The University of North Florida Board of Trustees (BOT) held a meeting on Wednesday, March 4, where BOT Chair Steve Moore announced he is assembling the search committee for the next university president.

The next steps for enlisting an official university president include assembling a search committee, vetting candidates, conducting interviews, and performing extensive background checks, according to the Florida Board of Governors’ (BOG) regulations.

Next steps for UNF search

UNF BOT Chair Steve Moore is currently tasked with one of the first steps in selecting a new university leader, forming a search committee. 

Per BOG regulations, Moore must assemble a search committee of no more than 15 members, at least three of whom must be UNF trustees and one of whom must be a BOG member.

During the Wednesday BOT meeting, Moore explained the details of the presidential search process and revealed that once the search committee is established, a website showcasing the presidential search timeline will be published.

“I’ll launch the website, which will include all information for everyone to see. Updates, meeting dates, and minutes,” said Moore.

University presidential search websites are designed to keep the university community and the public informed while maintaining the confidentiality of applicants during the search for a new president, according to Moore.

The search committee plans to retain the executive search firm Funk Associates to assist with conducting background checks on applicants, per BOG regulations. 

The UNF presidential search committee must also establish compensation for the next university president, which will be subject to approval by the UNF BOT. 

Moore explained that the committee plans to use Segal Group to conduct an appropriate compensation review for the next university president. 

Following an approved compensation plan, the search committee must vet applicants and conduct interviews to obtain presidential finalists, according to Moore’s presentation. 

According to Moore, the finalists will then participate in public formal BOT interviews 21 days after the finalists are announced.

The president-elect, chosen by the UNF BOT, will then be subject to BOG approval. 

What can the public know?

Under a law issued in March 2022, the details of applicants may remain private until a university’s search committee selects at least three final candidates, and meetings held to identify or vet presidential candidates are exempt from the Sunshine Law.

According to the presidential search presentation by Moore, the screening of applicants, the interviews of semi-finalists, and the identities of selected applicants will remain confidential until the finalists are “publicly recommended to the UNF Board of Trustees.”

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