The Chancellor Search Committee has begun the process of selecting and interviewing candidates for Vanderbilt's next leader.

The Chancellor Search Advisory Committee recently concluded a 12-week effort to profile the kind of candidate the university desires.

The committee submitted its findings to the Search Committee in a position scope, which details the state of the university and the challenges the next chancellor will need to address.

Some of the challenges listed include recruiting and retaining an impressive faculty, bolstering graduate programs, building the next generation of residential colleges, and strengthening Vanderbilt as a whole.

The Advisory Committee sought feedback from the entire Vanderbilt community, from Medical Center staff to the Faculty Senate.

Students were encouraged to participate in the search process as well.

Despite low turnout at some of the committee's listening sessions, Vanderbilt Student Government President and Advisory Committee member Cara Bilotta said student opinion was important.

"We still received a valuable input from the students through the sessions and the e-mail surveys," she said.

From the various responses, the Advisory Committee formed a list of personal and professional qualifications for the next chancellor, including providing intellectual leadership and committing to a diverse Vanderbilt.

"The consistent theme throughout the faculty, student body and staff was that the next chancellor (should) provide balance and transparency, whether it is between teaching and research or academics and social environment," Bilotta said.

But even with this call for balance and transparency, the process by which the Board of Trust chooses the next chancellor will be "extremely confidential," said Mike Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for public affairs.

"Schools of Vanderbilt's size usually go about these types of searches quietly, with no public interviews and no set time table," he said.

Some students said they would like a transparent search process.

"The administration is not doing enough to communicate with students, and the process should be very open," said sophomore Chris Baity. "I would like to know who the candidates are and their backgrounds."

Although there is no firm deadline for choosing the next chancellor, the Board of Trust is "eager to move to the next chapter," said one Board member.

Overall, student opinion on the search varied widely.

Some students, like senior Tinesha Allen, want the next chancellor to focus on "increasing endowment and improving the value of Vanderbilt."

But junior Julie Won disagreed the chancellor would have a great impact.