2008 Woodie Awards
Presidential search restarts from scratch
Kristine King
Issue date: 1/26/07 Section: News
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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.
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.
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