MSU President Dr. Geoff Gamble and Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Sheila Steams visited the campus on Tuesday, December 16, 2008. They met with various groups from the campus and the community to get input about the characteristics people want to see in a new chancellor for Northern. The President and the Commissioner were also interested in hearing about ways to conduct the search in a way that would maximize input from the campus and community.

President Gamble explained that MSU Bozeman will cover the cost of hiring an outside search firm. He will start the selection process and hopes to hire the outside search firm in January. He will establish a search committee, which will be comprised of about 12 14 people. Interim Chancellor Rolf Groseth has agreed to Chair the committee which will also have membership from (MSU Billings) and (MSUGF) campuses and from Northern faculty, foundation and alumni, the professional and classified ranks, dean or chair, member from the Havre community and a member from one of the tribal colleges. The committee will review the candidates and bring the top two or three to the campus and community for more extensive interviews. The committee will make a recommendation to President Gamble and he will make the final decision. Gamble said, he hopes to have the Chancellor in place by the start of the fall semester 2009.