VALLEY CITY - State Board of Higher Education members say they may take matters into their own hands if screening committees for college presidents fail to name three finalists.

Board policy dictates that search committees submit three names for the board to consider, but some groups have ignored that requirement in recent years. Last year the search committee for the University of North Dakota selected only one finalist, Robert Kelley, who was approved by the board.

A change approved Thursday gives the board three options if it receives fewer than three finalists. The board can force the committee to reconsider, add to the list or come up with its own recommendations.

"The request to amend this policy in no way should be perceived on reflecting on the results of those recent searches," board attorney Pat Seaworth said. "I think everyone agrees we ended up with outstanding selections, and from all reports, ended up with just exactly the right people for those positions."

The board has been busy with presidential searches in the last three years, finding replacements at UND, Bismarck State, Dickinson State, Lake Region State, Mayville State, North Dakota State College of Science and Valley City State.

Seaworth said the change should provide the board some flexibility with last-minute decisions by candidates.

"It is not uncommon when you are re-entering the final stages for a new president, for a candidate to drop out," he said. "Then what do you do?"

Board member Duaine Espegard said some search committees vote for only one finalist, and suggested that the groups vote for two or three candidates. The board did not make that a requirement.

"It seems to me, that would take care of the situation that you're trying to avoid," Espegard said.