Search for new chancellor underway

By Tara Sims
Northern Light

The University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Search Committee, appointed in September, is currently sifting through candidates to fill the shoes of retiring chancellor, Edward Lee Gorsuch.

The committee consists of 23 members including administration, staff and two student representatives. There are also several community members nominated and selected at a statewide level to be involved and aid in the decision.

Committee Chair James Liszka said they tried to create a group that represented many constituencies to make a decision from which the whole community can benefit. Liszka wants the campus to know the chancellor search can be followed on the Internet by viewing a link from the UAA homepage.

“I’d like to stress that this is an open public process,” Liszka said. “Its all open, accessible to the public, everything that we’re doing.”

The committee met and began reviewing applications Dec. 18. Liszka said he was very pleased with the results of the meeting, which established the group’s success as a working unit.

A meeting Jan. 28 will focus on processing 40 plus candidates through the first two stages of the committee.

The exact number of candidates is currently unclear since applications are still being received.

“We put out national advertisements and we received applications based on those advertisements,” Liszka said. “We have also gotten nominations from various people and we have a search firm that is looking for candidates as well.”

The applications will be sifted through by a screening subcommittee, comprised of nine committee members, that will examine the applications for basic qualifications.

In a second stage the subcommittee will search for more specific requirements. These include demonstrated accomplishments and knowledge in the field of study; experience exercising broad delegated authority; experience working with university, state, community and private constituencies; senior level experience and administration of a comprehensive university and effective writing and public communication skills, Liszka said.

The subcommittee will make recommendations to the Search Committee Jan. 30. A vote will determine who will continue on to the third stage: telephone interviews.

From these interviews the committee will select candidates to invite to the UAA campus for the fourth stage of the selection process.

The campus interviews will take place in March and will provide a forum for students to ask questions directly to the applicants.

Union of Students UAA President Jake Gondek is one of two students on the Chancellor Search Committee. He said he believes it is important for students to be involved in the new chancellor selection.

“That’s our main focus, to find a chancellor that will be here for the students and basically create the university atmosphere that students here want,” Gondek said.

The campus interviews will also give candidates a look at their potential future

“Possible candidates get a chance to see … how the students are and what they actually feel compared to the administration,” Gondek said.

The Search Committee will recommend three to four candidates to UA President Mark Hamilton who will select the new chancellor. Hamilton’s selection will be subject to the approval of the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

‘That’s our main focus, to find a chancellor that will be here for the students and basically
create the university atmosphere
that students here want.’

Student Body President Jake Gondek