A job description that in some ways sounds like a singles ad has been posted by the headhunter firm that is leading the search for the new Chico State University president.

Korn/Ferry International is the Los Angeles firm hired by the California State University Board of Trustees to help search for the president who will replace Manuel Esteban, who is retiring. The firm produced the list of requirements after consulting with a range of groups including an advisory committee on the Chico State campus.

"The president should be accessible, approachable, energetic, open-minded, patient, inclusive and sensitive to the opinions of members of the campus and surrounding community who have diverse backgrounds and a multitude of interests," said a portion of the announcement related to "personal characteristics."

"The president should possess integrity; delegate appropriately; be a good listener; communicate easily and often; possess advocacy and political skills; respect students, faculty and staff; be visible around the campus; be comfortable as a publicly known person; and should have a sense of humor," continued that segment of the announcement.

If there is a decidedly touchy-feely aspect to some of the identified qualifications for the candidate for Chico State's chief executive, others are more hard-line.

Under the heading of "preferred qualifications," the job announcement says the future president will have "an earned doctoral degree and tenured as a full professor;

"A commitment to an academic environment that recognizes excellence in teaching, research and service.

"Experience with a residential campus and a commitment to sustain it.

"An ability to understand the distinct characteristics and traditions of CSU Chico and a commitment to preserve those characteristics which have intrinsic value in the context of the campus mission."

One characteristic that apparently is high on the important list is the new candidate's ability to bring in money.

The future president will "oversee a sophisticated institutional advancement program that garners more non-state resources for university programs and promotes the reputation of the University. This includes increased grants and contracts, foundation gifts and individual donors, particularly alumni."

Elsewhere on the list, the announcement says the successful candidate will have "evidence of successful donor-based fund-raising."

On a personal level, "The president should lead by example, especially in maintaining high moral standards and an appearance fitting the image of a public institution."

Not only will the candidate have to be charming, witty, honest, hard working, intellectually and academically gifted, and be able to get lots of people and businesses to send money to the campus, he will also have to "be comfortable living and working in a small college town community and working with the civic and political structures of local government."

The Korn/Ferry announcement also cites five attitudes the "university community" identified as important.

The five "values and priorities" include:

1. Believing in the primacy of student learning, we will continue to develop high-quality learning environments both in and outside of the classroom.

2. Believing in the importance of faculty and staff, and their role in student success, we will continue to invest in faculty and staff development.

3. Believing in the value of the wise use of new technologies in learning and teaching, we will continue to provide the technology, the related training and the support needed to create quality learning environments both in and outside of the classroom.

4. Believing in the value of service to others, we will continue to serve the educational, cultural and economic needs of Northern California.

5. Believing that we are accountable to the people of California, we will continue to diversify our sources of revenue and manage the resources entrusted to us.

The announcement said all resumes should be sent to Korn/Ferry by Aug. 15.

"It is expected that the final group of candidates will be recommended to the Board of Trustees and a selection made in October," said the announcement.

The document says the goal is to have the new president hired by the end of the fall semester.