Search Policies and Procedures for Positions of Dean or Higher

Effective Date:  3/1/2004 
Responsible Office:  Office of the President 
Reference:  University of Louisiana System, Policy FS-III.II.B-1a 

• Leadership is crucial to the future of a university. Effective processes for attracting prospective university leaders are essential to the strength and future of the university. Members of search committees play a critical role in the success of each of the university's campuses as well as the System. A search committee member takes on a great responsibility not as a constituency representative but rather as a representative of all members of the university community. It is extremely important that distinguished members of the university community agree to serve on search committees, and that their efforts be committed to the objectives of the search.
• The search process shall be completed in accordance with affirmative action and nondiscrimination policies.
• All searches shall be conducted in a timely and professional manner that respects the rights to confidentiality, to the extent permitted by state law, of prospects and candidates.
• The University President is charged with the responsibility for ensuring oversight and implementation of this policy.

STATEMENT OF PROCEDURES

1. Search Committee Mandated
   
   The search process, as provided in this policy, is mandated when vacancies occur in positions of vice presidents, deans, or athletic directors.
   
   Note: The selection of persons to serve as associate or assistant vice president, and associate or assistant dean is a matter of administrative determination, since these administrators serve primarily at the pleasure of the vice president or dean.
   
   
2. Search Committee Composition
   
   Membership requirements for search committees are set forth below in this policy. With regard to all search committees under this policy, the supervisory authority may appoint a committee member whether nominated or not.
   
   Vice Presidents:
   
   
   The search committee for a Vice President will be appointed by the President. The committee will contain an appropriate mix of faculty, students, and staff (as well as possibly others) relevant to the function of the vice president.
   
   Deans:
   
   
   The supervising authority will appoint the members of the search committee in accordance with procedure established by the university. The membership of the committee will reflect the constituencies of the Dean (including a student).
   
   
3. Search Committee Chair
   
   The President may appoint the search committee chair or may request the committee to select its own chair. The chair will inform the prospects of the committee's timeline and shall keep committee members and the supervising authority informed of the progress through the distribution of minutes.