A committee has been formed to start the search for the next president of the University of Hawai'i.

President David McClain is slated to retire next summer.

The 12-member Advisory Presidential Selection Committee was formed by the UH Board of Regents. The committee will be chaired by former UH regent and Bank of Hawaii Vice Chairwoman Donna Tanoue.

Board chairman Allan Landon says the committee will initially decide on the criteria for a new president and how the selection process will proceed. He says once the selection process is set, the committee may become the basis of a search committee.

Landon hopes the selection process will be decided by the end of the year, with a new president chosen by July.