Published: April 02, 2008 03:26 pm         

BREAKING: ISU to reopen search for next president

TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State University will re-open the search for the institution’s 11th president following a decision by one of the two remaining finalists to drop out of contention due to health reasons, Michael Alley, chair of the Indiana State University Board of Trustees, announced today.

“As we determined earlier, we would like to bring two or three candidates to campus for a series of public forums and meetings. I do not believe it appropriate to bring only one finalist to campus for consideration,” said Alley.

Alley indicated he has asked the Presidential Search Committee to re-convene and has requested that the search consultant once again review the marketplace and identify additional candidates for the committee’s consideration.

The remaining candidate is expected to continue to be a finalist along with one or two additional finalists selected through the renewed search effort, Alley said. The finalists will be brought to campus for two-day interview sessions that will include open forums for students, faculty, support staff, professional and administrative staff, alumni and the community.

While the re-opening of the search delays the process slightly, Alley indicated that he is still hopeful a new president can be identified and appointed by the July 1 start date.

The new president will succeed Lloyd W. Benjamin III, who announced his intentions last year to step down as president in June.