Board of Directors Chairman Bill Fisher said two employees, one student and one community representative will help five board members choose candidates to replace the Rev. Julio Giulietti.

The Board of Trustees fired Giulietti earlier this month after two years on the job.

According to a news release from the university, the change occurred "after a majority of directors also expressed a lack of confidence in Giulietti."

Board Chair Bill Fisher said that directors had a number of concerns, which he was not at liberty to discuss because of privacy protection reasons for Giulietti, but that the board has since endorsed the trustee vote.

Fisher said he knew Giulietti was going to be let go and said he's still hearing a lot of buzz about the decision.

"Some people don't completely understand why the change happened, and it's not uncommon for personnel changes to have to happen. And it's not uncommon for those to be confidential," he said.

Fisher said Giulietti was likely fired because of fundamental differences with the university and said he hopes the next president will align with the school's goals to grow.

The Provincial of the New England Province, the Rev. Myles Sheehan has asked Giulietti to return to New England for discernment regarding a new ministry and assignment.

The Rev. Charles L. Currie wrote recently in a letter to the editor of the local papers, "It is time for Father Giulietti to move on and do good work, as the institution is also moving forward."

Acting President J. Davitt McAteer will continue to serve until a permanent replacement is chosen.

The presidential search committee will interact with all campus constituents as the hiring process moves forward, Fisher said. The timeline announced suggests a fall review of candidates and a 2010 selection for the new president.

Fisher said the university is searching for "a practicing Catholic that can help us with fundraising and enrollment and understand the business of the university."

The university began classes on Monday. About 1,200 students are registered at the 65-acre campus. Since 1995 and including 2009, U.S. News & World Report has ranked it among the top institutions in its “Best Master’s Universities in the South” category. Wheeling Jesuit also ranks 180 out of 600 in the 2009 Forbes Best Colleges survey.

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