Knox College has advertised for a new leader, despite warnings the tertiary residential facility may be closed unless millions of dollars can be raised urgently for earthquake-strengthening and more beds.
Advertisements appeared at the weekend for a replacement master. Applications close on October 12.
The advertisements said the college, which is owned by the Presbyterian Church, was seeking an "enlightened, pragmatic and experienced leader to enhance and sustain a scholastic community" of 220 residents.
The person would need a strong financial management background and would need to work closely with the master of Salmond College, which is also owned by the church.
The appointee would also need to work "in a manner consistent with the ethos and values of the Presbyterian Church".
Earlier this month, Dr John Kernohan, the chairman of the church-appointed commission which has run Knox College all this year, warned Knox might have to close unless $10.8 million of funding for earthquake-strengthening and extra beds could be raised urgently.
He wanted the work completed this summer in time for the 2013 academic year.
The 103-year-old main building was rated at less than 20% of new building standard for earthquake strength and was classified "earthquake prone", he said.
The strengthening work, which would also include fire protection, was expected to cost about $6 million.
In order to fund that it was also planned to increase the capacity of Knox College and Salmond College by 68 rooms in total, at a cost of about $5 million.
Knox College has also had governance issues this year. It has had an acting master since the start of this year when former master Bruce Aitken went on paid leave and the commission headed by Dr Kernohan took over.
The commission overhauled many of the church-owned college's long-standing traditions and tightened rules governing alcohol consumption.
It said the changes were necessary following a review, conducted every seven years, which this time found alcohol had been "a concern".
Mr Aitken announced in July he was retiring and would not be returning to the college.
