With the Board of Regents naming the presidential search committee on Nov. 18, the process for selecting the next CU president is about to begin.
The search for a CU presidential candidate can take between nine months and a year. Within this time, the presidential search committee identifies top candidates for the position, sorting through hundreds of applications to narrow down the selection.
According to the CU website, “The search begins after the board makes its decision on the search committee, issues a charge to the committee, selects a search firm, finalizes a job description and advertises the position. The search is likely to begin during late fall or early spring semester.”
During this time, members of the presidential search committee will work together with the goal of presenting a presidential candidate to the CU Board of Regents.
The committee is comprised of individuals selected by the Regents. The Board of Regents is elected by Colorado citizens and are also responsible to elect the CU president from the top candidates presented by the presidential search committee.
Mary Coussons-Read is the UCCS faculty representative on the presidential search committee. Coussons-Read is a professor of psychology and previously served as the UCCS Psychology Department chair.
The chairs of the presidential search committee were chosen by the CU Board of Regents. The Board of Regents named Regent Lesley Smith as chair and Regent Sue Sharkey as vice chair.
According to the CU website, “The charge to the committee typically will include the search’s scope, target dates for completing each stage of the search process, any affirmative action requirements, arrangements for campus visits, provisions by which the committee handles communications, and the procedures for the committee to follow in the use of a search firm.”
When the presidential search committee has selected one or more finalists, they will share their selections.
The CU website states, “Once that happens, the board will make the application material submitted by the candidate(s) public.”
In accordance with Colorado law, the candidates’ identities will not be revealed during the process of selecting a CU president.
“However, the university has determined it will make certain demographic information for candidates available while not revealing names,” the CU website explains.
During the two weeks that the finalist or finalists are being evaluated by the CU Board of Regents, the candidates will often visit each of the CU campuses and participate in forums.
Public input is allowed throughout the process of selecting a new CU president. Multiple meetings and forums that the Board of Regents will host encourage the participation of members of the community.
“People can engage through participating in the listening sessions/outreach meetings the board will host on CU campuses and in selected communities around the state,” the CU website says.
The search for the CU president will be complete when the Board of Regents publicly votes to name the president and a contract is agreed upon. A refined job description for the CU president will be announced at the Board of Regents meeting on Dec. 10.
For further updates or to provide input, visit the website at www.cu.edu/presidential-search.