Provost search nears end

The Provost Search Advisory Committee is nearing its final stages and should announce who will serve as the University's second-in-command soon, University President Lee Bollinger said Monday.

"It is drawing to a conclusion," Bollinger said. "I have expressed great hope of resolving the appointment in the next two weeks."

The search committee was formed in the beginning of May after Provost J. Bernard Machen announced his intention to step down from the post when his contract expires in August.

At the time, Machen said that Bollinger needs a chance to assemble his own administrative team. Machen has served as provost for two years, and in that time has served under three different University presidents.

The appointment will mark a dramatic step in the reconstruction of the University's administration, which underwent a great shift following the resignation of former University President James Duderstadt in July, 1996.

The shift has left openings, currently being filled by interim appointments, in many of the University's top administrative positions, including chief financial officer, vice president for research and general counsel.

The creation of the new position of executive vice president for medical affairs has left the need for another administrative spot to be filled.

Currently, there are three search committees in action. Besides the Provost Search Advisory Committee, search committees for the CFO and EVPMA positions have been formed. Bollinger said the EVPMA position should be filled by the end of July, and the CFO position shortly thereafter. The search for general counsel has been postponed until the fall.

The 11-person student and faculty committee has considered candidates from all around the nation, Bollinger said.

"This has been an outstanding committee," Bolllinger said. "We have operated by discussion and given the full consideration of a national search."

The committee sought additional assistance by utilizing the assistance of Shelley Storbeck, a consultant with Chicago firm A. T. Kearney.

Bollinger said Storbeck helped the committee "to obtain a sense of the principal candidates across the country."

Storbeck said the committee is operating very efficiently and effectively.

"We were essentially asked to bring the search to a conclusion," Storbeck said.

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