Group to choose SLCC leader

State Board of Regents member Daryl C. Barrett will head a search committee seeking a new president for Salt Lake Community College. Current president H. Lynn Cundiff announced his resignation recently, citing a desire to pursue business endeavors.

Others selected by regents chairman Nolan E. Karras to serve on the search committee are regents Jed H. Pitcher and Maria Sweeten; SLCC trustees Randall A. Mackey, Mary Bangerter and David G. Thomas; SLCC representatives George Billings, Tess Boone, Blair Carruth, MaryEtta Chase, Trent Kemp, John McCormick, Marilyn Nowell-Brown, Marlene Tucker and Joyce P. Valdez; and representing community and alumni, the Rev. France Davis, Susan McNulty and Gail Miller. Commissioner for Higher Education Cecelia Foxley will represent her office.

Public meetings will be held to allow for input from SLCC faculty, staff and students and the community in defining criteria for the new president. Details of those meetings will be announced. A broad search will be conducted, with the search committee to narrow the field to several finalists to be considered by the regents.

The names of finalists will be made public in accordance with regents policy adopted last year. Private interviews with the finalists will precede the selection. The board had been criticized by media and others who believe the selection of college presidents is of interest to the public and should be an open process.

"The most important responsibility of the Board of Regents is selecting the presidents who lead our public colleges and universities," said Karras. "Salt Lake Community College plays an increasingly important role in providing higher education opportunities in the Salt Lake metropolitan area."

Foxley predicted a "large pool of well-qualified candidates."

Currently, SLCC serves nearly 24,000 students on several campuses.