West Virginia Universitys Presidential Search Committee approved the hiring of an executive search firm to assist with the hiring of the next president, Gene Budig, committee chair, announced today (Nov. 17) following the panels second meeting.

I am pleased to announce that Greenwood/Asher&Associates Inc., Executive Search, Consulting, and Training, will assist the search committee in hiring the next president of West Virginia University,Budig said.The evaluation committee for the search firm proposals conducted a very thorough review and identified Greenwood/Asher as the best firm to assist the WVU Presidential Search Committee.

Greenwood/Asher has the experience and qualifications to provide high-quality assistance to the committee throughout the search process, especially in performing a comprehensive background and credential review of candidates identified for consideration for the presidency,he said.

Greenwood was one of 11 proposals received from nationwide firms, Budig added.

He also noted that the position announcement was posted on WVU s presidential search Web site Oct. 29, and ads were submitted to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Oct. 31. The position announcement is currently on The Chronicle online and in print (Nov. 14 issue) and will appear in the next issues of Diverse and Hispanic Outlook.

We are pleased with the progress of the WVU Presidential Search Committee and with the positive national response to this position,Budig said.There is a great deal of enthusiasm about and interest in the presidency of WVU . I am confident that the search committee will submit a number of excellent presidential candidates to the WVU Board of Governors.

The posted deadline for receiving nominations and applications is Dec. 15, and the search committee has already received a number of nominations and applications.

To meet the aggressive timeline approved by the Board of Governors,Budig explained,the search committee has begun an initial review of candidates whose files are complete. This review of candidates will be ongoing while we continue to accept applications.