Iowa State currently is looking for a new provost, and within a week, the four to six finalists will be announced.

George Kraus, chairman of the Provost Search Committee, said the canvassing committee is made up of 19 people from the ISU campus.

The committee began its search for a new provost by placing advertisements in a variety of publications, he said.

Applications were put through a series of reviews by the committee, references were called and after a final discussion by the committee and a list of candidates was sent on to ISU President Martin Jischke.

Kraus said he expects to see a press release from the Office of the President announcing the candidates.

The provost is the chief academic officer of the university.

Some of the programs and university officials involved with the Office of the Provost include the deans of all eight colleges, the Computation Center, the Ames Laboratory and Parks Library.

“The provost is technically in charge of all academic programs and has an impact on all ISU students,” said Tanya Zanish-Belcher, chairwoman of the searches subcommittee for the University Committee on Women.

John Kozak began as provost on July 1, 1992, and relinquished his administrative duties to focus on research and teaching in the chemistry department as of Jan. 1.

Since that time, Richard Seagrave has been serving as interim provost.

Seagrave said he has enjoyed serving as interim provost, but he is looking forward to seeing his students and advisees in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

“The job is extremely interesting, very important, and the quality of the people I get to work with is outstanding,” he said. “I’m glad if I have to do this, I get to do it at ISU.”