Central Michigan University is getting closer to finding its new president.

The CMU presidential search committee has 70 individuals nominated for consideration for the university’s next permanent president, said Trustee Stephanie Comai.

Comai, chairwoman of the presidential screening committee, said 25 people have completed all the information required for consideration and the committee expects around 10 more applications.

“I really have no doubt we’ll find an excellent president at the end of this process,” she said.

The application deadline is Oct. 1 and a candidate evaluation process will begin later that month.

Interim University President Kathy Wilbur took office July 1 after former University President Michael Rao left June 30 to become president of Virginia Commonwealth University in February.

Student Government Association President Jason Nichol, a Mount Pleasant senior, hopes to host a student forum with the presidential screening committee at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Charles V. Park Library auditorium, although he said the location may be subject to change.

“Student input is paramount because we’re ultimately the main beneficiaries of the next president of the university,” Nichol said.

Nichol is the only student member of the presidential screening committee, a 13-person council appointed by the CMU Board of Trustees in April to coordinate and search for the university’s next president.

He said he hopes to bring every member of the screening committee.

The search process

In an effort to determine the next president, Comai said the committee has placed advertisements in educational journals around the country and has wrote to individuals holding high-level educational positions nationwide to nominate someone for the job.

The selection process will start toward the end of the year and Comai said the committee hopes to name the university’s next president by Jan. 1.

“I’ve been really pleased with the level of support we’ve received from faculty, staff and students, and that really speaks well of the educational community we have,” she said.

Nichol said the committee is happy with the amount of interest shown in the presidential search.

“We’re happy with the responses we’ve seen so far and are excited,” he said. “We are looking for the best possible president to serve this institution.”

E-mail the author: Joe Borlik