An Update on the Chancellor Search at UTC
by Verbie L. Prevost
Chair, Search Committee

             At the initial meeting of the Search Committee for a new
chancellor for UTC on September 14, President John Petersen gave the
committee its charge. In short, he indicated that the job of chancellor at
UTC is highly attractive, and he urged the committee to conduct an
extensive search that will produce a diverse group of outstanding
candidates.  With our task defined, the committee also talked briefly about
process and time frame.
         At our second meeting (September 27) we refined our time frame to
meet Dr. Petersen's request to have a list of recommended candidates by
March.  We discussed the Request for Proposals which had been submitted to
search firms, the search process, and a plan for attracting minority
candidates.  Dr. Barbara Wofford, Director of Affirmative Action at UTC,
also discussed affirmative action policies.
         Having consulted with appropriate University and system
administrators (including President John Petersen), I announced that the
committee would follow the usual process of search committees at UTC with
regard to identification of candidates.  To protect candidates from several
months of being in limbo at their home institutions, we will not identify
any candidates until the finalists are selected.  Such a policy will mean
excluding media and any non-committee members from certain meetings or
parts of meetings.  The committee then voted to develop a code of ethics
and conflict of interest statement that will be signed at a future meeting.
         As chair, I next appointed three subcommittees to expedite the
search.  The first subcommittee, chaired by Dr. Deborah Arfken, will
evaluate proposals from search firms and recommend to the committee the
firm which seems best suited to assist with our search.
         The second subcommittee, chaired by Dr. Marvin Ernst, is
developing the statement that will be used to advertise the
position.  Materials  being used include: a summary of all comments
regarding the characteristics needed to be a good chancellor made by
individuals at the two open sessions held September 22 and 23 and all
relevant emails, written comments, and notes on telephone or in-person
comments collected from faculty, staff, students, alumni, committee members
and other interested persons.  Particular attention will be paid to the
most frequently repeated ideas, and obviously, much condensation will have
to occur.
         Dr. Kay Lindgren is chairing the third subcommittee which will
collect and organize materials to be used on a web site devoted to the
search.  This site will provide information for potential candidates as
well as be a source of continual information throughout the process for the
University and Chattanooga community.  It will also be interactive,
allowing visitors to contact the chair of the search committee and provide
comments or ask for information.
         The search committee has already solicited and received important
feedback from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and others interested in
UTC regarding expectations for candidates for the position of chancellor at
UTC.  We will continue to seek input and will use all information collected
in writing the position statement and in developing the evaluation forms
the committee will use to narrow the candidate pool to a list of finalists.
         In order to develop the strongest possible pool of candidates, the
committee will actively solicit nominations or names of potential
candidates through all available avenues, including the use of a search firm.
As noted previously, the committee will follow the usual procedure at UTC
of keeping all candidates' names confidential until a list of finalists is
developed.  Once finalists are identified (at least six), however, we will
immediately make their names and resumes public.        These candidates
will be invited to campus for interviews, and students, along with all
other interested parties, will be encouraged to meet with and evaluate each
candidate.  The committee will use these evaluations when they select the
candidates (at least three) to recommend to President John Petersen.  The
committee will also provide Dr. Petersen a list of strengths and weaknesses
for each candidate.  Dr. Petersen will then choose a candidate whom he will
present to the UT Board of Trustees for approval.  The timeframe for these
activities is listed below.
         Throughout the process we solicit opinions, ideas, comments, and
recommendations from all faculty, staff, students and other interested
persons.  I can be reached at
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] or by phone at
425-4238.  Our web site will also be available before long to keep you
updated on our activities and give you an opportunity to provide input.

Advertisement of position                        by November 1
Begin review of applications                  December 15
Continue reviewing applications            December-January
Selecting finalists                                  January
On-campus interviews of finalists            February
Recommendations to President            by March 1
New chancellor takes office                   by July 1






Verbie Lovorn Prevost
Katharine Pryor Professor and Acting Head
Department of English  2703
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN  37403
Phone:  423-425-4238
Fax:  423-425-2282
Email:  [log in to unmask]