Presidential search committee reports to UND community As we approach the beginning of the new academic year, I'd like to bring you up to date on the work of the UND Presidential Search Committee. The committee was created by the State Board of Higher Education, pursuant to SBHE Policy 601.1. SBHE Policy 601.1. The committee consists of 16 voting members, plus the Chancellor of the North Dakota University System as a non-voting ex officio member. A list of the committee membership follows. The SBHE has retained a search consultant, James B. Appleberry, of Academic Search, Inc., to assist the committee and the Board. The committee held its organizational meeting on June 21. The initial action taken by the committee was to extend the search timeline to create a sufficient opportunity for input from the key constituencies affected by the presidential transition. The schedule now contemplates the committee recommending at least three names to the State Board of Higher Education on Jan. 28, 2008. Extending the timeline allows the committee to schedule a series of open forums to hear from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the wider community. These forums will begin after Labor Day, at dates and times that will be determined at the committee's next meeting on Aug. 14. As soon as we have a schedule of the sessions, we'll make it available to you. The focus of these sessions will be critical questions about the transition: · What features of the University should be emphasized to attract highly qualified applicants? · What are the greatest opportunities that the next president will find? · What are the greatest challenges that the next president will face?· What are the most desirable characteristics that the next president should have? I encourage as many of you as possible to attend one of these sessions and to communicate your views to the committee. After these open forums have been completed, the committee will begin formal advertising of the position. At that time, your assistance will be important in identifying people who ought to consider the presidency and in encouraging them to apply. The applicability of the North Dakota Open Records Law to nominations and applications will be explained at that time as well. We will also be creating a web site where important information about the search will be available. A leadership transition can be a defining and invigorating moment for an institution. I hope that you will help us make this search a positive experience for our campus, so that it can serve as a foundation for a successful administration of our next president. UND Presidential Search Committee approved by the SBHE May 24 and July 3, 2007: * Paul LeBel (chair), dean, UND School of Law * Alice Brekke, assistant to the president, UND * Rick Burgum, president/CEO, Arthur Companies, Arthur, N.D. * Bev Clayburgh, former vice president, State Board of Higher Education * Duaine Espegard, member, State Board of Higher Education * Jay Fisher, president, UND Student Body * Cynthia Lindquist Mala, president, Cankdeska Cikana Community College * Glenda Lindseth, professor and associate dean, UND College of Nursing * Doug Munski, president, University Senate; professor, UND Department of Geography * Tim O'Keefe, executive vice president, UND Alumni Association and Foundation * Myrna Olson, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, UND College of Education and Human Development * Judi Paukert, community relations manager, Xcel Energy * John Paulsen, president, State Board of Higher Education * Bruce Pitts, associate dean, UND School of Medicine SE campus, Fargo, N.D. * John Stewart, owner, Fisher Motors, Minot, N.D. * David Yearwood, associate professor, UND Department of Technology * William Goetz, chancellor, North Dakota University System * Linda Hurst-Torgerson, administrative assistant to committee -- Paul A. LeBel, dean, School of Law, chair, UND Presidential Search Committee, lebel@law.und.edu