The following was sent Feb. 4 to the University of Louisville community:
Dear UofL Community,
As chair of the UofL Board of Trustees, I want to provide an update on the search for a new university president.
First, let me assure you that we are committed to conducting the search in a fashion that gets us the best president and the best fit for the University of Louisville. A decision like this is too important to rush; we will move at a steady, deliberate pace.
At our January meeting, the board agreed to engage a national search firm to assist us in the search. National firms have the staffing, the expertise and the contacts to find and attract outstanding and diverse candidates from throughout the country, including many potential candidates that we otherwise may not know. We are currently developing the RFP and will be issuing it to prospective firms in the near future.
Other decisions in terms of who will be involved in the search and how they will participate will be made once the firm is on board. It is too early to determine how long the process will take, but the plan will be clearly defined and publicly shared. It will involve selection of a search committee to lead the effort and public participation, including listening tours and a dedicated web site through which we will receive comments and provide updates.
Some board members and I already have begun talking to other universities to learn about their recent searches. We will gain valuable knowledge about their successes and any issues that arose, and we will put that information to use as we strive to conduct the most inclusive and successful search possible.
We will provide updates as we progress through the search. I look forward to working with you to secure an outstanding president to lead the University of Louisville into the future.
Mary R Nixon
Chair, Board of Trustees