http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/2ndfinalis_493.mp3
After a 2 months process of screening applicants for the position of President at SMSU, the SMS Presidential Search Committee settled on three candidates who were then invited to visit SMSU's campuses and interview with the Board of Governors. The second of three candidates toured the SMS campus last Thursday. K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel reports...
DAVID BELCHER IS THE CURRENT VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK.
BELCHER SAYS HE HAS HIGH HOPES FOR WHAT SMS CAN DO.
BELCHER ALONG WITH TWO OTHER FINALISTS WERE PICKED OUT OF 59 APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB, WHICH WOULD START ON THE 1ST OF JULY THIS YEAR.
BELCHER SPENT TODAY DOING INTERVIEWS AND HOLDING FORUMS WITH SMS OFFICIALS, AND SPEAKING WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS.
BELCHER SAYS THERE ARE THREE REASONS HE WANTS THE JOB.
THE FIRST CHALLENGE, THOUGH, WOULD BE BEATING OUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSTION.
BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT SETS BELCHER APART FROM THE OTHERS.
HE WORKED FOR THE UNIVERSITY FROM 1988 TO 2003 AND SERVED AS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS FOR NINE YEARS.
HE SAYS HE'S NOT SURE IF THIS WILL HELP OR HURT HIS CHANCES.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HE DOES FAVOR.
THE STATE LEGISLATUR IS CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULDF CHANGE THE NAME OF SMS TO MISOORUI SSTAE UNIV
BELCHER HAS A FIRM STANCE ON THE SMS NAME CHANGE ISSUE.
AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT IS CHANCE TO HEAR FROM ANOTHER FINALIST FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT.
MICHAEL NIETZEL, VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, WILL HAVE HIS CHANCE TO BE HEARD FROM SMS FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS ON MONDAY, THE 14TH.
JOHN SELLARS, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT FOR INSTUTUTIONAL ADAVNCEMENT AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY IS A THIRD CANDIDATE.
HE VISITED THE UNIVERSITY THIS PAST MONDAY.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL REPLACE DR. JOHN KEISER WHO HAS SERVED 12 YEARS AS PRESIDENT.
THIS WILL BE THE 9TH PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY.