And Robert Wiygul, one of four undergraduates on Williams College's recent presidential search committee, said meetings with students allow for an open dialogue to address student concerns.

"Ideas are more clearly stated in a face to face conversation where they can be bounced off of each other and really explored, instead of just touched on superficially," Wiygul said.

Ford Professor of Social Sciences emeritus David Riesman said that student and faculty interests should be addressed in a search process, but he does not support having faculty or students on the search committee.

Riesman co-authored the book "Choosing a College President: Opportunities and Constraints" with Graduate School of Education lecturer

Judith Block McLaughlin.

"The more people you have, the more trouble it causes," Riesman said.

And Rosovsky said that he believes there are no problems with Harvard's current process.

"I think that the way Harvard has done it in the past has worked well, without having formal committees," Rosovsky said. "And I'm sure it will work well this time."