SEARCH CONTINUES FOR NEW PRESIDENT FOR SOUTHEAST

It is envisioned Dr. Bill Atchley will have about a 12-month run as Southeast Missouri State University's president. But he could stay longer, if asked.

At age 63, Atchley has made it clear he isn't looking for a long-term job as the school's president.

"I am not here for any five years," said Atchley, who was hired to head up the university while a search is under way for a permanent replacement to Dr. Kala Stroup.

Stroup left to take the job of Missouri commissioner of higher education.

Atchley, who was hired last summer and took over Sept. 1, said he would consider serving as president for more than a year, if necessary.

"I haven't said no," he said.

But Atchley said he isn't looking to spark any controversy regarding the search process. "Whatever I do, I hope will be for the betterment of the university."

Atchley and his wife, Pat, feel at home in Cape Girardeau. "We have a lot of good friends here. This is our hometown," he said.

A committee headed by regents Donald Harrison and Lynn Dempster is conducting the presidential search.

Harrison is president of the Board of Regents.

Harrison said the regents could ask Atchley to stay on. But he said Atchley wouldn't be screened by the search committee.

"I guess it is kind of like a national election. He could be drafted," Harrison said, adding that the regents aren't limited to candidates recommended by the search committee.

But he said it is unlikely the regents would ignore the search committee's recommendations.

"Certainly, we are not going through this exercise to waste a lot of people's time," Harrison said.

To date, more than 100 people have applied for the nationally advertised position.

That doesn't include those people whom others have recommended for the job, Harrison said.

The search committee will contact those people who have been recommended for the job to see if they are interested in the position, Harrison said.

Ultimately, the committee hopes to recommend three to five finalists from the 150 candidates.

The recommendations could come in April, with the regents making a hiring decision in May, said Harrison.

The regents want a permanent president on board by the fall semester.