Jennifer DeHaemers named new VP of Central Michigan University, leaving position at SIU
February 27, 2020
Jennifer DeHaemers, SIU’s associate provost for enrollment management, is set to take on a new position as vice president of student recruitment and retention at Central Michigan University.
SIU’s provost office will begin a national search for a replacement right away, according to Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Rae Goldsmith.
DeHaemers first joined the SIU campus in 2018 after previously holding a position in enrollment management at the University of Missouri, Kansas City from 1997 to 2017.
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DeHaemers is expected to serve in her new position beginning June 1.
During her time at SIU, DeHaemers led an increase in freshman-to-sophomore retention and an increase in undergraduate applications and admission for transfer students for the fall of 2020.
According to a release on the CMU website, DeHaemers will oversee major aspects of student recruitment and retention, including admissions, scholarship, financial aid, the office of student success and the career development center.
“I am excited to join President Davies’ team and work with colleagues [at Central Michigan University] to improve the overall enrollment and retention of students,” DeHaemers said. “There are many outstanding programs and initiatives to positively influence the student experience.”
According to the CMU website, enrollment and retention are issues facing many institutions of higher learning nationwide.
CMU president Bob Davies said DeHaemers is the most qualified person for the position.
“Jennifer DeHaemers has proven herself a collaborative leader with vision, skill and a track record of accomplishment,” Davies said. “I look forward to working with her to lead our university in attracting students and ensuring their success.”
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During a search forum at Central Michigan University on Feb. 5, DeHaemers said she felt ready to take on a position like this.
“This is the type of job I’ve been preparing myself for my whole career,” DeHaemers said.
Staff reporter Bethany Rentfro can be reached via email at [email protected].
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Liz Jones • Feb 28, 2020 at 10:35 am
“after previously holding a position in enrollment management at the University of Missouri, Kansas City from 1997 to 2017. ”
Incorrect. She did have a job there for a few years, which was eliminated, in which enrollment went up slightly.
“During her time at SIU, DeHaemers led an increase in freshman-to-sophomore retention and an increase in undergraduate applications and admission for transfer students for the fall of 2020.”
Incorrect. After being hired for an exorbitant salary, $150K range, she determined she needed a year to study the problem. Her eventual solutions were : spend millions for software, and spend more by hiring additional recruiters.
It remains to be seen how much freshman enrollment goes up for Fall 2020. Increased applications is skewed by elimination of the application fee, and approx 500 nursing applicants for 50 enrollment slots.
It would be interesting to compute exactly how many additional students can be counted as enrolled because of her position, and then divide this number into how much was spent on her salary, the software cost, and the cost of her additional hires, for a cost per student. Probably cheaper to have just given free tuition.
She was never committed to SIU, a stepping stone as she climbs the administrative ranks, where networking and spin are more important than actual accomplishment.
Southern Michigan University is welcoming her north for $220,000.00 per year. Darn good money for little responsibility, or more importantly, little accountability.