Harvard policy says the committee's choice must come with the consent of the Board of Overseers, Harvard's second-highest governing body. It is unclear at what point in the search process this consent will be given. Overseers contacted this weekend say no special meeting has been scheduled to approve a president before the regular meeting the weekend of March 23-25.
Overseers also said they have not been updated on the search since their February meeting.
According to Charles P. Slichter '45, a former member of the Corporation who ran the last search, the Overseers' consent has not always been easily given.
"There are, in history, some times when they didn't like the choice and it took some trying for the consent to be given," says Slichter. "The problem is for the Overseers to feel that they are sufficiently knowledgeable about the nominees and process to give consent."
--David H. Gellis and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to the reporting of this story.
--Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.
--Staff writer Kate L. Rakoczy can be reached at rakoczy@fas.harvard.edu.