Change to university leader hiring process approved

Lawmakers passed a bill March 24 that updates the University of Nebraska’s hiring process for its chancellor and president positions.

LB1109, introduced by Sen. John Murante of Gretna, requires the university’s Board of Regents to provide public notice of a preliminarily selected candidate 30 days before the board votes on whether to hire the candidate. The board is required to make public the candidate’s application materials and provide a forum in which the candidate would meet with and answer questions from the public.

This replaces a process in which the final four candidates are made public.

The bill passed on a 38-8 vote.