In an attempt to get the search for a new University of Iowa president back on track, Governor Tom Vilsack met for three hours last night in Cedar Rapids with key leaders in the process. In a one-minute statement after the meeting, Vilsack gave no details on what’s next. Vilsack says “I appreciate the fact that people spent as much time as they did tonight and were as honest and candid as they were tonight. Progress has been made but there’s more work to be done.” Mary Greer, a member of the U-of-I staff council, was on the presidential search panel that was aborted by the Board of Regents a little over a week ago. The four chosen finalists for the president’s job were rejected by the board November 17th. Greer says the meeting with Vilsack was progress. Greer says “He said that hopefully within the next two weeks he would convene us again.” Shelley Kurtz, the U-of-I faculty senate president and a law professor, was non-committal when asked about the faculty meeting he has called for this afternoon (Tuesday) with an agenda that includes a “no confidence” vote in regents president Michael Gartner. Kurtz says “I would anticipate that the agenda is always subject to change.” Gartner stood behind the Governor as he addressed reporters but left immediately without commenting.