UW Trustees Seek Comment on Presidential Profile, Announcement

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees is seeking public comment on two draft documents related to the search for a new university president.

The board is accepting public comment through Friday, July 3, on a draft presidential profile and a draft announcement of the position opening. Once finalized, those documents will be used in advertising and to make potential candidates aware of the desired qualifications and expectations for the next president.

The documents may be viewed here and here. Comments may be sent via email to UW.Presidential.Search@uwyo.edu. For complete information about the presidential search, go to www.uwyo.edu/presidentsearch/.

Under a plan adopted by the trustees last week, a six-member planning committee of trustees will present the completed documents, along with the name of a preferred consulting firm to assist with the search, to the full board for approval at its July 14-17 meeting. The board plans to begin advertising the position in August.

Also at the July meeting, board President Dave Palmerlee is scheduled to recommend members of two search committees, as well as a chair for each committee, for approval by the board. The first committee will review applications and identify a list of 10-15 candidates who warrant further consideration. The second committee will interview the candidates forwarded by the first committee and select up to five finalists to come to campus for public forums and interviews. The full board intends to then interview the finalists and select the new president by March.

The first search committee will be composed of five UW trustees, two faculty members, two staff members, two students, one UW Foundation board member and two external members. Composition of the second search committee will be the same, but there will be no overlap among members of the committees. For both committees, majority votes, including majority votes of their trustee members, are required to advance candidates for further consideration and take any other actions.

In addition to the search committees, the board intends to select a search recruiter to work with the consulting firm and search committees to contact individuals to either apply for the position or assist with recruiting. Trustees indicated that former board member Brad Mead, of Jackson, likely would serve in that role.

In March, President Dick McGinity recommended that trustees initiate a search for a new president to succeed him at the conclusion of his contract in summer 2016.