Presidential Search Committee Creates Web Site and Announces Plan to Host Open Forum

February 20, 2006

The University of Richmond Presidential Search Committee announced today that it will create a Web site and host an open forum to solicit input from a wide array of alumni, faculty, staff and students on the characteristics desired in the University's next leader.

The presidential search Web site will provide the capability for individuals to contribute suggestions about the qualities of the next president and submit nominations. In addition, the committee will post periodic updates on the progress of the national search on the site.

A preliminary version of the site, www.richmond.edu/presidential_search, will be operational later today. The site soon will be expanded to include additional information about the search process and a list of committee members, as well as the feedback and nomination mechanisms. The date, time and location of the forum will be posted on the site once it has been scheduled.

The committee, which met for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 16, has begun the process of selecting a national executive search firm and is identifying an academic consultant to serve as an advisor to the committee.

The search committee was created by Rector Coston to lead the national search for a successor to Richmond President William Cooper, who announced in January that he will be stepping down in June 2007.