However, a well-placed source at the University of Akron tells 21 News the faculty there will not endorse any candidate for president citing low reviews for all three candidates, one of which is the former Ohio State and YSU football coach .


21 News also received a response from Dr. Constance B. Bouchard, a University of Akron Distinguished Professor of History who is one of the Faculty Senate Designates chosen to represent constituency and advisory groups in the presidential selection process.


Dr. Bouchard said in her e-mail: "No endorsement has been made.  If there were an endorsement, I'm sure you would have heard about it, because if the union or the Senate had endorsed one of the candidates, we would have done so quite publicly."


A joint statement e-mail was received by 21 News at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday from the leadership of YSU-OEA representing university faculty, YSU-APAS representing professional and administrative employees, and YSU-FOP representing the university police force.


The statement reads:


After having met with all three candidates and having attended most of the focus meetings, the three Union Presidents have decided to endorse Mr. James Tressel for University President. We are confident that Mr. Tressel is the one candidate who will continue to build and nourish our efforts to establish an environment of trust, transparency, and open collaboration that we, as union leaders have worked hard to create. We believe that Mr. Tressel’s commitment to these efforts will be honored throughout his Presidency
.


Mary Cullinan, President and Professor of English at Southern Oregon University, was on campus Wednesday as part of the interview process. 


Tressel and another applicant for president, Gary L. Miller, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, were on campus earlier this week for interviews and meetings with students, faculty and trustees.


The Youngstown State University Presidential Search Committee is scheduled to meet this morning. YSU Trustee Chairman,  Dr. Sudershan K. Garg told WFMJ Weekend Today anchor Derek Steyer on Sunday that he expected that the board would be making a recommendation on Thursday, and ask their search consultant to make a contract offer. 


Tressel is also one of three candidates for the vacant presidency at the University of Akron. University trustees from Akron are scheduled to meet in special, executive session at 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. 


A statement from the University of Akron says that the primary purpose of the meeting is "to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official."


You can find more about candidates for YSU president by clicking on this


More information on the University of Akron search is available