COAS spot to be filled by May 15

Finalist candidates for the position as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences could be submitted as early as this coming spring. \nMonday's meeting of the COAS dean search committee led to an agreement between the members to set the goal for submissions to IU-Bloomington Interim Provost Michael McRobbie by May 15, a timeline committee chairperson and Dean of IU Law Lauren Robel said is purely aspirational. \n"We hope to be able to keep the search on time while providing opportunities for consultation with the relevant constituencies," she said.\nThis goal coincides with President Adam Herbert's wish to appoint a new dean by the next fall semester. The job will be officially vacant July 1, when current dean Kumble \nSubbaswamy leaves to become provost at the University of Kentucky.\nThe committee, which is already receiving nominations for the position, will be searching for candidates in and outside of IU. Memos were sent Wednesday to COAS faculty listing the committee members and asking for nominations. \nAll Bloomington faculty and staff will receive similar memos seeking nominations. Plans for a Web site to list the job announcement are also underway, Robel said. \nAmong the committee's plans are numerous \nmeetings with campus faculty organizations such as the Professional Staff Organization, the College Policy Committee, the College Alumni Board and the Dean's Advisory Board.\nRobel said the committee will do its best to stay on the agreed timeline as long as the committee is receiving nominations.\n"We agreed on this timeline, and we are going to do the best we can to keep on track," she said. "We think this is a fantastic position, and we are all dedicated to finding the right candidates for the job."\nThe first screening interviews are set to begin in March followed by the first session of on-campus interviews in April.