feed back from the campus," said Dupont. "It was a hard decision to make, but we really felt after the two visits we were not ready to stop at that point."
A mutual agreement was met between the search committee and the candidates that neither candidate would fill the position.
"After some soul searching, the candidates decided UNH was not for them and withdrew their names," said Student Body President and committee member Sean Kelly.
A release from the USNH website stated the continuation of the search will not interfere with plans to have a new president in place for the beginning of 2007-08 academic school year. Also Interim President Newman will stay until the next president is selected.
The presidential search began in June after President Hart announced she was leaving UNH for a position at Temple University. Chairman Leintz appointed 13 individuals with different responsibilities at UNH to form the Presidential Search Committee. From there, the committee hired a search firm that has since pooled 80 applicants for the position.
Starting in September, the committee began evaluating select groups from the larger pool. Eventually they selected two candidates, Burns and Cauvanaugh, to visit both Durham and Manchester campuses.
Both candidates spent two days at each location participating in large and small group meetings as well as public forums, allowing students, faculty, administrators and members of the community to grill the candidates on relevant topics.
"The Committee discussed after this was done and felt that we needed to keep looking," said Dupont. "Both were fine candidates, but part of this equation is to make sure they are the right fit. From that point we decided to bring in other candidates."
Even with two final candidates selected to visit campus last December, the committee continued to review applicants.
"When we selected those candidates," said Dupont, "we were still looking. That process did not end when we brought those candidates to campus. We were still working with additional candidates."
The selection process for a new president is different for a public university then private universities said Dupont. Public institutions have more people to answer to, where private institutions have smaller constituencies.
To have all the divisions of the university, including the students, faculty, people of Durham, and the state, meet the finalists face to face is paramount in any final recommendation the committee made and will make in the future.
"It is part of the process to bring candidates forward to campus," said Dupont. "The next phase is for the campus to meet the candidates so the community can give input and the committee listens to what folks say."
The committee relies greatly on student input and Dupont appreciated student turnout when the finalists came to campus.
"Students asked good questions about issues confronting the university," said Dupont. "They have very strong opinions of what they like and don't like."
Kelly, the only student member of the committee, would like to see a candidate that puts students first.
"As an individual, I would like someone that's student-friendly, with a student agenda at the top of their list," said Kelly. Senior Cary Rhodes just came back from studying abroad and missed the visiting candidates, but is willing to go to future forums. She also felt that the right candidate could benefit the university.
"A lot of people weren't happy with the little things that affect students like budgets," said Rhodes. "The right person could probably fix them if they knew how to delegate those things." After winter break, Dupont and the committee are ready to continue to search for possible candidates from the initial 80 as well as new applicants. As of now, the committee has not made any final decision on which candidates to bring to campus next.
"We had a break over the Christmas holiday," said Dupont. "Now we are ready to get back to work and that is what this committee is going to do."
That work will start today, as the committee has their first meeting, where they will begin to select future candidates for the UNH community to meet.
Be the first to comment on this article!