NIU has officially begun its search to replace departing Athletic Director Jim Phillips.

No timetable for hiring a new AD has been set, though NIU Faculty Senate President Paul Stoddard said he expects a decision before the end of the semester.

Phillips announced on Feb. 28 that he would be leaving NIU to accept the same position at Northwestern.

A newly formed screening committee, headed by Vice Provost Earl Seaver, met for the first time on March 17 to begin discussing a successor to Phillips.

NIU also has enlisted the help of Parker Executive Search to assist in the search. Parker Executive Search is a nationally renowned company which previously assisted NIU in the hiring of men’s basketball head coach Ricardo Patton and head football coach Jerry Kill.

“The search firm talked to the individuals [on the committee] about the characteristics they want in an athletic director,” Seaver said.

The first meeting was used to lay the groundwork for the rest of the search.

“The firm [used the input of the committee] to draw a position description,” Seaver said. “This will also be used for an advertising copy [in the search].”

The committee consists of 14 members, including student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and staff, alumni and students. It will hold at least one more meeting, the date for which is not yet set but will occur soon, Seaver said.

Phillips’ last day as NIU’s AD is April 14.