Erie Community College's search for a new president is being extended.
Despite campus visits last month by two candidates who were considered finalists for the post, the Board of Trustees has decided to renew the search, since those two have taken jobs elsewhere. A third candidate from Jamestown remains under consideration.
Interim ECC President William Reuter said the process should be complete by the end of December.
"The Board will be restarting the search sometime in the latter part of the summer, early fall," Reuter said. "We will have candidates for president on campus in the fall for a recommendation by the Board of Trustees and then also by the SUNY Board of Trustees, for a start date on or around Jan. 1."
Reuter's contract has been extended through Jan. 1, or until a new president takes over, and he expects to be busy. Reuter and he is not waiting for his successor to take on some serious issues.
"We're starting the process of looking at the future realignment of SUNY Erie, completion of the SUNY Master Plan. We have updated accreditation in September and continued unknowns. Guidance from SUNY, state and county regarding the reopening plan, COVID-19. We have a strategic plan. From a financial standpoint, we have a continued significant enrollment decline. We need to reduce spending. We have a structural deficit."
