DeWolfe says resignation has been discussed since May

After the resignation of Boston University President Jon Westling, the next step is to form a Needs Assessment Committee, which will solicit feedback from staff and offer recommendations for candidates to be placed on the Search Committee, according to Chairman of the Board of Trustees Richard B. DeWolfe.

Former Chairman of the Board and now Chairman Emeritus Earle C. Cooley will chair the Needs Assessment Committee, DeWolfe said, adding that appointments to the committee would likely occur within the next ten days.

After the Needs Assessment Committee gathers input from the staff and trustees, DeWolfe will complete the task of forming the Search Committee, the body that will evaluate candidates and eventually nominate one of them to become president. DeWolfe, who will chair the Search Committee, said he hopes to have it formed by October 2002.

DeWolfe said if the Search Committee tapped a person from outside the University to become President, it would not be likely for the person to become President mid-year.

“It’s highly unlikely [the person] would leave their institution in the middle of their academic year,” DeWolfe said. “I hope our search produces a person in the course of the year and we would have that person on board by the next academic year.”

Until a replacement is named, Chancellor John Silber will act as the interim president of the University. The position was one that Silber held for 25 years, from 1971 until 1996, when Westling took over and Silber became the Chancellor.

DeWolfe was one of the administrators who was not surprised by Westling’s decision. DeWolfe said the President mentioned he would like to return to the classroom over a year ago. However, it didn’t turn into anything concrete until later, DeWolfe said.

“We probably started talking about [the possibility of a resignation] in May [2002],” DeWolfe said.