Admissions restructuring continues
Campus Times
April 3, 1998
Transition is evident for the University of La Verne's Office of Admissions,
where the search for a new director continues, where the staff is not yet
solidified and where new recruiting tactics are in revision.
The search for a new director of the department began after Doug Wible,
former director of admissions, resigned in August to work at Cal Baptist
in Riverside, leaving the office in the hands of Dr. Len Hightower, assistant
to the president.
Currently in charge of undergraduate admissions, as explained by Dr.
Hightower, are two people.
"Reporting to me are two consultants, Terry Lahti and Craig Wesley,
and they form the management team," he said.
"This is an interim situation that will last until the new director
is hired."
The interim consultants, Lahti and Wesley, will share the work loads
and alternate weeks where they can be found in the undergraduate admissions
office.
"Terry is our lead person. She is the project leader. The project
being to generate next fall's class, as well as do the work required for
the upcoming year, fall of '99," said Dr. Hightower.
As he explained, it was through his own research, in speaking with consulting
groups and colleagues across the nation, that he was able to find Lahti
and Wesley.
According to Dr. Hightower, Lahti, who is the vice president of the
consulting firm George Dehne and Associates, "has over 17-18 years
of experience," and has had an extensive and successful record in recruitment.
He also explained that Lahti has served as an interim consultant for
various universities across the nation, assisting in managing their undergraduate
recruitment efforts.
Wesley, unlike Lahti, is not ordinarily a consultant. However, he has
had more than 20 years of extensive experience working in the field of college
recruitment, both as director and a dean.
Wesley was hired following the resignation of Michelle Vergara, associate
director and acting director of admissions.
The search committee for the new director consists of a number of administration
and staff members and has narrowed its current search to three candidates.
Included in the list are Dr. John Gingrich, dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences; Dr. Barbara Jefferson, assistant dean of the School of Business
and Global Studies; Dr. Kathy Lamkin, professor of music; Dr. Mark Nelson,
associate professor of chemistry; Claudio Muñoz, assistant professor
of accounting; Steve Grey, chief financial officer; Jim Paschal, professor
of physical science; and Dr. Hightower.
Dr. Hightower also also said the department would like to work on the
issue of the un-solidified admissions staff.
"We have temporary people working in various situations. We need
to solidify the staff situation when the new director comes," he said.
Dr. Hightower declined confirming who was interim staff. Therefore,
it is unknown which staff members are in temporary positions at this time.
In addition to the two concerns mentioned, a change in tactics of recruitment
are also being revised.
Dr. Hightower confirmed that the overall undergraduate student enrollment
was down.
According to assistant registrar, Loreto D'Monte, current full time
equivalency of undergraduate students is 901, although this reportedly has
not been finalized. This, incidentally, is a 56 student drop from last fall
semester.
In response to this, Dr. Hightower says that the department will work
on a number of aspects to increase enrollment.
A couple of these tactics include the refinement of publications about
ULV and a clearer explanation on how to finance an education at La Verne.
In an overall response as to admissions' efforts to increase enrollment,
Dr. Hightower said, "Our approach to the future will be a much more
data driven effort as we develop our strategy."
