Release Date:  10/24/2007

Western Washington University’s Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved a resolution setting the size and composition of a search advisory committee tasked to advise the board on candidates for a new University president.

WWU President Karen W. Morse announced on Sept. 21 that she would be retiring as president of the University on Sept. 1, 2008. Morse is beginning her 15th year as president at Western.

Trustee Phil Sharpe, who the trustees on Oct. 12 approved as chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, presented the trustees with his recommendations for the size and composition of the committee. The role of the committee is strictly advisory to the board, which will make the final selection on a new president.

“Our task is to identify the best leader,” Sharpe said, adding that input by faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders will be crucial in developing evaluation criteria, or the characteristics people feel is most needed in Western’s next president.

The search advisory committee also will work with a search consultant, now being sought, to conduct a national search for candidates based on the evaluation criteria. The consultant also will assist the search advisory committee to develop effective strategies for seeking the views of faculty, staff, students, community members and other stakeholders concerning the desired qualifications and characteristics in the next president.

The composition of the committee will include:

· Trustees: Sharpe as search advisory committee chair, Peggy Zoro and Dennis Madsen, as well as current Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Raymond as a nonvoting member.

· Three faculty members: the Faculty Senate will nominate six to nine faculty members, from which three committee members will be selected.

· One academic dean: to be chosen from three academic deans nominated by the Dean’s Council.

· Two students: the Associated Students will nominate four to six students.

· One member of the professional staff: the Professional Staff Organization will nominate four professional staff members.

· One classified staff member: the executive boards of unionsWashington Federation of State Employees and Public School Employees will nominate four classified staff.

· One local community member, with the board chair and search advisory committee chair selecting one community member.

Nominations by each of the groups must be submitted to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee by the close of business Oct. 31. Each nomination must be accompanied by a background statement or resume. The board chair and search advisory committee chair will make the final decisions on search advisory committee members. For updates on the search process visit the new web site created for this purpose at: http://www.wwu.edu/presidentsearch/

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