At a special meeting Thursday, West Virginia University’s Board of Governors discussed potential candidates for the interim presidency and narrowed the field, but made no final decision.

That announcement is expected in early December, pending Higher Education Policy Commission approval, so that a leader is in place by Jan. 1, said Chairman James W. Dailey II.

“Today we discussed a large pool of highly qualified potential candidates,” Dailey said. “We’ve narrowed our field and will continue the vetting process to identify the very best person to be our interim president.

“What will be extremely important in the near future is for all of us to throw our full support behind this interim president, and continue the great work and momentum this university is experiencing,” he said.

“We will expect our new leader to rely on the University’s 2020 Strategic Plan, which was developed from input from various WVU constituencies, as a continued source of inspiration and guidance.”

Dailey added, “In other words, WVU will continue to move forward.”

Dailey reminded the Board that the interim president will not be a candidate for the permanent position, and noted that the Board is still working on developing the procedures and process for the national search, which should be ready to take to HEPC for its Dec. 6 meeting.

“Our goal will be to have a new president in place by fall,” Dailey said. “Finding the right person to lead this great University will be one of the most important decisions this Board will ever make.”

The next special meeting of the Board will be Dec.3; a regular meeting is set for Dec. 20.

-WVU-

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