Applications are coming in quickly for the position of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s new chancellor.

“Candidates so far include figures inside and outside the University of Wisconsin system, including people from national and international institutions,” says Professor Mark Schwartz, Chair of the Search Committee.

The deadline to filter applicants into a group of “best consideration” passed on September 26.

The formal position description on the chancellor search website details the qualities and skills that would make an applicant the best fit for the job. According to the Chancellor Search page’s formal position description, the Search Committee “…seeks a chancellor with the strategic vision, personal integrity, energy, and leadership skills to steer a large, dynamic, institution within a statewide public higher education system.”

The UWM Chancellor Search Committee is comprised of 26 members, which includes faculty as well as a couple of select students.

In October, the search committee will recommend 10-12 candidates (out of the undisclosed number of applicants) to the Special Regents search committee, which will approve or disapprove their choices. Following this, the candidates will be interviewed at an off-campus location, where shortly thereafter five finalists will be chosen.  It is only then will the candidate’s names become public, as required by law.

One final round of interviews will be given in early December before the new chancellor is chosen and announced on December 15th, tentatively. “Realistically, the new chancellor will not start until the following June or July,” says Schwartz. “They’ll need time to leave their current position and possibly even move to Milwaukee if needed.”

When asked about former chancellor Mike Lovell’s greatest contribution to UWM, Schwartz had this to say: “He brought a lot of energy to the position, and made great connections to his entire staff. Lovell set a positive tone to what could be considered a transparent practice.”