SF State President Robert A. Corrigan and a faculty committee will select the new provost, who will single-handedly control the school budget.

"The provost will have a huge responsibility," said Joel Kassiola, dean of the behavioral and social sciences department and member of the provost search committee.

"It is the second most important administrator [position] on campus, next to the president," Kassiola added.

During this past week, candidates met with students, staff and faculty to discuss their plans on fulfilling the new position.

There were also open meetings in the Seven Hills Conference Center this week that allowed faculty and students to ask questions to the candidates.

"A provost is a leader, but never forget that you can't lead without other people behind you," said Dr. Donna Kuizenga, a candidate for the position, as she spoke on Monday.

Kuizenga has 20 years of administrative work under her belt and is currently the dean for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

"I don't believe in across-the-board budget cuts... I'll try to use the most rational plan I can," she said, while discussing how school programs and departments should be critiqued thoroughly before cuts can be made.

Violeta Seuga, an SF State alumnae currently staffed on campus, attended the meeting, saying, "budget cuts are inevitable... I just hope that [the provost] will at least address the issues to the campus instead of keeping it from us."

"If programs get cut, then there still should be a way for students to graduate on time," Seuga said.

"I want them to know what it's like to be a student today," said kinesiology major Robbie Smiley, 27, when voicing his expectations for the new provost. "Budget cuts have been affecting everyone."

Dr. Anny Morrobel-Sosa, dean of the College of Science at the University of Texas of El Paso and provost candidate, said, "It's important for students to graduate and move on, while [the administration] become advocates of the continuum process."

Morrobel-Sosa worked as a teacher for 14 years before becoming a special assistant to the provost and eventually vice provost for academic affairs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She became a dean at the University of Texas shortly after.

"The essence of the institution is for the advancement and success of the student," she said, explaining how she views students as a top priority in the operation of a university.

The third candidate meeting will be on Feb. 20 at 3:45 p.m. in Knuth Hall of the Creative Arts building.

All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend.