In the interest of keeping the Ohio University community informed, President Roderick J. McDavis shares with all faculty, staff and students this open letter to Faculty Senate Chair Sergio Lopez-Permouth regarding the search for executive vice president and provost.
Sent via e-mail Feb. 3, 2009

Dear Sergio, 

Following the discussion at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Faculty Senate last night, I have decided to withdraw all invitations that I had previously extended for service on the search committee for Ohio University's next Executive Vice President and Provost. I am grateful to each of these individuals for their willingness to serve and have communicated my gratitude personally to them. 

Following that action, I have constituted a new search committee comprised of 14 members of the Ohio University community, eight of whom are faculty members. I am in the process of extending personal invitations to those individuals today. I am pleased to report that Dr. Tadeusz Malinski has agreed to chair the committee which will convene very soon to begin its work.  As this work begins, I thank Dr. Malinski for his leadership and extend my gratitude to all committee members for their commitment to this important search. 

Like you, I want the best for Ohio University now and in the future.  Given the challenging environment for public universities in Ohio and across the nation, it is essential that we fill this position with the best, most highly-qualified individual who can lead our academic enterprise, embrace our historic legacy, remain true to our core values and innovate for the future. 

Cordially,

Rod