December 12, 2006

The tragic passing of the 17th President of the University at Albany, Kermit L. Hall, requires the University Council 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 recommendation to the Chancellor and the 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 members of the University Council, teaching faculty, and representatives of other constituencies. This committee will implement a national search with the goal of identifying a group of very highly qualified candidates who will be invited for campus interviews during the final stages of the search. At that time, representatives from the various campus constituencies will have an opportunity to meet with these finalists and offer their observations and opinions to the committee.

A Presidential Search Office has been established and James P. Doellefeld, who serves as Secretary to the University Council, will serve as Liaison Officer to provide support for the search process and its organizational structure. We will establish a Presidential Search web page so that pertinent information and important updates will be available to the university community during the search process.

This initial communication with the University at Albany community is designed to articulate the framework and initial steps of this presidential search process.

George M. Philip, Esq.
Chair
University Council
University at Albany