The NCAA Executive Committee has given its stamp of approval to a search firm that will help identify candidates to be the Association's next president. The Executive Committee also approved a preliminary job description and a timeline for having the new president selected by November 1.

The Atlanta firm of Baker-Parker and Associates was selected from about two dozen firms contacted to submit requests for proposals. Baker-Parker will assist the NCAA selection committee in identifying a replacement for NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey, who announced in January that he would retire when his term ends at the end of this year. Baker-Parker was selected based on its history of successful placements in high-profile positions in higher education, as well as a history of being able to identify and place qualified women and minority candidates.

Baker-Parker will begin an advertising campaign this month and expects to have identified as many as 15 of the best-qualified candidates by August. That group will be pared down to about six to 10 candidates through background checks and preliminary interviews. The NCAA's search committee, composed of five Executive Committee members, will begin more intensive interviews to narrow the field further in September and October. Once that is complete, the Executive Committee will interview the top three candidates in October and make a final announcement by November 1.

"We have great confidence in the process we've defined, our search firm and our search committee, and we believe that will lead us to consideration of outstanding candidates," said Executive Committee Chair Bob Lawless, president of the University of Tulsa. "The search committee is charged with casting a wide net for a uniquely qualified and diverse pool of candidates. Our process also will stress the confidentiality of candidates to assure that we can attract the most qualified individuals possible."

The Executive Committee also reviewed a position specification for the new president during its April 26 meeting in Indianapolis. Once finalized, the specification will be published on the NCAA's Web site at www.ncaa.org.

Among the candidate qualifications and characteristics the Executive Committee intends to incorporate into its position specification are:

Evidence of an understanding and appreciation for the values and purpose of intercollegiate athletics and academic standards as an integral part of higher education.

Commitment to student-athlete welfare.

Providing creative, dynamic leadership to further develop the Association's mission, which is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral and balanced part of higher education so students have opportunities to compete in amateur sports in the proper educational context.

Articulating in appropriate forums the key issues associated with intercollegiate athletics and the role and activities of the NCAA and higher education in addressing those issues.

Accountability for leading the Association through its current reform agenda and future reform initiatives and gaining consensus for their implementation.

"Clearly, one of the NCAA's highest priorities is the welfare of student-athletes," Lawless said of the job specifications. "Obviously, that will have to be one of the primary focuses for whomever we select."

Baker-Parker will make regular reports to the Executive Committee and its search committee. The search committee includes Lawless, the chairs of the Divisions I, II and III presidential groups, and one at-large member. William "Brit" Kirwan, president of Ohio State University, currently chairs the Division I Board of Directors; however, he will leave the Board June 30 when he assumes duties as chancellor of the University of Maryland system. His replacement will be named later this month. The Division II chair is Patricia Cormier, president of Longwood University, and the Division III chair is Bette Landman, president of Arcadia University.

During its meeting, the Executive Committee added a position to the search committee to assure that the Association's commitment to diversity is reflected. Milton Gordon, president of California State University, Fullerton, joined the search committee.

In other action, the Executive Committee approved appointment of a special task force that will be composed of risk management professionals to review the NCAA's insurance programs. The task force will include campus risk managers from each division and a representative from the Association's Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee.

The group will review student-athlete insurance programs, including those provided or made available by member institutions, the NCAA's catastrophic-injury insurance program, existing bylaws governing student-athlete insurance; existing policy coverages, insurance limits and retentions, and self-insurance alternatives. Recommendations will be provided at the Executive Committee's fall meeting.

"Since September 11, the insurance industry has significantly increased premiums for the risks and exposures it is absorbing," Lawless said. "It's possible that our catastrophic-injury insurance program, the Division I men's basketball event cancellation program, and our directors and officers insurance program all will experience significant increases."

The Executive Committee's budget committee recommended the appointment of the task force.

"Due to the fact that any modifications in student-athlete insurance programs would impact all three divisions and the funding for these programs is significant, the budget committee believed it would be financially prudent to have a special task force with representation from all three divisions to review all the risk management issues, exposures and alternatives facing the Association," Lawless said. "The task force will recommend the best insurance model to address the risks and exposures to the Executive Committee by October."

The Executive Committee also approved the final draft of the Ad Hoc Review Committee report, which identifies membership and staff perceptions of the federated governance structure, the move of the national office to Indianapolis, the Association's core principles, the national office staff role and membership communication. The report will be mailed to each institution in May. It also will be available on the NCAA Web site (www.ncaa.org).