An update on the search for a vice provost for minority concerns may highlight this weekend's University Board of Trustees meeting.

Officer elections, the University's move into the Big 10, and a report on the relationship between the University and students also appear on this weekend's agenda. The meetings will be held tomorrow and Saturday in 502 Keller Conference Center.

Executive Vice President and Provost William C. Richardson is expected to speak on the nearly two-year search. The administration postponed announcements regarding the new position at the September and November board meetings.

Richardson was unavailable for comment both Tuesday and yesterday.

Vasundara Varadan, chairwoman of a committee responsible for finding candidates for the new vice provost position, said an announcement about the status of the search will be released by next week.

However, administrative announcements are often made to the board before being released to the public.

Trustee Helen Wise said Tuesday she had received no information that a candidate might be named at the board's meeting and that she usually receives personnel information in advance.

"That doesn't mean (an announcement) won't happen, because I know it's coming soon, but we haven't heard anything yet," Wise said.

The search for a new vice provost to aid "underrepresented students, faculty and staff" began in Spring 1988 after 167 students took over the Telecommunications Building to protest the University's handling of minority concerns. The group demanded that a vice president of Pan- African affairs be named to deal with concerns of the black community here. The Forum on Black Affairs, an organization of faculty and staff, had recommended a similar position to the administration in Fall 1987.

Last June, the 20-member committee of faculty, staff and students submitted three candidates to University President Bryce Jordan and Richardson. But after reviewing the candidates --among them former University Affirmative Action Officer Suzanne Brooks -- the administrators requested additional recommendations.

In other business, this weekend's officer elections will probably raise little controversy during the meeting, said Trustee Walter Conti. No one is expected to run against the incumbents, he said.

Both executive officers, Trustee President J. Lloyd Huck and Vice President Mimi Coppersmith, are serving their second one-year terms, Conti said. Trustee officers traditionally hold their posts for three terms.

Also during the meeting the board hopes to clarify the reasons for the move into the Big 10, Conti said. The move, although often described as an athletic one, was primarily made for academic reasons, he added.

The move will allow Penn State to associate with a number of institutions noted for their strong academic programs, Conti said. Through exchanges and communications with those universities, Penn State will be able to enhance its own programs, he added.

In addition, Vice President for Student Services William Asbury will deliver a report on the status of the relationship between the University and students.

Student Trustee Christina Henke said the report was in response to a speech made by Trustee Ben Novak during the November board meeting. At that time, two student leaders said Novak's speech unfairly implied that today's students are inactive when compared to those of the past.