Lincoln University has identified three search firms to potentially conduct its presidential search.
The LU Board of Curators' Presidential Transition Committee narrowed down its list of eight search firms.
Three search firms Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Academic Search and AGB Search remain as potential hires for the university.
The search firms will be contracted by the university to identify candidates from around the country for the positions of university president, and vice president of academic affairs and provost.
Greenwood/Asher & Associates is an executive search, consulting and training firm, started in 1992, that has conducted more than 2,000 projects.
The company has 26 employees and has been hired by Missouri University of Science & Technology, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Webster University.
Academic Search is an executive search firm with 45 years specializing in higher education institutions and related organizations. The company also offers executive coaching, onboarding and transition services.
Academic Search has about 72 employees and has been contracted by the University of Missouri, University of Central Missouri and Southeast Missouri State University.
AGB Search is a higher institution executive search firm founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in 2010. The company also offers compensation evaluation services with its staff of roughly 57 employees.
AGB Search has been hired by Saint Louis University, University of Central Missouri and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Curator Everidge Cade, a member of the presidential transition committee, said the firms were judged on a variety of factors, such as who best aligns with the request for proposals and who is best suited to understand the needs of Lincoln.
Cade said firms were asked about their picture of an ideal candidate, diversity and inclusion, and their reputation in the industry, among other topics.
He said the firms were also asked about the tenure of applicants they've helped find.
"I don't want people to tell me they've placed people and they lasted five months and they're gone," Cade said. "I want to know if they got successful people that have gotten positions and done a good job and are still at their positions."
Each of the search firms will have an in-person meeting with the committee Sept. 8, Cade said.
If a search firm skips the meeting or is unable to attend, they will be disqualified from consideration.
"The requirement is they have to come, we're not going to do it via Zoom because we need to get in front of them and see them," Cade said.
The in-person meeting is a requirement of the university's request for proposals sent out in June.
Cade said additional meetings could be conducted via Zoom, but the initial meeting has to be in person.
Cade noted, however, the objective is to find a successful president and the search firm is a tool to do so.
"Any one of those three we would be satisfied with," Cade said. "The main thing is finding the right president for Lincoln University - that's our main goal."
John Moseley is serving as interim president, a role he assumed in May after former LU President Jerald Jones Woolfolk announced her resignation earlier that month.
Moseley has said he would like to be considered for the permanent position.
The final decision of which firm to hire will be made by the full Board of Curators.
According to a timeline laid out early in the process, the university hopes to have a search firm in place by Sept. 9 and a group of applicants available to interview by Nov. 1.