Timeline for a Presidential Search
Presidential searches conducted with the help of executive-search consultants take six
months to complete, on average. Here is the timeline Hamline University established for
its selection process, which started in the spring of 2004.
May-June: Preliminary work
Hamline forms search committee, consisting of trustees, faculty members, and students.
Consultant visits campus to discuss the search process, hear constituents' concerns, and
settle on a tentative timeline.
June-August: Candidate development
Search committee determines what it wants in a president. Consultant announces the
search in appropriate publications, on the university's Web site, and in letters to key
donors. Consultant compiles pool of traditional and nontraditional candidates, soliciting
nominations from college presidents, other higher-education administrators, and leaders
of key education associations, among other people.
Early September: Distillation to shortlist
Search committee trims the pool to 10 or 15 candidates, relying on resumes, letters of
recommendation, consultant's knowledge of candidates, and other criteria. Consultant
checks LexisNexis database for information on shortlist candidates and instructs search
committee on protocol for conducting reference checks.
Mid-September: Preparation for interviews
Members of search committee share information gleaned from references and review
results of LexisNexis searches. Plan for off-site interviews.
Late September-early October: Off-site interviews
Search committee conducts off-campus interviews over the course of several days,
typically 90 minutes each. Committee narrows pool of candidates to five tentative
finalists and checks references not provided by applicants. After completion of creditand litigation-background checks, finalists are presented to the full Board of Trustees,
which takes control of the search.
October: Campus visits
Finalists and spouses visit the campus and meet Hamline's faculty members and students.
Trustees interview the candidates and have dinners with them and their spouses.
November: Selection and announcement
The board selects its top choice and begins negotiations with the candidate. Trustees may
meet with the candidate a second time. The board may opt to retain an investigative
service to conduct a criminal-background check. Candidate accepts position and is
introduced as the new president.
SOURCE: Chronicle reporting