Administrative changes to be made at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro

Arkansas State University’s fiscal year will begin July 1, and it will begin with several administrative changes on the ASU-Jonesboro campus. The university will create a vice chancellor of enrollment management, and a national search to fill this position will begin immediately, ASU-Jonesboro Chancellor Kelly Damphousse said. A traditional dean of students will also be appointed and there will be a realignment of the offices in the Division of Student Affairs, he said.

Enrollment management will include the current offices of recruitment, financial aid, and admissions. The dean of students will oversee the offices of student life, residence life, student programs, Greek life, and student conduct. An internal search is underway for the new dean of students.

“There are forces in higher education that are challenging us to act and think differently,” Damphousse said. “Moving forward usually means making changes, and while I am hesitant to make too many changes too quickly, I am convinced these changes are necessary for our organizations to serve our students and our state in the most responsible way.”

Among other changes, the parking office and university police will move into the division of finance and administration as well as the consolidation of all housekeeping and facility activities associated with residential areas into facilities management. Disability services and the multicultural center will join the division of diversity and community engagement. The testing center will move to Academic Affairs and Career Services shifts into the Division of University Advancement.

Two other operations, Global Initiatives and A-State Online, will combine into the Division of Global Engagement and Outreach.

The administrative reorganization follows academic changes approved by the ASU Board of Trustees, notably the establishment of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Agriculture from the previously combined College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Technology.

Damphousse indicated that other changes, notably a campus-wide discussion of the university strategic plan, the role of the research mission and the potential return of a Graduate College were initiatives on which he would seek advice from the faculty starting this August at the annual fall conference.