As the 2003-04 school year rapidly approaches, the UB community remains in the dark as to who will assume the governing responsibilities of the university.
In January 2003, after 13 years of leadership, UB President William R. Greiner announced his intention to step down from office, effective June 30. Within a month an official search campaign was established, followed by the formation of a search committee composed of 17 UB Council and Foundation members, faculty, staff, students, alumni and administrators.
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee was created to narrow the selection of candidates for an eventual final vote by the State University of New York Board of Trustees. National search firm EMN/Witt/Kieffer was hired to help recruit the strongest candidates.
So far, however, the UB community has not yet received word of any finalists, and there is little indication of where the search stands at present.
Senior Counselor to the President Robert J. Wagner, speaking on behalf of search committee Chair Jeremy Jacobs Jr. and the rest of the group, said it is difficult to determine when a president will be picked.
"At this stage, it is not possible to predict a firm conclusion date," said Wagner. However, Greiner has said he will remain in office as long as necessary past his intended date of June 30.
"He agreed to stay through June and after, should there not be a change in leadership," Wagner said. "If there isn't, Bill will be here."
SUNY Associate Vice Chancellor Marianna O'Dwyer, who coordinates presidential searches and job evaluations of those chosen presidents throughout the SUNY system, said the entire search team is working on an aggressive schedule.
"I think they're aiming for early in the school year," said O'Dwyer, "but for all of our searches, we take the amount of time we need. The end product is more important that the timeline."
O'Dwyer explained the time-consuming nature of the process.
"We really look for a wide array of outstanding candidates," said O'Dwyer. "We analyze the institution's goals and needs, build a profile and look for people to fit that profile."
According to Wagner, the process is a lengthy one that does not culminate with the decision of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
"There are two more steps: the council, locally, then the final appointment made by SUNY trustees," said Wagner.
According to UB's official presidential search Web site, the committee's job is to compile a list of approximately five candidates they find most strongly suited for the position. This list is then forwarded to the UB Council, who in turn narrows the selection down to three candidates and passes its decision on to the SUNY Chancellor. Finally, the chancellor recommends a single candidate to the SUNY Board of Trustees, where the deciding vote is made.
O'Dwyer said she was pleased with the committee thus far, and noted the importance of having a large number of people involved in the search.
"It allows us a good range of opinions and perspectives," said O'Dwyer. "There might be 16 people in a room and four different takes on what they [the candidate] said."
Wagner commended UB Council and search committee Chair Jeremy Jacobs Jr.'s decision to select two students for the committee instead of one.
"He [Jacobs] wanted both an undergraduate and a graduate student," said Wagner.
Jennifer Tuttle, vice president of the Faculty Student Association and student representative to the UB Council, and Julia C. Novelli, president of the Graduate Management Association were chosen to be student members of the search team.
O'Dwyer stressed that participants in the search committee are prohibited from sharing information with the public until a new president has been chosen. If any member is found to have violated the confidentiality policy, they are to be removed from the committee.
"Confidentiality must be upheld in order to attract top-notch people," said O'Dwyer. Not keeping with the rules could affect the jobs of candidates as well as hinder UB's progress."
Though some other newspapers have reported politicians are heavy contenders for the presidency, O'Dwyer challenged these sentiments, saying they were simply speculation.
"Those articles are quoting people not involved in the process," said O'Dwyer.
Wagner said UB should appear an attractive option for presidential candidates, since it is a member of the Association of American Universities.
"Most states are having financial trouble and the universities in those states are struggling," Wagner said. "UB is relatively doing well and has done well."
Wagner noted some specific achievements that might strike interest in possible candidates.
"Sponsored research has gone up tremendously, as well as the quality of undergraduate students," said Wagner. "Indicators of institutional progress speak well of UB, and that should be an attraction for candidates."
EDITOR'S NOTE: As of press time on June 30, all information on the presidential search was accurate and up to date.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
