
The University of Toledo has recently hired a permanent Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management: Tony Bourne. Bourne began his position at the University on Oct. 28.
The decision to hire a permanent vice president has been ongoing for several years, with previous positions being interim or from external consulting firms. The University of Toledo President’s Office made the ultimate decision on the pick, with many different university departments and offices as well as a search committee assisting and providing feedback on the candidates.
All candidates went through an extensive interviewing and search process, including forums with the search committee and consulting firm, surveys and feedback from a variety of different university departments, and a day long interviewing process which narrowed down the candidates to Bourne.
Bourne has decades of experience in enrollment and student success, beginning his career in enrollment management at Wright State University, then expanding his experience at Rhode State College, Heidelberg University, and the University of Memphis before applying for the position at Toledo.
“It’s about time we stand on our own two feet and have our own internal enrollment management vice president,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Molitor.
The Division of Enrollment Management is currently responsible for the recruitment of traditional, nontraditional, and transfer students, as well as enrollment marketing and communication with prospective students, data analyzation, and financial aid for students.
One of the main goals for the Division of Enrollment Management is to create a more integrated partnership between enrollment and student success at Toledo, ensuring that students are recruited and provided with what they need to succeed at the University.
While Toledo and other universities across the state and country have experienced some declines in enrollment, it is the hope that this new hire and direction will help to increase enrollment at Toledo, for not only traditional students, but nontraditional and transfer
students as well.
The Division of Enrollment Management is hoping to be more informed and integrated with various academic and student departments of the University. It is also their goal to increase efficiency within their division, and the University as a whole, as well as making changes to allocation of administrative resources, student engagement and recruitment,
and financial aid for students.
“If I go out and I recruit a student, I want them to have a very good chance of being successful, and that we are going to do everything possible to make sure that that happens,” said Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Tony Bourne.
The Division of Enrollment Management is also hoping to work more closely with the University’s Department of Marketing and Communication, hoping to use resources to recruit slightly larger incoming classes throughout the years.
“It’s about telling our story, it’s about showing the potential, showing what current students have done so that future students can envision themselves in those same positions,” said university Communication Specialist Tyrel Linkhorn.
On Nov. 19, Bourne presented and answered questions at a University Faculty Senate meeting, introducing themselves to faculty and discussing how they planned on interpreting and reaching the goals of Toledo’s five-year strategic enrollment plan.
“There’s lots of room for his ideas and his leadership to help us achieve the goals in that plan,” said Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor Jerry Van Hoy.
Bourne discussed their plans to increase student enrollment by increasing the quality of recruiting events and tactics rather than quantity. They also highlighted the importance of consistent messaging and marketing as well as recruitment of nontraditional students and workforce development.
The importance of highlighting hands-on experiences at Toledo was also discussed by Bourne, as well as the importance of involving staff and current students in the recruitment and enrollment process.
“We have to remember what we do well and focus on it, and I think he will help us do that,” said Van Hoy.
Bourne answered a variety of questions from faculty regarding recruitment of nontraditional students and declining enrollment at Toledo, as well as how faculty could help. The overall faculty reaction to the hiring of Bourne was a positive one, with excitement regarding the permanence of his position at Toledo.
“He showed a lot of enthusiasm for this job, and he answered questions without any hesitation,” said Van Hoy.
Bourne began his position less than a month ago and is currently focused on learning more about various University departments and increasing efficiency within the enrollment division, as well as creating a strategy for slightly increased University enrollment that is
more integrated with student success.
“I believe in everything that’s happening here, and I think that we can do some really great things. We just have to have the commitment,” said Bourne.