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[Note: This material is copyright by The Daily Iowan, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Daily Iowan.]

The UI presidential-search committee zoned in on a list of qualities the next university president must possess during its weekly meeting on March 2. The list, created by committee member Leonard Hadley, specified seven characteristics, but English Professor Ed Folsom suggested adding the quality of being an intellectual leader to the list.

"The university presidents who are most respected nationally and in their own institutions are those who articulate an intellectual vision to guide the institution," he said.

Committee head David Johnsen agreed, saying that intellectual leadership will make a prospective president more credible with university administrators and professors.

"This must be at the top of the list," added Linda Maxson, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "That is the No. 1 most important qualification."

Other key attributes include the ability to articulate a compelling vision for the UI, being able to delegate proper tasks, guiding faculty without meddling, exhibiting crisis-management skills, and leading and enjoying fundraising.

This list will guide the committee as it forms criteria to evaluate the candidates, Johnsen said.

Epidemiology Professor Elizabeth Chrischilles said she would like a separate list of values that a prospective president should possess.

"This list focuses on attributes, but I think that it would also be important to make a list of certain values that a future president should have," she said. "We need to differentiate between the two to ensure that the candidates' values mesh with those of the university."

There will be a link to the revised list of attributes on the presidential-search website.

In other business, Johnsen said the committee has received a "very strong" response to its request for recommendations and nominations.

"We are still looking through those but hope to soon be able to disclose an approximate number of candidates," said Johnsen, the dean of the UI dental school.

The panel is still aiming to submit the four names to the state Board of Regents by July 1, he said.

The committee also discussed inviting area lawmakers to a future meeting to participate in the weekly talk. The new committee was impaneled earlier this year to find a replacement for former UI President David Skorton, who left in June 2006 to take the helm at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.