KNOXVILLE — An Atlanta-based executive search firm has been chosen to help the University of Tennessee find a new president.
The UT Board of Trustees Presidential Search Committee voted to negotiate a contract with Baker-Parker Inc. to help it with identifying, recruiting, and assessing qualifications of candidates and to conduct reference checks on them.
The committee selected Baker-Parker’s proposal over those of A.T. Kearney, also of Atlanta, and The Washington Advisory Group, Washington, D.C. Baker-Parker says in its proposal it would charge UT no more than $72,000 plus up to 10 percent of that amount in expenses.
In other business, the board:
— Approved a Statement of Characteristics and Qualifications for the UT President;
— Approved the job description to be used in advertising the position of UT president and a timeline for the search.
— Approved consideration of a president’s compensation package between $400,000-$500,000, and amended the Statement of Guiding Principles concerning publication of that package.
The board also approved a Code of Ethics Policy for trustees, mandated by state law passed last May and required to be in place by Jan. 1, 2004.
The policy outlines trustees’ responsibilities in relation to public trust, due diligence in analyzing critical university matters, legal authority, conflict of interest and other issues.