Using these suggestions, Lewis contacts many of the candidates himself--after all, "You don't want to appoint someone who they themselves is still tentative about it," he says--and listens to concerns from deans and senior Faculty members, some of whom request that a person not be considered to allow them to dedicate more time to their College duties.

With the "long list" whittled down to a more manageable size of about 10--Adams House considered nine candidates this year, Lowell and Leverett faced about 12--the time for House involvement begins.

The College's selection guidelines dictate that the dean appoints an advisory committee, but in practice, Houses have a good degree of flexibility in determing the composition of the committee.

According to Lowell House Senior Tutor Eugene C. McAfee, Lowell's master search last year involved three students and three Faculty members associated with the House's senior common room (SCR). McAfee says he allowed the House's junior common room to elect its three student representatives, while he was responsible for choosing the SCR participants.

In Adams House, on the other hand, Senior Tutor David B. Fithian selected four House residents and two SCR representatives.

In both cases, the senior tutors also participated--a role which McAfee says is vital, if only so that a centralized person is making the calls to candidates and reserving the right rooms for interviews.

He compares the role of the senior tutor in the process to the middle of an hourglass--the candidate pool above, the House below, with the tutor as the point-person in between.

"You really do need one person doing it," he says. "The pivotal role we play is purely logistical."