NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is searching for a new dean following the retirement of its founding dean in June of 2003.

Romualdas Kasuba, who was dean from 1986 to 2003, assembled the faculty and staff of the college and within four years the school obtained full accreditation. The college is currently headed by acting Dean Promod Vohra.

“Dean Vohra has been here for a long time, and he’s doing a good job,” said graduate electrical engineering major Sukanya Govindan. “He’s a good candidate, but I think whoever has the best qualifications should get the position.”

Some students in the college have signed a petition to keep Dean Vohra in place as the permanent dean.

Presently, the college’s Dean Search Committee is reviewing applications for the position, which were due Feb. 1.

The committee will review all of the applicants and give each a thorough consideration. Committee members will review applicant’s papers individually and narrow the list down throughout the semester. Applicants for the position will be subjected to background checks and professional reviews.

“The committee is representative of all factions of the university,” said Dennis Stoia, a committee member and interim chair of Industrial Engineering. “It’s too early to tell anything yet, but we hope to have a decision by the end of the semester.”

It is not yet clear what effect a new dean will have on the college, but Vohra has applied to keep the position.

According to the position announcement, the dean of the CEET reports to the provost and is responsible for the overall academic, administrative and fiscal leadership of the college.

Information on the identity of additional applicants is not available at this time.

“Whether or not there will be changes for the future of the CEET is completely dependent on who is chosen for the position,” Stoia said. “The search is underway.”