REGENTS WILL HIRE CONSULTANT IN EFFORT TO FIND PRESIDENT

The Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to hire a consultant to aid in its search for a new Southeast Missouri State University president.

The regents accepted the proposal of consultant Allan Ostar, who made a two-day visit to the campus in late July. Ostar's firm is Academic Search Consultation Service of Washington.

Donald Harrison, board president, said the tentative contract will be reviewed by the board's attorney, Joe Russell.

Terms of the contract will be released after all details have been finalized, he said.

The regents made the decision late in the afternoon in a closed meeting at the University Center.

The meeting followed an open session at which regents and university administrators wore black-and-white buttons proclaiming, "We're Up!" The buttons celebrate the university's increased enrollment this fall.

Southeast will benefit from the advice of a consultant, Harrison said.

"We felt professional guidance would make for a smoother, faster, more economical search," he said.

Harrison is the only member of the regents who was on the board when the university went through a lengthy search to hire Dr. Kala Stroup. Stroup, who has served as university president for five years, will step down next week to become Missouri's commissioner of higher education.

Harrison said the university didn't employ a consultant in 1989-90 and "it went on and on last time."

Harrison's term expired earlier this year, but he said he doesn't expect Gov. Mel Carnahan to name a replacement until a new president is hired.

Ostar is expected to visit the campus in September to advise the regents on setting up a search committee. Harrison and board member Lynn Dempster will co-chair the committee.

Harrison said Ostar has many contacts in higher education that would help in finding prospective candidates. But he stressed that Ostar isn't a headhunter whose loyalty is to the applicant and not the university.

Harrison said hiring a university president is different than selecting a city manager. He said a university has to involve all segments of the campus in the search process.

The Cape Girardeau City Council recently selected a new city manager. The search process lasted only a few months.

The regents had looked at the credentials of two consulting firms earlier this summer before inviting Ostar to town and requesting a proposal.

Stroup is familiar with Ostar, who headed the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for 26 years. Stroup worked for that organization as a consultant before being hired as Southeast's president.

Harrison and Regent Don Dickerson said the university doesn't need to act hastily in selecting a new president. The university has an interim president, Dr. Bill L. Atchley, who will officially take over next month.

A nationwide search for a permanent president could take five to nine months.

Board of Regents

Action

Friday, Aug. 25, 12:30 p.m.

University Center

Submitted a $68.8 million operating budget request to the state for fiscal 1997.

Hired Stanley Consultants Inc. of Muscatine, Iowa, for engineering work for the power plant renovation and electrical distribution upgrade. Engineering fees for the $5.5 million project will total between $425,000 and $475,000.

Conferred degrees for summer commencement.

Approved plans for directional signs.

Hired a consultant to aid in the search for a new president.