February 28, 2002

Kutztown University presidential search extended

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Thesearch for a new president at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is being extended after two of the three finalists for the position withdrew from the selection process.

One of the finalists dropped out after choosing to remain at his current institution and a second was offered another university presidency. Both actions occurred after Kutztown’s Council of Trustees had submitted the names of the finalists to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors for its consideration. As a result, the search was temporarily halted.

The Kutztown Presidential Search Committee chaired by Guido Pichini will resume the search in conjunction with the Chancellor’s Office. The search committee also will continue to work with R.H. Perry & Associates, a Washington, D.C., based search firm specializing in higher education, on the extended search.

“The Council of Trustees appreciates the help that it has received from the Chancellor’s Office, and we look forward to continuing to work together to fill the office of President of Kutztown University,” said Council Chair Ronald H. Frey.

The Council praised the initial work of the Presidential Search Committee while charging it to continue.

The search committee will meet March 11 to resume its work. As it did earlier, the committee will conduct the initial screening of applicants and will narrow the field of potential candidates, who will then participate in a series of off- and on-campus interviews. While visiting the campus, the selected candidates will meet with administrators, faculty, staff and students as part of the selection process.

The search committee then will recommend to the university’s Council of Trustees the names of three finalists for the position. Those names will be transmitted to Chancellor Judy G. Hample and the State System’s Board of Governors, which will make the final presidential selection.

Dr. David E. McFarland, who has served as president of Kutztown University since 1988, has announced his intention to retire June 30, 2002.

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 state-owned universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. With more than 98,600 students, the State System is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.