Who’s next? Dennison remains in office; finalists to be named this week

The list of finalists for UM's new president will be announced in the next few days, said Clayton Christian, the chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and Board of Regents chairman.

The 20-member committee, which includes two UM students, selected semi-finalists for the position in June and narrowed the field to six candidates after interviews two weeks ago. Christian said they decided to delay campus visits until school resumed in the fall so the community could participate in the selection.

"After the finalists are named the committee will meet one last time and will make some recommendations; a strengths-and-weaknesses kind of assessment based on the public comment," Christian said.

Those comments will be forwarded to Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns, who will pass on her evaluation to the Board of Regents for a final decision.

Christian said campus visits will take place "fairly soon after Labor Day." Both written and electronic opportunities for feedback will be provided to the campuses.

The Regents, who govern all Montana higher education, meet Sept. 22-23 but might need to arrange an extra session later to discuss and announce the final selection.

"At the latest we would like to have the new president at work by January, 1," Christian said. "It just depends on the individual candidates' availability and whether their current position allows them to be here sooner rather than later."

The January deadline not only accommodates the start of Spring semester but confirms the new president in time for the Montana legislative session advocating for the use of UM's state-appropriated education funds.

President George Dennison announced his retirement Jan. 25 and has led the campus for 20 years.

The search committee first met in mid-February. Christian said about 40 applications were received by the May 19 deadline.

Dennison hinted at Provost Royce Engstrom being a candidate for the position at a press conference following his State of the University address Friday. Christian said he could not confirm if Engstrom made the final cut but the UM official was considered as part of a "short list" earlier this summer.

"That's pure speculation," Christian said.

Visit www.umt.edu/potumsearch for more information and updates on the search process.

jayme.fraser@umontana.edu