people have applied for the post of interim president.

The applications have come from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Bermuda, said College chairman Jan Spiering on Friday.

The college is hoping to draw up a short-list by the end of May and have the new president in place by August 1.

"I feel that this is an excellent response rate,'' Mr. Spiering told The Royal Gazette .

"The applicants are a real variety. Some people are in the twilight of their careers, there are some who have retired and gone into consultancy in their post-education careers.

"There are also some who are right in the middle of their careers, so the variety is very positive.'' Controversial former vice-president Dr. Donald Peters has confirmed he is applying for the three-year post.

Dr. Peters, who is now working in New York, had his contract cut short last June and launched a critical broadside against the college before leaving.

He said standards needed to be drastically improved and claimed some on the board were lazy and saw him as a threat.