Community members will be asked for input on next University of Iowa president

CEDAR RAPIDS - In 10 days, the head of a search committee for the University of Iowa's next president will host a public hearing for community members to weigh in on what skills, qualities, knowledge, experience, and characteristics they'd like to see in the campus' next leader.

That input will be included in a job description that is advertised nationally for the university's 21st president.

The Board of Regents earlier this week announced Jean E. Robillard, vice president for UI medical affairs, will chair a 21-member 'presidential search and screen committee.” Other members will include three regents, two representatives from the UI Foundation, two representatives from the UI Alumni Association, the dean of the UI Tippie College of Business, the president and president-elect of the UI Faculty Senate, and five members of the faculty who will be appointed by the Board of Regents.

The UI Staff Council, student government, and graduate and professional student government also will have representatives on the committee. Two members of the public will be appointed by the regents, and the board's Executive Director Robert Donley will accept nominations for those spots.

Proposals from national firms interested in working on the UI's presidential search are due by Friday, and Donley said he will choose a firm by Feb. 12.

Board President Bruce Rastetter has said the UI search will be similar to recent ones at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Those searches took three months and four months respectively, but Rastetter has said the UI search could take longer and require an interim president.

Outgoing UI President Sally Mason last month announced her plans to retire July 31, saying it felt like the right time both personally and professionally.

The presidential search puts on hold two other searches for two other high-ranking vacancies at the university. UI Senior Vice President and Treasurer Doug True recently retired after 27 years with the institution, and Director of Public Safety Chuck Green left in January after 29 years at the university.

Those roles have been filled on an interim basis, and UI spokeswoman Jeneane Beck said the university will wait to fill them until a new president is in place. A search committee had been formed for True's replacement, and Robillard had been charged with heading that process as well, according to Beck.