1. Who is involved in the process of searching for Biola’s next president?
2. What criteria are you using to develop a pool of candidates?
3. Is there a timetable for the search process?
4. Dr. Cook has announced his intention to retire in June 2007.  What happens if his successor is not in place by that time?
5. Will there be just one “final” candidate, or is it possible that there will be more than one finalist?
6. Who makes the final decision?
7. What can the Biola community do to support the search process?

1. Who is involved in the process of searching for Biola’s next president?

This is a collaborative effort that involves many different components.  The three primary groups involved in the search process are:

• The Presidential Search Team (PST), a group of Biola Trustees charged with the task of conducting a comprehensive search for Biola’s eighth president;
• The Search Advisory Committee (SAC), formed in order to increase the involvement of key Biola community groups (faculty, staff, alumni, and students) and to provide a formal mechanism for advice and counsel to the PST; and
• People Management, a professional search consulting firm with vast experience in conducting high level searches.  Biola is working directly with Rob Stevenson and Tommy Thomas, both committed Christians and People Management partners who have together conducted 200 cabinet-level searches and 12 successful searches for presidents of Christian colleges and universities.

In addition to these dedicated people, many from Biola’s extensive community of students, staff, faculty, and alumni are providing input, offering encouragement, and committing to pray for the process.

2. What criteria are you using to develop a pool of candidates?

The search process is being guided by three governing principles:

• Openness – It is our intent that those directly involved in the search receive the fullest advice and counsel from the University’s key constituent groups.  The highest quality search result depends on sensitivity and openness to the needs, opportunities and perspectives of our university community.
• Confidentiality – It is also necessary and appropriate that all nominees and candidates, both external and internal, are given an environment to explore, evaluate, and offer their candidacy within carefully protected and confidential circumstances.  It is essential that this principle be assured to all in the process.  Confidentiality must extend to cover the advice, references and insight given to the Presidential Search Team in each phase of its work.
• Stability – The transition period involving an outgoing and incoming President must be done in such a way that maximizes organizational stability and minimizes uncertainty.  This is especially important following the outstanding tenure and leadership of Dr. Cook.  Biola’s transition of executive leadership can be made more effective and natural by a consistent, stable process.  It is our intent to provide a unifying and stabilizing influence to the University community in all our actions.

Specific criteria regarding the kind of candidate Biola is looking for have been developed through extensive interviews, questionnaires, and forums conducted with hundreds of people, including faculty, students, staff, trustees, alumni, and donors.  A summary of some of these criteria is contained in Biola’s Opportunity Profile.

3. Is there a timetable for the search process?

In a search process like this, especially a search for the president of a university, there is an “ideal” timetable that takes about a year.  For the Biola search, the schedule is as follows:

• Third Quarter 2006 – Planning, orientation, data gathering, development of guidance documents 
• Fourth Quarter 2006 – Candidate research and screening
• First Quarter 2007 – Development of the pool of candidates and interviews
• Second Quarter 2007 – Recommendation to the Board of Trustees and the Biola community

Even though this is the ideal timetable and is serving as a general guide, the PST is not bound by this schedule.  We will take whatever time is necessary to identify Biola’s next president.

4. Dr. Cook has announced his intention to retire in June 2007.  What happens if his successor is not in place by that time?

Dr. Cook has graciously agreed to continue serving as President until his successor is named.

5. Will there be just one “final” candidate, or is it possible that there will be more than one finalist?

The charge from the Board of Trustees to the Presidential Search Team is to present “one fully qualified candidate to the Board of Trustees for the appointment by the Board at the earliest appropriate time.”

6. Who makes the final decision?

The Board of Trustees of Biola University will make the final decision.

7. What can the Biola community do to support the search process?

The most important thing anyone connected with Biola and the search process can do is to pray!   It’s vital to take the necessary steps a search like this requires, but without the prayers of God’s people, it’s all done in vain.  We are aware of groups all around campus and beyond meeting for the specific purpose of praying for the process, the people involved, the candidates who will be applying, and, of course, the person who will eventually become the next President of Biola.  In the future we will be posting information about these prayer groups on the search web site.

Besides prayer, both the Presidential Search Team and the Search Advisory Committee invite the Biola Community to provide input at any time.  The easiest way is to use the contact information given on the search Web site.