Beaufort County Community College’s search for a new president is moving forward, with less than 10 candidates left in the running.

After the application period opened in October, a total of 38 people threw their hats in the ring. Applications were due by Nov. 30.

Dr. Laura Staton, chairman of the BCCC Board of Trustees, which designated a search committee to assess the applications, said the campaign to fill the president is running a little ahead of schedule.

“We reviewed all the applications, and we met and had a clear-cut line where we asked for more information from those above the line,” Staton said. “I’m really not commenting on the source of the applicants. … I can tell you there is a varied background.”

The so-called “semi-finalists” now have to submit a video to the search committee, in which they will answer a set of questions in a given time frame, according to Staton.

“It just gives us an idea of their ability to, you know, talk in public and that sort of thing,” she said.

Current BCCC President Dr. Barbara Tansey announced her decision to retire on Aug. 3, citing personal, family reasons. Her five-year tenure will end May 31.

“It was a very tough decision to make,” Tansey said in a previous interview. “I’ve always enjoyed making a difference, and I will miss that.”

Tansey is known for changing the course of BCCC, focusing on innovation, pushing the reach of the college’s services and revamping programs. The Board of Trustees has expressed its desire in the past to find a new president who shares a similar, innovative outlook.

The next step in the process is face-to-face interviews, and the search committee hopes to select one to five final candidates this month, according to a press release. Interview questions were compiled using feedback from the BCCC Faculty Senate and other college stakeholders, the release stated.

“Our goal would be to have our … finalists chosen, contract negotiated, and be able to submit that to the N.C. Community College office for them to review (by April),” Staton said.

The search committee will meet again to review the semi-finalists on Jan. 18.