University officials will begin seeking candidates for a senior vice president for finance and administration/chief operating officer and a vice president for strategy and general counsel.

President James Ramsey said the COO position combines two open vice presidencies into one position.

The move will free up Provost Shirley Willihnganz to focus more on academic priorities. President James Ramsey said the search to fill the two positions would begin “very soon.”

The board also heard an update on Kentucky legislative priorities from Dana Mayton, senior associate vice president for government relations, as well as a report from Ramsey on $389.9 million in capital construction projects underway or in the planning stages for the Belknap campus and surrounding area.