Applications from Eastern’s perspective next presidents should begin coming in within the next few weeks.

The advertisement for the open position will run in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Black Issues in Higher Education and Hispanic Outlook Magazine, asking for applications to be submitted by Jan. 26.

“I would think that by the first of the year we’d be getting applications,” said Robert Webb, Board of Trustees member and chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.

The Committee met Nov. 21 with search consultant Elaine Hairston to look over the advertisement and the presidential profile the committee will use as a guideline to find a suitable replacement for President Lou Hencken, whose contract expires June 1.

“(Hairston) had a pretty good idea of what Eastern is all about and what kind of person we think would make a good president to follow president Hencken,” Webb said when she developed the profile.

It reads, “The University seeks an experienced, collaborative, outgoing leader whose resourcefulness, vision and engagement will move Eastern Illinois University forward for years to come.”

The six-page document provides information about the university’s location, history, programs, budget, faculty and more for interested applicants. It also describes attractions and opportunities for the next president, as well as the desired characteristics and expectations for Eastern’s next leader.

All applications will be submitted electronically for the 16 voting committee members to review and rank as “yes, no or maybe.”

“I’m hopeful that we get 50 applications,” Webb said. “I think that would make a good, broad number of candidates to give us a good choice.”

The next committee meeting will take place Jan. 31 when members will narrow the pool down to 15 applicants.

“All members of the committee will be doing their own ranking and hopefully we’ll have quite a bit of agreement,” Webb said. “That’s the next big step.”

Once the top 15 are chosen, committee members will divide the applicants to do reference checks.

“There ought to be one or more in the group of 50 applicants who could match our profile or meet most of the objectives that we set,” Webb said.

Eastern is setting up a Web site with information about the presidential search to keep both applicants and the campus and community informed of how the search is progressing.

Jill Nilsen, PSAC member and vice president for external relations, said the link is expected to be on Eastern’s homepage sometime this week.