College of DuPage’s search for a new president has officially started. The committee, made up of members from various parts of the community and within the college, met on Nov. 16 to discuss which search firm they would hire to look for potential candidates for multiple administrative positions.

The COD board of trustees committed to hiring William E. Hay & Co., consultants in executive selection and organization. The vote passed 4-2. William E. Hay & Co. will help to fill the presidency as well as three other administrator positions, two being those formerly filled by Thomas Glaser and Lynn Sapyta who were fired just before Former President Robert Breuder. The outside agency will be paid up to $292,500 for their time.

Candidates will be cut down to anywhere from seven to 10 semi-finalist in January or February 2016. Three to five finalists will be decided on by Feb. 15, 2016. The finalists will then go through a background investigation and a public forum will be held on their behalf. Interviews will then be done individually and by the board before the candidates visit COD. A presidential announcement date has yet to be set.

Board Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton had been quoted earlier in the year as saying she will take as long as she feels necessary to select a president. She feels that time is not the biggest factor, but it is that of a president that will fit the institution and community that is of the utmost importance.

In a previous interview with the Courier, Vice President of the Faculty Association Richard Jarman explained that he thinks an ideal leader should be one who looks forward to the challenges that may come with the position.

“I think a creative leader would be interested in taking on the challenge of working at an institution that has a lot of things going for it,” Jarman said.

In a previous interview with the Courier, Glenn Hansen, faculty association president and member of the presidential search committee, explained that he hopes the committee will make an informed decision while talking to potential candidates.

Hansen believes it may take longer than just an interview process to see each candidate’s true colors.

“We’ve gotta have faith that the process is going to work,” Hansen said. “Nobody has the one answer right now. It’s very inexact because you also run the risk that people interview differently from who they really are. I hope the board has the wisdom not to sign them to a long-term contract until we know who they are.”

At the Nov.16 meeting, Hansen explained he believes the committee needs to give time and effort in order to make the right choice. Hansen agrees with Hamilton’s declaration to take as much time as needed.

“I really feel that we need to get it right,” Hansen said. “What were starting tonight with this search is huge and cannot afford to be looked at in anyway a scene. We cannot give anybody the opportunity to say we didn’t do it right; we didn’t give it our due diligence. We need to look [at this] so it’s not a tainted process.”

Candidate applications for all positions will be due Jan. 11, 2016.