Iowa State's primary enrollment management units -- the offices of admissions, student financial aid and registrar -- will move from the division of student affairs to the division of academic affairs, effective Nov. 1.
The moves align Iowa State's organizational structure with best practices at other institutions, where enrollment management reports to academic leaders. This model is used at a majority of the university's peer institutions, as well as the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa. The change is intended to strengthen enrollment management in response to higher education's changing landscape.
"Because faculty determine the curricula and college budgets are primarily determined by their respective student numbers, it is wise to place enrollment management within the academic division," said President Wendy Wintersteen. "With this change, colleges will have more capacity to proactively influence their enrollment numbers."
Wintersteen expressed her thanks to senior vice president for student affairs Martino Harmon for his leadership and engagement across campus.
"I sincerely appreciate the work of Dr. Harmon and the student enrollment team. They have created a solid foundation for Iowa State's continued growth and success in recruiting talented, diverse students," she said.
Most reporting lines won't change
Employees in the units were notified of the change in a meeting Oct. 15. Laura Doering, who oversees those units, will report to senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert. Doering's slightly modified title will be associate vice president for enrollment management. Reporting lines within the three units will remain the same, as will office locations.
More than 100 employees work in the three affected units. The office of admissions is led by Katharine Johnson Suski, Roberta Johnson leads the office of student financial aid and Jennifer Suchan is serving as interim university registrar. New student programs, led by Sarah Merrill, is part of the admissions office and also will move to academic affairs.
Some units will remain in student affairs
Several units that are part of Doering's current portfolio will remain in the division of student affairs. Those include Educational Talent Search, student support services, Upward Bound, student success, learning communities and University Innovation Alliance (UIA). Student success, learning communities and UIA remain collaborative efforts between student affairs and academic affairs.
Registrar search, enrollment project to be paused
The search for a new university registrar will be paused while the unit moves to the academic division. Suchan will continue to serve in the interim role through the transition.
A strategic enrollment management initiative that began in 2018 also will be paused during the transition.
