Seeking campus views, Search Committee holds day-long forum

DARTMOUTH - Dec. 7, 2011:Stating that it is important "to hear firsthand the aspirations of UMass Dartmouth and to learn of the qualities it seeks in a new leader," the UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Search Committee today was holding a day-long series of on-campus forums.

"These forums are critical to the search process as we need to develop a clear understanding of where UMass Dartmouth wants to go and what kind of leader it seeks to guide the campus in its next phase of development," said Maria D. Furman, a UMass Trustee and UMass Dartmouth graduate who is chairing the 19-member search committee.

"UMass Dartmouth plays a key role in the South Coast and in the Commonwealth as a whole, and the next Chancellor is going to have to be able to build on all that has been achieved here and help write new chapters in the UMass Dartmouth success story," Furman said.

The search committee was holding a series of meetings that began at 8 a.m. and was scheduled to last into the evening. The committee met with various campus constituency groups, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and community and business leaders.

The University is seeking a successor to Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack, who has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year. Chancellor MacCormack has led UMass Dartmouth since 2001, and previously held senior administrative positions at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The Search Committee's role is to identify finalist candidates for the position. President Caret would then make a recommendation to the UMass Board of Trustees, which has the final say in the selection process.

Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073