February 11, 2002

Kutztown presidential search halted, will resume at a later date

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

The search for a successor to retiring Kutztown University of Pennsylvania President David E. McFarland has been halted. Below is the text of a letter sent by Chancellor Judy G. Hample to the campus community concerning the decision to stop the search and to resume it at a later date:

Dear Colleagues,

One of the leading candidates for the position of president for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Phillip Creighton, has chosen to withdraw his name from consideration, choosing instead to remain at his current institution.

After considering the results of my candidate interviews and consulting with the leadership of the campus trustees and others closely involved in the process of selecting a new president, I have determined that it is in the best interest of Kutztown University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to halt the current presidential selection process and reopen the search.

The decision to reopen the search was a difficult but necessary one. I want to thank the many representatives of the Kutztown University community, including trustees and city leaders, for their excellent work and for the time and effort they have devoted to this process.

In keeping with Board of Governors’ policy, I will ask the campus search and screen committee and trustees to offer three viable candidates who reflect the Board’s strong commitment to making its selection from a culturally diverse pool of finalists. The search will reopen in a few weeks.