The University of North Florida is handing locals a front-row seat to its leadership shakeup, inviting Northeast Florida residents to weigh in on who should run the campus next. The Presidential Search Committee is hosting a half-hour, hybrid public listening session on Friday, April 10, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at Osprey Commons and via Zoom, with organizers saying that community feedback will help shape the job profile and evaluation criteria for UNF’s next president.
How to participate
The listening session will take place in the Talon Room on the fourth floor of Osprey Commons, with a Zoom option for anyone who prefers to log in instead of walk in. Those who cannot attend in person can still weigh in by emailing their input to [email protected], as reported by Action News Jax.
Who’s leading the search
UNF’s Board of Trustees has set up an 11-member Presidential Search Committee to run a national search for the university’s eighth president, with trustee Jack Boyle serving as chair. The university says the committee will ultimately send the Board of Trustees an unranked slate of highly qualified candidates for consideration, according to UNF Newsroom.
Rules and what to expect
The search process is governed by Florida Board of Governors Regulation 1.002 and Section 1004.098 of the Florida Statutes, which require search panels to protect applicants’ identifying information and use nondisclosure agreements where appropriate. The rules aim to keep the process as transparent as possible while still honoring legal confidentiality requirements for candidates and any closed portions of meetings when necessary. Read Regulation 1.002 and Section 1004.098 for the fine print: Florida Board of Governors and Florida Statutes.
Why this matters locally
The search kicked off after President Moez Limayem was confirmed as the new president of the University of South Florida, a move that pushed UNF to launch a national hunt for its next leader. UNF says updates on the search, including meeting dates for the committee, will be posted on the Presidential Search Committee website. For additional background, see UNF’s announcement from the UNF Board of Trustees.
