Moffett Outlines Search Process

Published on under UL Monroe / ULM Search

Published in the Ruston Daily Leader, Ouachita Citizen, and Monroe NewsStar

The search for a university leader is one of the most important jobs the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System undertakes. We have fielded several questions since President Jim Cofer’s announcement to leave the University of Louisiana at Monroe. It may be helpful to review the next steps in searching for his predecessor. The following details the UL System Board’s Presidential Search process:

  1. The Board chair appoints a search committee comprised of board members including the student board member. ULM’s StudentGovernment Association president will serve as a voting member on the ULM presidential search committee. The ULM Faculty Senate will select from among themselves a representative that will also serve as a voting member on the committee. Advisory, non-voting members may also be appointed. As the president of our system, I serve as the non-voting chair of the search committee.
  2.  A tentative timeline is developed by the search committee, which includes a priority date for applications and a target date to select the new president. While this timeline will be set by the committee, it is my goal that a new ULM president will be selected by the end of the fall semester.
  3.  Early in the process, a search committee meeting is held on-campus to solicit public input on desired qualifications for a new president. We hope and expect to hear from the campus, community, alumni, business representatives and other groups. This is an important step, as it will serve to frame the work of the search committee.
  4.  Advertisements are placed in publications throughout the country and a search firm may be engaged to seek qualified candidates.
  5.  As completed applications are submitted to the UL System office, they are scanned and posted on a special presidential search section of our website.
  6.  Semifinalists are brought to campus to meet with various campus constituencies and have public interviews with the search committee. The search committee may spend an entire week at ULM with a full day devoted to every semi-finalist candidate. Each semi-finalist tours the campus, meets with deans, department heads, faculty, staff, students and community members in addition to a public interview where members of the audience can ask questions of the candidate.
  7.  The search committee presents its recommendation, usually two or more names, to the UL System Board of Supervisors.
  8.  Public finalist interviews take place in Baton Rouge with the full Board of Supervisors.
  9.  The Board selects a new university president based on the recommendation of the UL System President.

As the process begins, information will be published on a special section of the UL System website that is devoted to the ULM Presidential Search, www.ulsystem.edu/ULMSearch. Also, to submit questions and comments about the search, you can e-mail ulmpresidentialsearch@uls.state.la.us. Experience has demonstrated that the UL System’s search process has produced exceptional candidates and presidents. Critical to that process is the participation of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. We will come to the ULM campus for early input in the process and later to conduct candidate interviews. We will publicize all meetings, and I hope for active participation from all who care about the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Randy Moffett
President
University of Louisiana System