EUGENE (AP) — The committee charged with recommending a replacement for University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer is only about halfway through the process but faces concerns that just one finalist will be named for public interviews and events.

Others, especially faculty members, want a short list of possibly three. The issue pits the interest in an open process against the desire for confidentiality often sought by top candidates.

Many executives fear their jobs would be in danger if it were known they were looking elsewhere and are not chosen.

The committee’s task is to recommend at least one preferred candidate to the state Board of Higher Education, which oversees the Oregon University System.

George Pernsteiner, chancellor of the OUS, said no decision has been made on how many candidates will be picked.

“What we’ve said is if the final candidates, however many they may be, if they are all willing to go public, we will,” Pernsteiner said.

“But if even one of them wishes to maintain confidentiality, then we will continue the process on a confidential basis until were to the point where we have one candidate that the board is considering.”

Frohnmayer is a former Oregon attorney general and candidate for governor and the U.S. senate. He has been at the university 15 years.

The committee hopes to make its recommendation in time for the April 3 board meeting.

Committee members agreed not to reveal any details of the search.

But UO professor Paul van Donkelaar, president of the University Senate and a member of the search committee, said there’s a strong desire for several finalists so the broader community can take part in interviews and offer opinions.

“The UO community members — the faculty and staff and students — would really, really, really like it if the chancellor was able to convince a number of the finalists to be willing to reveal their names,” he said.

“Then the end of the process would be normal campus visits where everyone has a chance to see the top three finalists and have their input.”

The possibility that the committee would name only one candidate has raised considerable concern, van Donkelaar said.

Faculty have told Pernsteiner they strongly encourage public naming of a final group.

Peter Eckel, programs director for the Center for Effective Leaders at the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C., said both types of searches have produced successes and failures.

“Often a person puts his ability or her ability to lead at some risk if they are known to be a candidate for another position,” he said.

Regardless of the process, van Donkelaar said the caliber of applicants is high.

“I have absolutely no worries about getting a very good replacement for Dave Frohnmayer,” he said.

The committee expects to begin face-to-face interviews this month before shortening the list for campus visits.