POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- About 50 candidates met the Friday deadline to receive full consideration for the position as president of Three Rivers Community College.

Next the search committee will begin narrowing down the presidential hopefuls and then turn over the best three or four qualified individuals to the college's board of trustees for final approval in early September.

At this point the trustees agreed to not get involved in the screening process, but when they learn of the top-ranked candidates, the six-person board will spend a couple of days interviewing each finalist face to face before they select a new president, which is anticipated to take place some time in October, according to board chairman Steve Cookson.

"We are definitely expecting an outstanding group to choose from," Cookson said. "I believe the committee, with their varying degrees of experience, all have a true interest in the success of our college."

The committee consists of business leaders and officials from schools, surrounding counties, the state and a not-for-profit organization, each representing the Three Rivers' four-county taxing district.

"Although we want to be efficient in the selection process, we all realize the importance of taking whatever time necessary to get the right person for this position," said Steve Halter, chairman of the search committee.

His colleagues have a strict policy in place to maintain the privacy of the applicants, but Halter, also president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, said that some were from the area, others were from across the country and some resumes even came in from overseas.

The committee is considering using the college's interactive television technology confidentially to conduct the screening process through real time video, if possible, to cut down on the cost of travel for the qualified candidates.

Basic job requirements

So far the committee has been on the same page as far as eliminating people who don't meet the basic job requirements, which included a doctorate from a regionally accredited institution and community college experience in a leadership position, according to Halter. "The further you get into it, the tougher it is," he said.

The committee plans to continue to review applications in coming weeks and interview up to 10 people, Halter said. Each candidate will be questioned by the entire 16-person committee at once, Halter went on to say, and the specific questions have already been established.

Until a new president is hired, Joe Rozman will continue to serve the college as interim president.