ST. PAUL — Minnesota State has reopened its search for the next chancellor of the country’s fourth-largest system of colleges and universities.

Trustees in February interviewed three finalists from a pool of 43 applicants but decided none was the right fit.

Devinder Malhotra, 70, who retired after serving as Metropolitan State University’s interim president, stepped in as interim chancellor Aug. 1, when Steven Rosenstone retired.

Trustees hope to have a new chancellor in place by August 2018. Applications for priority consideration are due Nov. 9.

The contract with the initial search firm, Storbeck / Pimentel & Associates required the Pennsylvania group to search again if it failed to produce three qualified candidates.

Instead, trustees this week decided to hire Wheless Partners of Birmingham, Ala.

“We were impressed with Wheless’ track record for going beyond traditional methods of recruiting to develop a broad pool of candidates,” said Michael Vekich, chairman of the board of trustees.

Minnesota State paid Storbeck / Pimentel $118,265 for the original search, spokesman Doug Anderson said.

Wheless Partners will get between $60,000 and $130,000, with the actual amount to be determined by the new chancellor’s first-year compensation, plus up to $45,000 for travel and advertising.