Whenever a vacancy exists in the deanship of one of the major academic units, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall inform the faculty of the major academic unit involved and review the procedures to be followed in selecting the new dean.

A. The Selection Committee

The Vice President for Academic Affairs will invite the faculty of the major academic unit to submit names of faculty members proposed for membership on the search committee to the President. The faculty members of the search committee shall be chosen by the President from those names submitted. Wherever appropriate, persons representing related interests, such as members of a professional constituency, may be included in this committee.

A student member of the search committee shall be selected from the duly elected student advisory or representative groups in the major academic unit. The Vice President for Academic Affairs, or a person designated by the President, will serve as an ex-officio member of the search committee. The committee shall elect its own chairperson.

B. Procedures

The committee will take such steps as will expeditiously produce a list of possible candidates. This shall always include an invitation to the faculty to nominate likely prospects but the committee should not limit its canvass to such nominations. The committee may recommend to the President whether or not it is appropriate to search for candidates from outside the University as well as from among the faculty. If the President decides to seek prospects outside Washburn University, the most promising shall be invited for a campus visit. If at all feasible, this visit shall include opportunities to confer with the Deans of the other major academic units on campus, in addition to faculty members, students, and the dean of the major academic unit involved. Candidates for deanships must have an opportunity to meet and visit with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the President. Candidates from within the University shall be provided comparable opportunities for interviews and conferences. Individual members of the search committee shall make their recommendations to the President. At least three and normally not more than five candidates shall be presented, ranked if possible. Recommendation to the Board of Regents shall be made by the President after consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Board of Regents must approve the appointment.