The chancellor search is still working toward the goal of finding one person who unifies the ideals and thoughts of campus, but is progressing well, said Bob Jordan, the search committee chair.  

The most progression is coming from Jerry Baker of Baker and Associates L.L.C., the executive firm the University selected to help facilitate the chancellor search, Jordan said.

Baker’s job within the search is to handle everything from advertising the position, to collecting information about potential candidates. Jordan said Baker has launched many advertisements for the position that are set to print in the coming days. Publications, including Diverse Issues, Hispanic Outlook and Women in Higher Education, will all feature a description of the position printed by Oct. 15, and web posts were launched Monday.

The committee is still taking into account the student voice by re-working the job description, and in the evaluation of candidates.  

“Before we started advertising, we changed words in the job description to reflect what was expressed from the forums,” Jordan said.  

“Word has gotten out that there is a search, so we have had many names sent in from students, faculty and staff,” Jordan said.   

Although students can still submit their input, many students just want to know the end result.  

“[Students] should be able to [look] at information about the search because it directly pertains to our time here at State,” David Grant, a sophomore in electrical engineering said. “but all the information doesn’t need to be force-fed to us.”

Baker will continue to advance the search by calling potential candidates who have expressed interest or been suggested, Jordan said.   

“The most qualified candidate might not be interested, but we will contact them and say ‘you should be interested,'” Jordan said. “There is no deadline to apply, we will continue to look at people who are right for the job.”

The next meeting of the search committee will be on Oct. 22, where the team will begin looking at names and discussing candidates.  The whole process will take another 5 to 9 months, said Jordan.  

“Right now, it is a matter of getting names, checking credentials and finding the right fit,” he said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for a special person because this is a great university.”