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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Dallas-based consulting firm will lead a nationwide search for a new chancellor of the University of Mississippi.
The state College Board, which oversees all eight public universities, on Thursday hired R. William Funk & Associates for $110,000. Board members said they hope to complete the search by the end of this year, but it may take longer.
The new chancellor will succeed Dr. Dan Jones, a physician who had led Ole Miss since 2009. Protests by some students and alumni erupted earlier this year when the College Board chose not renew Jones' contract, which expires in mid-September. Morris Stocks is serving as interim chancellor.
Asked about the qualities the College Board is seeking in a chancellor, Commissioner of Higher Education Glenn Boyce said: "Somebody of high integrity. Somebody who is vision-oriented. Somebody that communicates well with all the constituent groups."
The new chancellor won't be required to have previous ties to Ole Miss, Boyce said.
"They're looking for the absolute best candidate, and if it happens to be an alumnus, I think that's just outstanding, as well," Boyce said.
Nine consulting firms submitted bids to lead the search. Boyce said the highest bid was about $160,000. The College Board was not required to accept the lowest bid, but Boyce said Funk & Associates was among the lowest.
Funk & Associates has worked in recent years on presidential searches for the University System of Georgia, Ohio State University and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Boyce said the firm's CEO, Bill Funk, is "one of the finest search consultants in the nation."
The process will include on-campus meetings with a 34-member advisory committee that includes Athletic Director Ross Bjork; Vice Chancellor for Research Alice Clark and faculty senate chairman Michael Barnett.
"Things will start happening sooner rather than later," College Board president Alan Perry said.
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