A search committee will decide Friday which candidates to interview for the vice president for business and operations position.

“The committee will review recommendations, gather information and make phone calls about references,” said Curtiss Behrens, assistant to NIU President John LaTourette. The president heads the committee.

By Monday’s meeting, the committee had narrowed the search to 12 applicants but had not made a final decision concerning which applicants to interview, Behrens said.

“By Friday, we hope to try to contact candidates, and perhaps we will begin interviewing next week,” Behrens said.

The committee discussed the interview process during Monday’s meeting.

“We hope to schedule a two-day campus interview so faculty, staff and students will have an opportunity to participate,” Behrens said.

The selection process might generate student interest because the vice president for business and operations is responsible for administration of bond revenue facilities, Behrens said.

Behrens said the goal of the committee is completion of the selection process by the end of spring term.

The meeting is not open to the public since it covers personnel matters.

Other committee members would not comment about the selection process and referred the matter to Behrens.

James Harder is serving as the interim vice president for business and operations and is reportedly one of the candidates for the permanent position.