A search committee charged with finding the next Ohio University Southern Campus dean continues to review applications now that the deadline has passed.

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

A search committee charged with finding the next Ohio University Southern Campus dean continues to review applications now that the deadline has passed.

"It appears to be a very strong pool of applicants," committee chair Dr. Rebecca McNeer said.

The committee reviews applications as they come in but there are several more to process. Then, interviews will be scheduled, Dr. McNeer said.

"I think the southern campus can be very proud that the job here has attracted so many high quality people," she said.

The university would not release individual applicants’ names.

The search to replace current dean Dr. Bill Dingus began in March, shortly after Dr. Dingus announced his retirement.

Ohio University advertised nationally, in both large metropolitan newspapers and higher education trade journals. OU president Dr. Charles Bird, Dr. Dingus and OUSC’s faculty chair formed the 12-member search committee and appointed Dr. McNeer, an English professor who has taught at OUSC since 1974.

The committee involves faculty, OU administration and three local community members.

Although Dr. Bird has the final say in choosing the new dean, committee members hope the decision will coincide with their recommendation, Dr. McNeer said.

"Hopefully, we can reach the same conclusion," she said.

Since the June 30 application deadline, the committee has continued to review applications.

"We have received a number of applications within the last week," Dr. McNeer said.

The committee also has discussed interview schedules, with hopes of finding a new dean in September, she said.

Interviews with dean candidates must be held with the local faculty and staff, the local coordinating council of community advisers and administrative officials in Athens, Dr. McNeer said.

"We anticipate the scheduling to be difficult but we are eager to move quickly on this," she said.

Not only is the committee encouraged with applicants’ desires to move to Ohio but also with their qualifications, which reflect four key concerns committee members have, Dr. McNeer added.

One thing in the job description that concerned members was community involvement, she said.

"Community involvement is terribly important because of the position the campus has in the community and the example of Dr. Dingus has shown how mutually beneficial that can be," she said.

Dr. McNeer said the committee wants to ensure that the new dean has experience in academics.

"The dean needs that experience because the dean will be functioning with other deans and peers in Athens," she said.

The committee is also looking for a new dean that has administrative experience in higher education and is student oriented, Dr. McNeer said.

The question will be whether the committee will be able to have someone in place by Sept. 1, she said.