Chancellor candidates make visits

University officials continue to keep quiet about the ongoing search for IU-Bloomington's next chancellor. As an announcement of the search committee's choice is expected before the next board of trustees meeting in November, many IU faculty members are keeping their opinions to themselves. \nIU's Kumble Subbaswamy, the current dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is the only known candidate of the three finalists for the position. He is also the only candidate who was drawn directly from the IU community. \nIU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis confirmed that the other two candidates have both visited the IUB campus, but he again maintained their anonymity.\n"It's possible that their names will never be known," Gros Louis said. "Especially if they're people in prominent positions, it would be awkward to have it known that they weren't chosen for the position."\nGros Louis said he and IU President Adam Herbert are currently conducting what is known as "due diligence." He said the process occurs with the full knowledge of the candidates and generally consists of checking references and analyzing the candidates' professional background.\nIU Dean of the Faculties Jeanne Sept likened the issue of choosing between an outside candidate and an internal candidate, such as Subbaswamy, to photography. Sept -- also the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs -- said examination of inside candidates is like high definition video in which subjects can be viewed within an incredible field that does not spare clarity or resolution. \n"Outside candidates, on the other hand, are pictured through a series of more discreet, focused snapshots, as viewed through a telephoto lens," Sept said. "The candidate appears in focus but often the rest of the image is blurry, and the resulting slideshow leaves much to the imagination of the selection committee."\nDespite recognizing the ability of an internal candidate to hit the ground running upon being named, Sept acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue. \n"He or she listens to students, faculty and staff to help develop collaborative strategies and priorities for how we can continue to grow as a rich, exciting intellectual community," Sept said. \nShe said the chancellor sets creative standards for faculty and students, and provides intellectual \nleadership for the campus at large.\n"Our faculty and students include some of the best in the world, but we cannot work in a vacuum," Sept said. "The chancellor inspires us to be our best, and can provide incentives and opportunities outside individual disciplines to help faculty and students achieve distinction."\nDan Smith, dean of the Kelley School of Business, said the values and qualities of an incoming chancellor are not to be taken lightly by the IU community. \n"Both students and faculty on the Bloomington campus have an important stake in the chancellor search in that the chancellor establishes performance standards and plays an important role in shaping the culture of the campus," Smith said.\nSmith declined comment on whether he'd prefer a chancellor from within IU on the grounds that the process is still ongoing. \n"The right chancellor, one who is able to effectively identify the major opportunities and challenges facing the Bloomington campus," Smith said, "can leverage our many strengths and take the campus to a new level"