VUIndiana - I don't agree that keeping your job is the only way to incentivize and reward good performance. Let's say that Valpo sets a realistic (but challenging goal) to get 600 new Freshmen in a year and Admissions gets 650. A modest portion of the incremental revenue could go to bonuses for Admissions.
In regards to alumni engagement, University Advancement seems very professional, engaging and cordial with alums - but those interactions involve donations (no problem with that, as that is their role). Other parts of the university (other than some exceptions with the Colleges) are cordial - but not engaging - with alums.
OK, I confess up front that I am not closely familiar with undergraduate admissions processes. That said, I'm reading how schools are citing the FAFSA cluster**** as a material reason for a drop in first-year enrollments. But the FAFSA mess affected virtually all schools, yes? If so, that might explain delays in decision making by admitted students, but unless it resulted in a lot of admitted students opting-out from enrolling anywhere, it would all be a wash, yes? Or might it have disproportionately affected private universities that typically accept a lot of students with financial need? (That's still a ton of schools, however.)
If someone more savvy about this could explain, I'd be appreciative.
@david81 I’m not savvy about these things, but out here in WI I’ve heard directly about kids/families who, when confronted with the FAFSA cluster****, defaulted to state schools rather than ride the financial whirlwind that ensued — essentially giving up a private that was preferred but a stretch (with solid financial aid) for a secure slot at a WI state college or university that fit in their budget even without the financial aid package.
And…… Just my unresearched opinion, but the FAFSA fiasco did untold damage to higher education that will take years to offset.
FAFSA was a fiasco with multiple iterations of failure. This is an example where the responsible people should be fired.
In regards to the state of WI, Marquette worked around the FAFSA fiasco by telling prospective students their estimated financial aid. When the FAFSA figure came out, the student got the higher of the two. My understanding is that about 15% of universities did this. Otherwise, the points about students defaulting to state schools are accurate.
To provide some context, over the last 13 years, VU has had four VPs of Enrollment Management (perhaps five if one counts the person in the job in August of 2011):
Jill Schur - Started February 2023
Brian O’Rourke Joined June 2021, left November 2022
Ray Brown, Joined as Interim VP for Enrollment August 2018 (left Spring 2021?)
Michael Joseph Joined September 2011, left August 2018
Ray Brown moved around quite a bit as interim VP in several places, and I do not know if or when he was named the permanent VP. (Brown was a graduate of Concordia Chicago).
To provide some context, over the last 13 years, VU has had four VPs of Enrollment Management (perhaps five if one counts the person in the job in August of 2011):
Jill Schur - Started February 2023
Brian O’Rourke Joined June 2021, left November 2022
Ray Brown, Joined as Interim VP for Enrollment August 2018 (left Spring 2021?)
Michael Joseph Joined September 2011, left August 2018
Ray Brown moved around quite a bit as interim VP in several places, and I do not know if or when he was named the permanent VP. (Brown was a graduate of Concordia Chicago).
And each seemed to get rid of some long-term Valpo employees, to the detriment of the University. O'Rourke as an example of a guy hand picked by Padilla who just wasn't a fit for a Midwest University. Padilla has had a few significant misses, primary among them is Charles Small. Both he and O'Rourke gone in less than 2 years of service.
I wouldn't count Small as a miss. While he was here he was a really great athletic mind. Particularly on the expansion front which is still a major forefront the school still honds. To my understanding his leave wasn't for a lack of a good fit, but family reasons.
To provide some context, over the last 13 years, VU has had four VPs of Enrollment Management (perhaps five if one counts the person in the job in August of 2011):
Jill Schur - Started February 2023
Brian O’Rourke Joined June 2021, left November 2022
Ray Brown, Joined as Interim VP for Enrollment August 2018 (left Spring 2021?)
Michael Joseph Joined September 2011, left August 2018
Ray Brown moved around quite a bit as interim VP in several places, and I do not know if or when he was named the permanent VP. (Brown was a graduate of Concordia Chicago).
And each seemed to get rid of some long-term Valpo employees, to the detriment of the University. O'Rourke as an example of a guy hand picked by Padilla who just wasn't a fit for a Midwest University. Padilla has had a few significant misses, primary among them is Charles Small. Both he and O'Rourke gone in less than 2 years of service.
Ray Brown was always on interim bases as he was through the Registry. Would be interested to see who those so-called "long-term Valpo employees" were that let go. Did they thrive at their next institution? The current Valpo Administration has failed big time. I'd be shocked if Padilla got a vote of approval by the board or current staff
Can we elaborate as to how Padilla is failing miserably? Not everything has been a hit, but the admin surely ha a lot of good changes that have been passed that have a chance at increasing longevity.
I wouldn't count Small as a miss.
"family reasons" were the same reason given by O'Rourke. To my knowledge Charles hasn't landed anywhere as of yet. I guess following guys who had stayed at Valpo for dozens of years is a difficult task, yet might there be more to "family reasons", like not getting along with Padilla? Or perhaps not being told the entire extent of the issues facing Valpo? Who knows...
