Weekend meetings could prompt 'white smoke,' but committee could take more time
The 12 members of the chancellor search committee are set to make a report to the full 45 member Board of Trust today, fueling speculation that the University could announce a new chancellor shortly.
While it was unclear last night whether a candidate had been chosen, the committee in the most recent weeks had been most seriously considering Interim Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos to head the university, according to two sources familiar with the search committee’s activities.
If the committee has agreed on a new chancellor, Zeppos would likely be the search panel’s choice, according to the two individuals. But the committee could also decide to take more time in completing the search if it still has yet to gain the approval of the full board of trust.
In order to appoint a new chancellor, the twelve members of the search committee who hail from the University’s Board of Trust must make a recommendation to the full Board of Trust. The recommendation is then put to a vote among the 45 members.
The full Board of Trust is set to meet today, providing an opportunity for a confirmation vote to take place.
But another source close to the search committee said that a vote was unlikely and that it did not appear yesterday that a decision had been reached.
Today’s meeting comes just days after the Tennessean reported Mark Emmert, University of Washington president, had withdrawn his name from consideration for the chancellor position.
While some search committee members have said on previous occasions that they intend to take as long as necessary to complete the search, they have also expressed a desire to make a selection by the end of the school year—about a year after former Chancellor Gee announced he would leave Vanderbilt for his alma mater Ohio State University.
But many top Vanderbilt administrators, including deans and Kirkland Hall officials, have urged the committee to finish the search soon to allow for new leadership appointments within the University and to provide ample time for the transition, the two sources said.
If the board makes an appointment today, the new chancellor will likely take office sometime before the 2008-09 academic year.
—Asst. News Editor David C. Brown can be reached at david.brown@vanderbilt.edu.
