The university has started preparations to find a replacement for College of Engineering, Math and Science Dean Richard Shultz, and is in the process of forming a committee to search for candidates.

Interim Provost Duane Ford said that the committee will consist of five to eight faculty and staff members elected by the college of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, one member appointed by Faculty Senate, one member appointed by Student Senate, two community members appointed by Interim Chancellor Carol Sue Butts and one person appointed by Ford. The committee would consist of 10 to 13 members.

After the committee is formed they will draft a job description as well as a job announcement and will then start advertising the job opening.

The committee will then review all the applications submitted and conduct interviews with candidates determined to be qualified for the position.

Ford said from this point they will narrow the pool down to about three finalists. At this point the committee will submit their assessment of the finalists’ strengths and weaknesses to Butts, who will make the appointment of the next dean for the college of EMS.

The new dean will then take over Shultz’s position after his last day at UW-P on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010.

Ford said whether a candidate was internal or external would not be a deciding factor in the search.

“We’ll hire the best qualified person in the search,” he said.