Emporia ? A committee looking for the next president of Emporia State University plans to finish its work by the end of this year.

Committee chairman Deryl Wynn discussed the search Monday with staff and faculty during an assembly to kick off the new academic year.

Wynn says that advertisements already have been placed and that a search-consulting firm is sending about 300 emails to everyone from college leaders to nonprofit executives.

Wynn says he hopes the committee will narrow the applicants down to anywhere from 10 to 24 for a second look before sending the names of three finalists to the Kansas Board of Regents.