var so = new SWFObject(‘http://www.staterinteractive.com/player.swf’,’mpl’,’665′,’450′,’9′);

so.addParam(‘allowscriptaccess’,’always’);

so.addParam(‘allowfullscreen’,’true’);

so.addParam(‘flashvars’,’&file=01_12_12_ProvostFinal_PKG.flv&image=http://www.staterinteractive.com/photos/spring11/0131tv2.jpg&frontcolor=6666FF&lightcolor=EEEEEE&skin=http://www.staterinteractive.com/snel.swf&streamer=rtmp://flashmedia.kent.edu/fms-jmc/tv2′);

so.write(‘tv2news’);

Kent State may be just another university, but it takes just the right person to help students succeed.

The search for Kent State’s new provost is coming to a close. An announcement naming the final candidates is expected within the next few days.

The process started back in September when the search committee was assembled. That’s after Provost Robert Frank decided at the end of the spring 2011 semester to step down from his post at the end of this school year.

About four finalists will emerge from between fifty and one-hundred applicants for the job. President Lefton will make the final decision in late February, based on the committee’s recommendations.

No matter the choice, current provost Robert Frank says his successor will take on a tough assignment. However, the work will pay off.

“That’s the only downside of this opportunity for me,” Frank says. “Leaving right now, I could see in five years that this is going to be a completely different place. It will be different, and it would have been fun to stay and be part of that.”

He says Kent State needs to focus more resources to match program quality. Also, the university should add new program areas and expand its research agenda to meet changing needs.

“I just have a sense of real optimism about where Kent State is and what it is going to do in the next few years,” Frank says. “I have confidence that this is a university that’s really heading in the right direction and will make big differences in the future.”

Search committee chair Dr. Daniel Mahony says a big responsibility is waiting for next provost.

“Kent State is a big place,” Dr. Mahony says. “It’s 40 some thousand students. You have eight campuses. It’s a very complex institution, and for a provost, it’s a much more complex job.”

Frank has served as Kent State’s provost since July 2007. He did apply for a presidential position at East Tennessee State University, but the university did not offer him the job in November.

TV2 News and KentWired.com will bring you the finalists for the provost position as soon as the announcement is made.

Contact Doug Rogers at [email protected].