The field of finalists for the presidency of Fort Hays State University has been narrowed to five, with interviews on the northwest Kansas campus to begin next week.

The state Board of Regents says the person chosen to succeed Ed Hammond will assume office around July 1.

Hammond announced last year that he would retire at the end of a June, a month after he turns 70 years old. He has led Fort Hays State since 1987 and is the longest-serving current president or chancellor in the state university system.

Names of the finalists will be announced one day before each candidate visits the campus. The visits will take place over three weeks, beginning Monday.

The Board of Regents will interview the finalists later and make the final selection.