Colorado State University System Chancellor Search:
A fair, open and balanced process

Nov. 2008, previous CSU System/CSU Fort Collins Chancellor/President resigns.

Nov. 2008, board appoints interim president of the Fort Collins campus, and determines it is in the best interest of the campuses and the system to separate the two roles (formalized vote in Dec. 2008).

Nov. 2008, board consults with Dr. Stephen Portch, a highly regarded expert in higher education and a former chancellor of the University System of Georgia, to review national system models and to help design a fair, open, and transparent search process in alignment with the most progressive current search processes.

Jan./Feb. 2009, the board holds a series of open “stakeholder” forums to solicit input from the campuses’ constituents from around the state (Pueblo, Sterling, Denver, Fort Collins, Durango, Grand Junction and Alamosa) concerning the desired attributes of a new chancellor. It was an inclusive process open to internal (students, faculty and staff) and external stakeholders.

Feb. 2009, at a public meeting the board accepts the stakeholder input report and approves chancellor job description.

Feb. 2009, the board does not hire an outside search firm, but rather creates a 15-member search committee to conduct a national search, saving the university up to $100,000.

Mar. 2009, the chancellor position is advertised in the Wall Street Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Denver Post, Coloradoan, Chieftain, Gazette, Grand Junction Sentinel, Denver Business Journal, Statesman, Career Builders, Chambers of Commerce, American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Department of Personnel.

Mar. 2009, the board chair sends letters to nearly 60 university and college presidents to help the search committee identify qualified candidates.

Mar. 2009, search committee meets to receive charge from the board chair and reviews the stakeholder input report.

Apr. 8, 2009 search committee begins deliberating on more than a dozen applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.

Apr. 16, 2009 search committee meets to continue reviewing applications and deliberating.

May 4, 2009 search committee will meet to continue deliberations on qualified applicants.