The next step in the search for a new president will be done mostly behind closed doors today during the executive session of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee meeting.

The members will be narrowing the applicant pool down to 15 during the meeting. The committee will meet in executive session to discuss the candidates since the names of applicants cannot be released at this point in the search.

“We have some confidentiality requirements,” said Robert Webb, committee chair and member of the Board of Trustees.

The committee had received 45 applications by the Jan. 27 deadline. The committee members have been reviewing those applications and will try to agree on the top 15 candidates today.

Webb is happy with the number of applications the university received.

“We were hoping for that many,” he said. “Eastern has an excellent reputation in Illinois and elsewhere, and so that stimulates more applications.”

He added that an above-average number of university presidents are retiring this year, which has created a demand for talented candidates across the nation.

“We get that number of candidates even in a very tight market, which is good news,” he said.

The committee will use guidelines as defined by the Presidential Profile to narrow the applicant pool. The profile was compiled by the committee to be used to base their search for the next president.

“We’re going to be using as a criteria, various items that we’ve placed in the profile of what we are wanting in the next president of Eastern,” Webb said.

“We want people who would encourage governance, and faculty and students to participate. We want someone with strong academic credentials. We want someone who will try to involve the community and be active in the community, and certainly someone who can help in Springfield to get adequate funding for the university.”

Once the candidate pool is down to 15, the committee members will begin to do reference checks to narrow the pool down to eight or less, Webb said.

Before President Lou Hencken retires this summer, the university will honor him and his contributions to Eastern.

“Everyone on the Board of Trustees, and I think from what I understand, the university as a whole is very appreciative of the leadership President Hencken has provided the university during his term as president,” Webb said. “From that standpoint, we regret that it’s time for his retirement but we wish him well and feel very thankful for all the leadership he has provided the university.”

Today’s meeting is at 8:30 a.m. in the 1895 Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Quotes from 3 members Presidential Search Advisory Committee:

“One of the characteristics we are looking for is a respected academic leader who will first learn what EIU is at its core, but who also can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the University.”

-Amanda Raz, Board of Trustees member

“For our next University President, we are committed to the hiring of a leader who values and promotes an optimal academic environment while engaging undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff in their development; promotes and enhances diversity among faculty, staff, and students; believes in shared governance and has the ability to work effectively within a collective bargaining environment.”

-Kathleen O’Rourke, Faculty Senate representative

“Aside from the obvious characteristics of being a strong manager who is fiscally prudent, one of the main characteristics that I am looking for in the next university president are his or her people skills and the ability to interact with the university community. EIU’s ability to run smoothly is key to the success of the university and it takes a team atmosphere consisting of faculty, staff, administration and students to do so. A successful president will take advantage of the shared governance already in place and build on the many talents of the university community to foster a student-centered environment focused on academic excellence.”

-Sara Amyx, Staff Senate representative