Eight months have come and gone since President Greiner announced his plans to leave his position as president of UB, and there is still no official word on who will replace him as head of the university.
Though information on candidates has not been made public, the process of accepting applications has nearly culminated, according to Jeremy Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Delaware North and chairman of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
"We've pretty much gone through the application process already," said Jacobs. "We're substantially down to the line at this point."
Jacobs said although the committee is nearly finished searching out candidates, it would not overlook any exceptional applicants that might surface in the near future.
According to SUNY guidelines for selecting a university president, after the search committee has narrowed the selection to approximately five candidates, these candidates are invited to visit the UB campus.
The guidelines state that, "when the finalists are scheduled to visit campus, their names are released to the public, along with general information about their background and qualifications."
However, in this case, the public may not see any candidates until the job is done. Jacobs said the search committee does not have to follow the guidelines.
"It is currently our position as a committee that we will not be making the names of the candidates public," said Jacobs.
"It is a known fact that the best candidates for this position would not apply if they knew their quest for the position would be made public," Jacobs said. "Obviously, these are successful individuals with strong careers, who don't want to put their current jobs in jeopardy."
According to Jacobs, although candidates are kept from the public eye, some key people outside of the selection committee will play a part.
"There will be variations of introductions to certain faculty and deans," Jacobs said. However, he said, these introductions will be only on a need-to-know basis.
Greiner made his plans public in January 2003, with his projected date for stepping down set for June 30, 2003. Greiner agreed to remain in office until a successor was chosen, and the selection process began within a month of his announcement.
"Actually, we've been extraordinarily fast when you consider the number of people involved in the process," Jacobs said. "This is a great undertaking."
He said choosing the representatives for the Presidential Search Advisory Committee was a large task in itself. Additionally, the committee had to decide on a search firm to assist in seeking out applicants, and eventually hired EMN/Witt/Kieffer. Scheduling times for the 17 members of the student body, faculty, staff and administration who make up the committee body to meet was a challenge as well.
"What I've been told, and I believe it to be true, is that we've been quite expeditious," said Jacobs. "I think the group has worked very well together. I'm encouraged by what I see here."
The search committee will turn over its short list of candidates to the SUNY Board of Trustees, but Jacobs could not speculate on how soon the final decision would be made by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Andrew Michaeloff, a senior media study student, expressed no qualms with a lengthy process.
"It's better that they take too long than too short," said Michaeloff. "Greiner did a really good job and it's going to be hard for anyone to fill his shoes."
Several students showed limited knowledge of the presidential search. Kevin Tsui, a sophomore business management major, said he felt UB administration should have better lines of communication with its students so they can stay abreast of change within the university.
"When I signed up for this school, I didn't even know who the president was," said Tsui. "I've been here for a year, and I still don't know what the president does for the school."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
