Search begins for vice president of enrollment




Campus Times
September 24, 1999

 

by Heather Baxter
Staff Writer

An extensive search has begun for a person to fill a new position at the University of La Verne, vice president for enrollment management.

The position is a replacement for the executive assistant to the president, the position vacated by Dr. Len Hightower at the end of last semester.

"We have changed the position. When he left, we had split out some of his duties," said President Stephen Morgan. "He was deeply involved in supervising undergraduate admissions, financial aid, and a number of other things.

"Those two, in particular, we have chosen to weave into a position for a vice president for enrollment management."

In addition to the new title, the position has several new specific duties, including providing leadership in admissions, financial aid, institutional research, and enrollment planning.

Reporting to the president, the vice president "will have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, flexibility, and strong management skills," according to the ULV description for the position released in a university bulletin said.

An active effort is currently being made to find an individual to fill this position as soon as possible. Advertisements have been placed and the University has been using Enrollment Search Consultant Teresa Lahti, to locate and screen potential candidates.

A search committee on campus is also being utilized. It is comprised of "a diverse group of ULV faculty and staff members."

"It is a fairly broad representative committee," said Dr. Morgan.

As much of the position's time is spent supervising and directing undergraduate admissions and financial aid, the vice president will not have much individual contact with students.

More than any other quality, the search committee is looking for someone who has some experience.

"We are really looking for people who have experience in the arena of enrollment and financial aid," Dr. Morgan said. "Preferably, we will get someone who has had responsibilities in both of these areas."

A number of applications have already been received by the University, and they have been forwarded to the hired consultant.

"[The consultant] is in the process of screening the applications and talking to the applicants by telephone," said Dr. Morgan. "We expect that sometime within the next two weeks for her to come forward with some recommended candidates for us to interview."

Dr. Morgan anticipates that it will take three to five weeks to schedule and conduct interviews once the list of recommendations is turned in.

Following the interviews, it is expected that one to two weeks will be spent making a final decision.

"This also depends on [the individual's] availability," said Dr. Morgan.

"We have some time to wait, if necessary for the right person," he said, explaining how the candidate's availability might not be a main consideration in deciding who will be hired for the position.

Resumes are being accepted by Diana Towles in the Office of the President.

The search committee formed to fill this position consists of Dr. Abe Helou, associate professor of business and economics; Dr. Jay Jones, professor of biology and biochemistry; Dr. Richard Rose, assistant professor of religion and philosophy; Dr. John Gingrich, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Loretta Rahmani, dean of student affairs; Lisa Meyer, director of admissions; Ed Mervine, director of financial aid; Dr. Bill Cook, vice president of academic affairs; and Dr. Phil Hawkey, executive vice president.