The search for a dean of the College of Liberal Arts took another step towards conclusion as the last of the five finalists came to UMass Boston to meet with administrators and faculty.

“What we’re looking for is someone who can understand all of the different parts of the College of Liberal Arts,” said Professor Robert Crossley, who chairs the search committee.

Several of the same issues have come up in the forums with candidates, especially fundraising. Experience and interest in looking for funding outside the university are two of the many criteria in the search, since fees cannot be raised much more. Students were whacked with a $1,750 fee increase in the past year in response to budget cuts. The UMass Board of Trustees recently voted to stabilize fee increases, tying them into the consumer price index. “We’ve reached the point where the burden is too great” and the college will lose students if they go up any more, said Crossley.

Leadership style has been another recurring question in the forums. “‘Leadership style’ is our catchphrase to how that person is going to work with the faculty,” said Crossley.

The search committee tended to look at candidates coming from peer institutions of UMass Boston–research-oriented public urban universities that have a strong teaching culture. But the committee also looked at those who had a real understanding of the values at UMass Boston. Some of them come from smaller places than UMB, “but really did their homework,” said Crossley. “We cast a pretty wide net.”

Gary A. Olson of the University of South Florida, Susan Henking of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and York Bradshaw of the University of Memphis each have made appearances before a small group of faculty members and administrators over the last two weeks. Donna Kuizenga from the University of Vermont and Jean Ann Linney from the University of South Carolina visited earlier this month.