Wayne State University's Board of Governors last week unanimously approved the establishment of a Presidential Search Advisory Committee. This is the first step of the search process for a permanent successor to former President Jay Noren, who stepped down in August.

The duties of the search committee, led by Chair Paul Massaron, are to provide information and advice to the Board of Governors and to develop and recommend for consideration a prospective pool of candidates. The search committee is comprised of representatives from the Board of Governors, faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni.

The search committee will make its selection from a broad and diverse field of potential candidates who meet the position description adopted by the Board of Governors. Following initial rounds of thorough evaluations, the search committee will provide the Board of Governors with an unranked list of at least five people it recommends as the most highly qualified candidates for the presidency.

As the search process unfolds, the committee and the Board of Governors will hold forums to solicit questions and advice from members of the campus community and beyond. The first forum was held on Oct. 6, two additional forums have been scheduled, all of which are open to the public:

• Monday, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m., 312 Scott Hall (Blue Lecture Hall)
• Tuesday, Oct. 12, 12:30 p.m., Law School's Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium

In addition to these in-person meetings, community members are encouraged to submit comments by e-mail to BOG@wayne.edu.

Details about the search committee's charge and a list of members can be found at http://www.bog.wayne.edu/pdf/bog_charge_to_advisory_search_committee.pdf

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.