The Faculty Senate will hold a special meeting today to decide the other two faculty members joining the presidential search.

The committee consists of four members, one chosen by University Professionals of Illinois and the other by Faculty Senate.

Assege HaileMariam, psychology professor and chair of Faculty Senate, has already been chosen as one of the members in the search for the new president.

She was an obvious choice since it has been tradition for the chair of Faculty Senate to be one of the appointments for the search committee, said John Stimac, geology/geography professor and faculty senate recorder.

“It’s really important she’s there,” said Thomas Sinclair, assistant professor of special education and Faculty Senate member.

The senate asked other faculty members who might be interested in being apart of the search committee to apply by e-mail, Stimac said.

Faculty members had to answer two questions, which are posted on the link to the faculty senate on the Eastern Web site, in 150 words or less, Stimac explained.

Faculty members had to submit a hard copy and electronic copy to HaileMariam so senate members could narrow down the applicants to two candidates at the meeting, he said.

Since the process will take a while, it’s the only topic on the agenda, Sinclair said.

Faculty senate believes there will be a large number of faculty members interested in being a part of the committee, Stimac said.

Faculty members were told to have the questions e-mailed by noon on Monday, he said.

The meeting will take place this afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Booth Library conference Room 4440.