WWU Presidential Search

The selection of a president is unquestionably the most important responsibility of any university Board of Trustees. With the retirement of President Karen Morse imminent in fall 2008, the Board is now beginning a search for a successor to continue Western’s strong leadership position.

The Trustees have initiated the selection of a search consultant to help with the process. The search consultant will undertake an assessment of Western that will help determine the qualities in a new president that will best serve Western at this time in its history. The search consultant will also help us identify strong candidates for the presidency.

The Trustees are reaching out to key campus and community stakeholders – starting with the faculty, staff and students – to share and exchange ideas about the search process.

As the search for the next president of the University commences, you are invited to forward comments and suggestions about the composition of the Search Advisory Committee, attributes the next president should possess, and other matters of concern. The Board of Trustees will review and consider these comments and suggestions, which may be sent through your group (e.g. Faculty Senate, Associated Students) or submitted individually. Please direct such correspondence to the Search Advisory Committee, MS 9103 or email Presidential.Search@wwu.edu.

The Board will formally initiate the presidential search process at the regular board meeting on October 12th. The Board will appoint a Trustee to serve as search committee chair at that meeting and likely will consider the qualifications the university will be looking for in search committee members. The Board will ask the appointed search committee chair, in consultation with others, to develop recommendations related to the size and composition of a broadly representative search committee that includes faculty, staff and student representation; and recommendations for the search process itself, including: timing, candidate recruitment and screening, compliance with laws regarding meetings, equal opportunity and managing application records, maintenance of appropriate candidate confidentiality, the role in the process of Western’s Strategic Plan, and how final candidates will be presented to the Board for a final selection process and decision.

The Board will be in a position to receive and act upon recommendations from the search committee chair at a special board meeting on the afternoon of October 22.

The Board of Trustees will work hard to make sure that Western continues its strong leadership position, and that our next president will continue to move this wonderful university into its bright future.

--Kevin Raymond, Chair, Board of Trustees