October 29, 2018

I am writing to you today to announce some restructuring efforts in enrollment management that will allow for better strategic oversight of all enrollment activities and create opportunities to focus on international recruitment. This restructuring is budget neutral and did not displace any employees.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the naming of Kenneth Schneider as Associate Vice President for University Admissions effective October 29, 2018.

In this new role, Ken will be responsible for restructuring the Offices of Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, and Enrollment Services into one cohesive department. The newly named Office of University Admissions will restructure into four distinct internal teams: freshmen admissions, advanced standing admissions (transfer, readmit, adult and second degree), graduate admissions, and international admissions. Ken will continue to report directly to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Reginald Ross, which will allow VP Ross greater concentration on long-term strategic enrollment planning.

Ken joined William Paterson University in 2000 where he served as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions with recruitment responsibility along the Jersey shore region. Named as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions in 2007, he directed undergraduate admissions internal operations including the application processing and customer service functions.

Promoted in 2008, Ken led the development of the consolidated student enrollment services department. Through some difficult years and along with a wonderful staff, the newly constructed Office of Student Enrollment Services increased student satisfaction with enrollment management services by 25 percent (78 percent in September 2010 to 98 percent in September 2017).

Named as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions in November of 2017, Ken executed critical enterprises to support new enrollment growth. He initiated a review of the department core competencies that culminated with an actionable personalized approach in the recruitment and enrollment of new students. He also implemented a new financial assistance/merit scholarship model to support academically talented and diverse students enrolled within the University with specific focus on Honors College enrollment. These actions among many others resulted in the University exceeding fall 2018 goals and the enrollment of the largest class of freshmen students in the institution’s history.

Ken’s commitment to the University stretches beyond the Division of Enrollment Management. He also served as a leadership member of the Student Success Team, a cross-divisional group that examined, recommended, and executed initiatives designed to improve student success at William Paterson University. That team led initiatives that have yielded a 163 percent increase in first time, full-time four-year graduation rates from 14 percent to 36.8 percent over the last eight years.

Ken currently leads the New Student Collaborative along with a campus-wide group to execute a “recruit to retain” strategy for all new incoming students to William Paterson University. He holds a BS in business administration from Montclair State University and an MBA from William Paterson University.

Kindly join me in congratulating Ken on his new role as Associate Vice President for University Admissions.

Thank you.

Richard J. Helldobler, PhD
President
William Paterson University