West Virginia State University’s presidential search advisory committee is meeting this weekend to narrow the field of candidates.

West Virginia State Board of Governors chairman Larry Rowe says the panel will choose which candidates to interview in person. The Saturday meeting won’t be open to the public.

Rowe says the candidates will be interviewed between March 23 and March 25 in Columbus, Ohio. Finalists will be announced in late April or early May.

The Board of Governors will make the final decision. Rowe says the board hopes to have a new president on July 1.

Longtime President Hazo W. Carter Jr. announced last August that he will retire. He will remain at West Virginia State as president emeritus until his contract expires in 2014.

(Associated Press)