SBOE initiates search for new UI president

Progress was made to replace University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis in a special meeting of the State Board of Education on Tuesday.

On Friday, Nellis was announced as the sole finalist in Texas Tech University's search for a president on Friday. Texas state law dictates the university must wait 21 days before the board may vote to approve the finalist.

Tuesday's meeting gave the State Board of Education's Acting President Don Soltman authority to appoint a chair for a screening committee. The committee will be composed of 16 university stakeholders, who will begin the search for Nellis's successor.

Soltman reminded the board that Nellis has not yet resigned and is still president of the university, but steps need to be taken now to ensure a smooth transition.

"It's time to start the process to find a replacement and identify an interim president," he said.

The board asked Soltman to identify a candidate or list of candidates for interim president and to provide that list to the board by April 5.

Board member Bill Goesling encouraged the board to get started as soon as possible on identifying an interim president.

"My thought is, we have a lot of good people on campus, as well as options off-campus, that could step in as interim," Goesling said. "The sooner the better."

Soltman also recommended the board start considering whether or not the interim president would be eligible to apply for the permanent position and whether or not the screening committee should hire a private firm for the search.

In the past, the board has both allowed and denied an interim's ability to apply for a permanent position. Soltman offered his opinion that, in this case, the interim should not be allowed to apply. The board will likely formally address the issue when the list of interim candidates is established, said Marilyn Whitney, the board's communications and legislative officer.

The board remained silent on the question of whether or not to use a private search firm, leaving it to the discretion of the future search committee chair.

Nellis is not available to speak to the press until the Texas Tech board confirms his employment. He made a statement of appreciation Tuesday for the notes he and his wife received from alumni, students and friends expressing their sadness but extending good wishes.

Estelle Gwinn can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 301, or by email to egwinn@dnews.com.