University Council Presidential Search Announcement

Dec. 9, 2011

The announcement by University President George M. Philip of his forthcoming retirement requires the University Council, the campus governance body, to organize a Presidential Search. Under Section 356 of the New York Education Law, the University Council is responsible for undertaking this process and submitting its recommendations to the Chancellor and Trustees of the State University of New York.

The process, in accordance with Presidential Search Guidelines adopted by the SUNY Trustees, calls for the establishment of a Presidential Search Committee that will include representatives of the faculty and staff, students, alumni and the University Foundation, members of the University Council and a representative designated by the SUNY Chancellor. This committee will implement a national search with the goal of identifying highly qualified candidates and narrowing the process to individuals deemed to offer comprehensive leadership capabilities during this period of institutional development.  The University Council will also be undertaking the process to hire a search consultant to help identify top quality candidates and assist with their work.

As specified in the Presidential Search Guidelines, and in accordance with their own process, the University Senate will organize and undertake an election as the new year begins to select representatives to the search committee.

This first communication to the university community is intended to briefly outline the initial steps being undertaken to organize the search activity. A Presidential Search website is in the process of being developed.  It will provide updates and reports as the search process gets underway.