The public can pose questions and see the potential finalists for the top seat at Bismarck State College. The five semifinalists for the presidential position will be in town next week interviewing, touring the community and talking with the campus and community at open forums.

Forums are in the Prairie Room of the Bismarck State College Student Union. The college will host a campus forum and a community forum.

Community forums begin Monday evening with Alex Capdeville, chancellor of Montana State University, Northern, in Havre. It begins at 5:15.

Gary E. Johnson, assistant vice president for research at the University of North Dakota, will participate in a forum at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

David Mathieu, special assistant to the vice chancellor for academic affairs: international education and teacher education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 27.

Jerome Migler, provost, Moorhead Campus - Minnesota State Community & Technical College, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

Larry Skogen, academic dean and deputy superintendent for academic affairs, New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 28.

The candidates have separate times to meet with members of the campus. Also during their visit, they will tour the campus and interview for the position.

All forums and interviews are public. A schedule is available on the BSC Web site. The community has the chance to ask the candidates questions at the community forum, BSC spokeswoman Jordis Conrad said.

The presidential search committee will conduct the interviews. The committee will present a list of three or more finalists to the chancellor and state Board of Higher Education. The board and chancellor will interview the finalists, and the board will select the president.

Additional information on the five semifinalists can be viewed at www.bismarckstate.edu/hr/Semifinalists.asp