The search committee in charge of selecting a person to fill the newly created position of vice president of communications for A&M met for the second time Thursday to discuss the job description and qualifications.
University President Robert M. Gates created the 18-member committee last month to select potential candidates for the position.
The committee has not announced when the appointment will be made.
“Obviously the individual we are looking for isn’t searching for a job right now, so when we make a selection, the starting date would depend on the person hired,” Fike said.
The next meeting has not been scheduled, but University officials say it will be take place around final exam week, Dec. 5-11.
Gates created the new position at the recommendation of several task forces, led by Special Adviser to the President R.C. Slocum, that examined University marketing, communications and use of the Web.
The committee is chaired by Executive Vice President for Generation and Supply for Reliant Energy Robert W. Harvey and includes two student members who are responsible for student input on the issue.
Christopher Clonts, Class of 2005, who serves as a student advocate for communications for the Student Government Association, is in charge of undergraduate input on the committee.
“Basically what we did (at the meeting) was set the initial job description of the position and identified broad attributes that the potential candidates should have,” Clonts said. “We’re looking for someone with function and expertise in the marketing and communications fields and (someone) who can unite and lead the University on a unified front.”
The committee hasn’t listed any specific candidates for the job. A subcommittee has been created to further describe the specific attributes required of a candidate.
“We need someone who can tell the story of Texas A&M to the outside world,” said A&M Professor John L. Fike, who is also on the committee.
“I am confident we will be successful in attracting strong candidates for this new position,” Gates said.