The 17-member search committee will begin deliberations today to recommend the new NIU vice president for student affairs.

Five final candidates visited NIU between Jan. 15 and Feb. 6 to meet campus groups and discuss position qualifications.

The selection committee will “provide a recommendation that will include a minimum of two finalists,” said Curt Behrens, co-chair of the search committe.

All deliberations of the committee are private and no word will be available on the selection until NIU President John La Tourette announces his selection for the new vice president for student affairs, Behrens said.

La Tourette, the other co-chair of the committee, will not be present at the deliberations because he is on vacation in Australia.

There is no specific deadline for the final selection, but the committee will try to make a careful decision as quickly as possible, Behrens said.

A screening criteria questionnaire will “provide helpful information on strengths and weaknesses” of candidates, Behrens said. The ranking sheets include questions on management level experience, leadership ability and commitment to affirmative action, among others.

La Tourette “will deal with salary and other terms and conditions of employment” once a person is selected, Behrens said.

Anne Kaplan, executive assistant to NIU president La Tourette, said there was no specific salary offered to applicants.

Kaplan said salary will be negotiated between La Tourette and the person selected for the job based on factors like cost of living in DeKalb, exerience and salary of other NIU officials.

The final five candidates are James Gold, Augustine Pounds, Barry Reister, Barbara Henley and Narbeth Emmanuel.