The first of three candidates vying to be the next provost will visit campus Thursday and answer questions during an open forum.

Dr. David Perlmutter, one of the candidates, is dean of the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University (TTU).

During his five-year tenure as dean at Tech, Perlmutter has been credited with helping to launch the fastest growing online graduate program in Tech’s history.

The College of Media and Communication has had the highest retention rate of all undergraduate-serving colleges at TTU, with a one-year rate of 84 percent, according to TTU.

He also instituted efforts to increase faculty diversity. In fall 2013, underrepresented minorities accounted for 13 percent of faculty and this fall they accounted for 21 percent. He was also awarded the TTU’s President Excellence in Gender Equity Award in 2018.

According to Texas Tech’s most recent administrative accountability report, Perlmutter earned $225,480 in the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31.

In 2017, Provost Nowell Donovan, who is stepping down in the Spring, earned $648,319, with an additional bonus of $69,561, according to TCU’s 2017 990 filing with the IRS.

The Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, Jean Mrasek, said those attending the forum will be asked to bring their TCU I.D. to register for attendance and provide electronic feedback afterward.

The electronic feedback will allow attendees to check whether or not they recommend the candidate for provost and rate various aspects such as academic mission, leadership and diversity and inclusion, said Mrasek.

The open forum will be held in the Brown-Lupton University Union auditorium on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The second candidate is scheduled to visit campus on Wednesday, Nov. 28; the third is set for Monday, Dec. 3.