CUWAA Presidential Search Process Statement by the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents

At a special meeting of the Board of Regents (the "Board") held on January 12th, Regents voted to end their first presidential search process without taking any action regarding the 11 names approved by the Prior Approval Panel (the "PAP"). The Board took this action because it determined that many of the PAP-approved nominees, while highly accomplished in their current professions, do not meet the requirements of the job of President of CUWAA as described in the Presidential Prospectus. Regents further determined that interviewing a very small number of PAP-approved nominees would not be conducive to finding the most qualified candidate for the position. Thus, the decision was made to discontinue the current search and start a new one with optimism that the PAP will expand its list to include many of the highly qualified men nominated for the position. The Board can then move forward with interviews and make their final selection.

The requirements for the job are described in the Presidential Prospectus, a document that was developed after receiving input from hundreds of members of CUWAA's communities including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and Regents. These Concordians expressed their views last spring through various means including numerous listening sessions and a community survey.

It should be noted the Board believes a number of highly qualified candidates were included on the original list of 38 nominees. However, for reasons unknown to the Board, many of them were not approved by the PAP. Representatives of the Board are now seeking to meet with members of the PAP to discuss these matters and make an attempt to find common ground. Meanwhile, the Board is evaluating its first search process and looking for ways to improve or strengthen it. No timetable has been established for starting a new search.

Clearly, Regents remain committed to selecting the best man available for the position of President of CUWAA. The Board will settle for nothing less as it fully understands the enormous pressures and challenges currently facing colleges and universities. Our own Concordia University System has lost three of its nine members in just the past two years as schools have closed in Selma, AL; Portland, OR and Bronxville, NY. CUWAA is currently a very strong and vibrant organization and the Board is committed to keeping it that way. Regents have great confidence in Interim President  Dr. William Cario and members of his executive leadership team as they continue to move CUWAA forward consistent with the university's five year plan.

Please pray that the presidential search process will proceed in a God-pleasing manner and will lead the Board to select the man God has already identified as the next President of CUWAA.

Submitted by the Executive Committee of the CUWAA Board of Regents