The search for a new second-in-command at the University of Wyoming is moving more slowly than UW officials had hoped.

The search committee's initial goal of identifying finalists for the position of vice president of academic affairs and provost in the spring semester has proven unattainable, according to a UW news release. The candidates will instead visit campus for public forums after the end of spring semester.

The university provided no reason for the slow pace of the search.

"We would have liked to bring finalists to campus before the summer break, but that's just not possible, in spite of the extremely hard work of the committee," says Bill Gern, vice president for research and economic development and the search committee's chair. "Still, we will do our best to make sure the campus community and others have an opportunity to hear from the finalists."

The search process, similar to the UW Board of Trustees' method of selecting Dr. Laurie Nichols as the next UW president, continues to review and interview applicants. Eventually, the committee will forward a list of finalists to the president, who will then make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Candidates' names will remain confidential until a list of finalists is released. The committee's objective is to have a new provost and vice president for academic affairs in place in August. The new officer will work closely with President Nichols and succeed current Vice President David Jones, who is set to return to his faculty position in the College of Health Sciences.

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