The search for a new University of Iowa president’s has hit another roadblock. The state Board of Regents in November dissolved their search committee and dismissed the four finalists for U-of-I president’s job.
Regents President Michael Gartner issued a statement saying the finalists didn’t have all the qualifications they were looking for. That move drew heavy criticism in a search that was already controversial because most of the process has been kept secret.
Governor Tom Vilsack then stepped in and asked the regents to take another look at the finalists. The regents met Monday for an hour-and-a-half in closed session and re-evaluated the four finalists. The regents issued a statement today saying that meeting led the group to contact one of the finalists and request a personal visit. But the group says the finalist declined to continue to be considered for the position.
The statement says a new search process will be discussed and developed by the regents in consultation with all University of Iowa stakeholders, donors, faculty and staff, deans, administrators, and Iowa City area community leaders. It says this process will be finalized as soon as it is practical to do so.The Regents next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday in Iowa City.