The University will host open forums in several weeks to enable members of the campus community to share their opinions on what traits and characteristics the next UT president should possess.
Forums will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 10 and 11, on Main and Health Science campuses:
• Sept. 10: 10 to 11:30 a.m. — Driscoll Alumni Center Board Room, Main Campus
• Sept. 10: 3 to 4:30 p.m. — Faculty Club, Radisson Hotel, Health Science Campus
• Sept. 11: 10:30 a.m. to noon — Faculty Club, Radisson Hotel, Health Science Campus
• Sept. 11: 3 to 4:30 p.m. — Student Union Room 2591, Main Campus
In addition, Larry Burns, vice president for external affairs and coordinator of the search advisory process, is working with Dr. Tom Wakefield, president of the UT Alumni Association, to reach out to alumni for their input. Burns said he also has reached out to Student Government leaders to discuss the best way to engage students in the information-gathering process.
Comments from the forums will be recorded and transcribed for distribution to the members of the presidential search committee and the UT Board of Trustees, and will be placed on the presidential search website.
“Input from the campus community is an essential part of a successful presidential search,” Burns said. “This is a unique university and it will take a special person to lead it. This feedback will assist the UT Board of Trustees narrow down who is the best fit and also help potential candidates determine whether the University is the place for them.”
Burns also said the initial notice announcing UT’s presidential search will run in the Labor Day edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.
“While we still have a lot of work and several months until the search committee is ready to start narrowing down candidates, this advertisement is our first opportunity to invite great leaders to consider The University of Toledo.”
Burns said the initial meeting of the presidential search committee also will occur Sept. 11, though it will meet in executive session.
The University has hired presidential search firm Witt/Kieffer of Oak Brook, Ill., to assist in the process.
