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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has announced three finalists for the chancellor's job.
The finalists for the top job at UA were announced Friday. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Saturday (http://bit.ly/1M85bTo ) that they are: April Mason, provost and senior vice president at Kansas State University; Joseph E. Steinmetz, executive vice president and provost at Ohio State University; and Jeffrey S. Vitter, provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas.
UA System President Donald Bobbitt selected the finalists from seven candidates interviewed on Sept. 25 in Dallas by a search committee. The finalists are seeking to replace G. David Gearhart, who stepped down at the end of July.
Each finalist will visit Fayetteville for two days of activities, including a public talk on the morning of the second day. Mason will visit Tuesday and Wednesday. Steinmetz is set to visit Oct. 12-13 and Vitter on Oct. 14-15.
After the visits by the finalists, Bobbitt will recommend a single finalist for approval by UA System trustees.
Mason and Vitter were not included on a list of 15 applicants for the job released in August by UA or in a response to a public disclosure request submitted Sept. 18.
Laura Jacobs, UA's associate vice chancellor for university relations and chairman of the chancellor search committee, said there have been 17 official applicants for the job. She declined to confirm whether any of those the committee met in Dallas were not among the official applicants.
John Rupe, past chairman of the UA faculty senate, said he is glad the candidates have strong academic backgrounds, noting that at most universities, provosts are in charge of the academic side of an institution.
"That means they've been involved in the nitty-gritty of running their institutions, so that's very important," Rupe said, explaining that the finalists likely have experience in faculty hiring and evaluation.
Classes will continue as normal during the talks, Jacobs said. It likely will be up to the candidates whether their presentations are recorded, Jacobs said.
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com
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