The search for a new president at Idaho State University will begin in earnest next week.

Consultants will be in Idaho to meet with ISU stakeholder groups, to discuss the vacancy, and “qualities and characteristics that should be included in the job description and announcement,” the State Board of Education said in a news release.

Meeting dates and times have not been announced.

The State Board will work with the Association of Governing Boards, a consulting group that will help in the search for a successor for retiring ISU President Arthur Vailas. Vailas announced his retirement in August, but he will stay on the job during the search process.

The search process is expected to run through March. The State Board hopes to begin taking applications in November, choose finalists by February and complete interviews in March.

“This is a national search, and I look forward to selecting the next president of Idaho State University from a pool of impressive candidates,” said Richard Westerberg of Preston, a State Board member who will chair the search committee.

Other notable members of the search committee are State Board member Emma Atchley of Ashton and Roy Lacey, a former state senator from Pocatello.