The search for a new university president is under way in Springfield.

The Board of Regents Sangamon State University Presidential Search Committee will meet March 8 to review applications for the president’s position, said committee member Carol Spence.

Steve Cunningham, Regents personnel systems coordinator, said there is no set agenda for the meeting and the date is subject to change.

Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves stated in a press release that the committee last met Feb. 8 when it approved a list of 12 “desired characteristics for candidates for the president.”

The list came at the suggestion of Ronald Stead of the Academic Search Consultation Service (ASCS), a Washington-based group hired by SSU to provide a summary of SSU expectations and assist in developing criteria for the presidential position.

The list was a part of the 24-page report to the Regents and the search committee entitled “How to Successfully Conduct a Search for a Successor to Dr. Durward Long.”

Some of the desired characteristics include the ability to work strongly with the SSU Foundation to improve community relations and private funding, effective skills in dealing with collective bargaining units, an understanding of the heterogeneous nature of SSU’s students, a commitment to foster a positive relationship with the Regents and the ability to be an effective spokesman for SSU.

The search committee will use the criteria in selecting the new president.

The committee will have the only vote on the selection of the new president.

Cunningham said the application deadline is tentatively set for March 1 but the deadline is not strict because the committee wants to consider all highly qualified candidates.

The search committee has received over 100 applications and nominations.

Cunningham could not reveal any candidate names but said there were no surprise candidates. The search committee advertised in educational trade magazines such as Chronicle of Higher Education.

According to the report, the timetable targets May 20 as a possible date for announcing the new president.

Groves has said he wants the decision made before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.

For now, Wayne Penn is the acting president of SSU. Penn replaced Long Feb. 1 when Long left to become the Regents vice-chancellor for Strategic Planning.