After weeks of turmoil capped by the resignation of one consultant and the hiring of another, the Florida State University presidential search committee set a timeline Friday that could lead to a new leader being named by the end of September.
The application deadline is Sept. 2, and the search firm will work to recruit new candidates to join a field led by state Sen. John Thrasher and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricky Polston. The advisory committee will meet Sept. 5 to discuss all of the applicants and select finalists to bring to campus for interviews on Sept. 8 and 9. Some or all of those finalists will be invited back to meet with students, faculty, staff and alumni -- Sept. 15 through 18.
The committee will reconvene on Sept. 22 to decide whom to recommend to the FSU Board of Trustees. The state Board of Governors must also sign off on the selection.
The timing of the search also may have political implications, since Thrasher, the St. Augustine Republican considered the front-runner for the FSU job, is also running for re-election.
If Thrasher is selected FSU's president before the Nov. 4 general election, the Republican committees in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties will select a nominee to replace him on the ballot.
But if Thrasher is named to the FSU post after being re-elected, Gov. Rick Scott would need to call a special election.