Former University of Colorado President John Buechner has been hired to coordinate the Metro State president search. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to hire Buechner to guide the search process. He will be paid $15,000.

"We're excited to work with Dr. Buechner because we're going to have a customized approach to guide us through the search and finding our next president," said Trustee Alex Cranberg.

Buechner served as president of the CU system from 1995-2000 and chancellor of the CU-Denver campus from 1989-1995. He is currently a professor in UCD's Graduate School of Public Affairs. He has been involved in more than 30 searches, including such key positions as chancellor at all four CU campuses, president of the Colorado Institute of Technology and director of Denver Health and Hospitals.

"I'll give you my best shot as coordinator to work with the board and advisory committee to conduct an honest and open search," Buechner told the board.

"Buechner's 30 years of academic leadership and his intimate knowledge of Colorado and the Auraria campus will be a true asset to this process," said interim President Ray Kieft. Kieft contacted Buechner after trustees rejected two search firms that responded to a state request for bids last month and four search firms and one individual who interviewed in August.

A key focus for Buechner will be to work with the 10-member search advisory committee, which consists of one adjunct faculty member, three faculty members selected by the Faculty Senate, one classified staff member chosen by the Classified Staff Council, one administrator chosen by the Administrator's Council, one member of the Foundation Board of Directors, one member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and one student chosen by the student government.

Buechner will also recruit and screen candidates, contact references and conduct preliminary interviews. Administrative and clerical functions will be handled by Kieft's administrative staff.

Noting he'll be using an extensive network developed over three decades, Buechner called on the entire campus community to do the same. "It's incumbent on all those associated with the college to contact their networks and to develop a list of potential candidates."

Buechner avoided setting a deadline for hiring a new president but said it's "critical" to have finalist interviews when school is in session so that students and faculty have input into the process and that finalists have the opportunity to see the campus in operation.