Next president could be in place by March

The FAMU presidential search committee, chaired by Laura Branker approved a timeline, last Thursday, that calls for FAMU's next president to be chosen by the full board at its March 8, 2007 meeting.

The approved time line is just a suggested road map. The entire search process could be abandoned and further delayed if the committee feels that the search has not attracted enough high-quality candidates.

We mentioned this because, there are those who are of the opinion that there is an unspoken plan to keep the current administration in place for five years. Why five I don't know. This train of thought was further sparked by the recent choice to downgrade Rev. R.B. Holmes' leadership of the search committee.

The position is to be advertised in The Chronicle of Higher Education (though no ad was in the September 1 edition) and Diverse Issues in High Education. Additionally, the Hollins Group is recruiting through its contacts, as well as from presidents of historically black colleges, some majority universities, FAMU corporate partners, black CEOs and members of Congress, and fraternal and sorority organizations.

The deadldine for nominations and applicants is Dec. 5. It is expected that by Dec. 6, information on eight to 10 candidates who best meet the criteria for leading the university will be presented to the search committee by the Hollins Group. The committee will review candidates' qualifications and select semi-finalist. By Dec. 15 the semi-finalist will be whittled down to just three finalist. On campus interviews will be scheduled with the three finalist in January. Background checks will be conducted and , if all goes well, a new president will be named by March 8, 2007.