Western will bid farewell to Richard Kirchmeyer next semester and welcome a new vice president for information technology.

Kirchmeyer’s retirement date is Sept. 30, said John Bonaguro, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

A committee chaired by Bonaguro will continue interviewing candidates this week and next week, Bonaguro said.

John Bowers, director of academic technology, has worked with Kirchmeyer since 2004 and also serves on the selection committee.

Bowers said Kirchmeyer advocated the 24-hour computer lab in Mass Media and Technology Hall.

“It was built sort of according to the idea that he had for it,” he said. “It’s just been a great success.”

President Gary Ransdell said Kirchmeyer led Western’s conversion to a wireless campus.

“He has provided state-of-the-art knowledge and guidance to our IT programs,” he said.

Ransdell said he expects Kirchmeyer’s successor to have the knowledge to keep the university ahead of changing technology.

The Herald couldn’t reach Kirchmeyer for comment.

Bonaguro said students were e-mailed and invited to attend the interviews, but not many have showed up so far.

He said the new vice president will hopefully start Sept. 1 to have some transition time and help from Kirchmeyer.

Selection committee members will make a list of the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses to submit to Provost Barbara Burch, who ultimately selects the candidate, Bonaguro said.

Candidates are Alan Hargrave, chief information officer and associate professor of physics at Samford University; Margaret Massey, chief information officer and interim dean of the School of Extended Learning at Norfolk State University; Brad Reese, principal of Reese Consulting Associates and Robert Owen, associate vice president for information technology at Cabrillo College.

Their resumes are posted online at www.wku.edu/infotech/vpitsearch.