Trustees will choose replacement

The next step in IU's future without President Myles Brand will be revealed today when the IU board of trustees meets at IU-Fort Wayne to choose an interim president.\nIU Spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said the vote for the interim president, who will take charge on Jan. 1, will be the first item at the 3 p.m. meeting. The field of potential candidates has been narrowed to five. The vote comes after President Brand announced on Oct. 10 he was planning to leave IU to become the president of the NCAA.\nThe list of candidates includes IU-Purdue at Indianapolis Chancellor Gerald Bepko, former Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis, former IU President John Ryan, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Terry Clapacs and Vice President for Student Development and Diversity Charlie Nelms.\nChancellor Sharon Brehm, originally named as a possible candidate, declined the position.\n"They intend to move forward with the selection tomorrow and what to do right at the outset," said IU Spokesman Bill Stephan. \nStephan said he doesn't believe a decision has already been made by the trustees and said he couldn't comment on any specific nominee as a possible frontrunner.\nThe board is looking for a temporary president to move IU's research efforts forward and to work effectively in the upcoming state legislative session.\n"They're not simply going to be a care-taker," Stephan said. \nThe trustees have been considering the selection carefully and received input from many people, he said.\nBoard of trustees President Frederick Eichhorn said the board has discussed the candidates and what the role of an interim president should be.\n"We have had discussions concerning the needs of the University and the qualities we are looking for," Eichhorn said.\nEichhorn said some of those qualities are academic stature and administrative and legislative experience.\nThe interim president will be selected through a majority vote by the board.\nThe trustees will also vote to name a search committee to select a permanent president for the University.\nThe committee will consist of roughly 15 members of IU's faculty, administration and students, Stephan said. The trustees are also entertaining the idea of hiring a professional search committee to assist the group formed by the trustees.\nPresident Brand is interested in finally resolving the matter, Stephan said.\n"I think he wants to be helpful and supportive in any way that he can be," said Stephan said, who said he believes today is very important for the future of IU.\n"I think it's going to be a landmark day," he said.