A subcommittee of the Chancellor's Search Committee at The University of Virginia's College at Wise has reviewed the first set of applications received for the post left vacant by the departure of Chancellor L. Jay Lemons.

The Screening Subcommittee reviewed more than two dozen applications on Tuesday. The group includes UVa-Wise Board members Larry Munsey, Don Pippin, and Henry Winkler and Shelia Schmuck, chair of the Faculty Senate.

"The screening subcommittee was very pleased with the quality of the applications and the interest shown in filling the chancellor's vacancy," said William J. Sturgill, chair of the Chancellor's Search Committee and the UVa-Wise Board. The Screening Subcommittee will meet on Feb. 21 to review the second pool of applicants. "I fully anticipate we'll have a new chancellor in place by the fall semester," Sturgill said.

The 14-member search committee has been assisted in its work by Education Management Network, an executive search firm in Massachusetts. A division of Witt/Kieffer, Education Management Network has recently been engaged in searches for presidents at The University of the South, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Susquehanna University. University of Virginia President John T. Casteen has requested that the search committee forward its recommendation to him in time to appoint the new chancellor by the end of the 2001 spring term.

According to the UVa-Wise Board's bylaws, Casteen will review the UVa-Wise Board's top candidate or candidates, designate a nominee for the chancellorship and make a recommendation for formal election by the Board of Visitors.

Lemons, who assumes his post as President of Susquehanna University on Feb. 1, announced his decision to leave UVa-Wise in October. George E. Culbertson, a 1956 graduate of the College who most recently occupied the office of Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, will be chancellor until the College's next leader is selected. Culbertson began his duties as chancellor on Jan. 4.