Interim Leadership in Student Affairs Named

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University Provost Gretchen Bataille has named
interim leaders for the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Admissions as the areas go
through a transition to a new organizational structure.
Four candidates will interview for the new position of vice provost for enrollment
management, beginning May 5. The person hired will have oversight for the offices of
Admissions, Registrar, and Financial Aid and Scholarships.
The vice provost for student affairs post opens in June when long-time student affairs
leader K.J. “Gus” Kravas leaves for the University of California, Riverside.
“Our goal is to provide the very best services for both our prospective students as they
consider WSU and for our 21,000 enrolled students,” Bataille said.
During the transition, Al Jamison will add Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office
and Residence Life to his current oversight responsibilities for the Student Advising and
Learning Center, Career Services and University Learning Communities.
George Bettas, associate dean of students and head of student affairs research, will add
oversight responsibility for the Compton Union Building, Student Activities and Recreation,
Health and Wellness Services, Counseling Services, Child Care Center and Returning Students.
“Both Al and George will report to the Office of the Provost and will share responsibility for
Student Affairs management during the transition,” Bataille said.
Kenneth Vreeland, associate director of the Transfer Center, will serve as interim director of
the Office of Admissions and will have the assistance of Richard Backes, interim associate
registrar. Wendy Peterson, who has been serving as interim admissions director, has been named
director of development for WSU’s College of Education, effective immediately.
The provost has also appointed an ad hoc committee committed to maximizing enrollment for
the fall of 1999. James Rimpau, director of Institutional Research, will chair the committee.
“Right now, our applications for undergraduate admission are 18.3 percent ahead of 1997
and less than than one percent behind 1998, which saw the second largest freshman class in
WSU history,” Bataille said. “We believe the outlook for enrollment this fall is very positive.”
She added that “new legislation making WSU eligible for the Western Undergraduate
Exchange and the new ‘border bill’ provide opportunities for WSU to increase enrollment
further.”
According to the provost, the student affairs area will be assessed during the summer to
determine its most appropriate organizational structure.
“Although the number of departures in Student Affairs presents a challenge, it is also an
opportunity for the university to organize this unit to create a new entity committed to the
development of students both in and out of the classroom. Student Affairs units nationally are
moving toward establishing an environment that supports learning in its many manifestations,
and the staff are committed to moving in that direction,” Bataille said.
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