Texas A&M University-Commerce’s President, Dr. Dan Jones, announced last fall that the position of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs was to be split into two positions: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Access and Success.
The University is proceeding with this reorganization, as Dr. Gary Peer has agreed to serve as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Mary Hendrix, who for the past year and a half has been serving in an interim capacity, will take on the position of Vice President for Student Access and Success on a full-time basis.
Peer will stay with the position this spring semester and up through the summer should the national search for a permanent provost not be completely finalized by the end of May. So far the search is proceeding on schedule.
“The committee met several times during the fall semester to develop criteria and procedures, and will begin the process of reviewing applications and identifying highly qualified finalists in the next few weeks,” Jones said.
The decision to split the position of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs is one that mirrors most universities that divide the responsibilities for student affairs and academic affairs into separate positions. The accountability particularly increases at a regional university with both doctoral programs and increased research demands.
“While there are advantages to a combined position, including better communication and coordination of effort, the scope of responsibilities at A&M-Commerce had simply become too broad to be reasonably managed by one person,” Jones said.
Peer will be responsible for the Division of Academic Affairs, made up of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Business and Technology and Graduate School. Both Dr. Hendrix and Dr. Jones have had previous experience with Dr. Peer, the former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tarleton State University.
“Because Tarleton is in the A&M System, President Jones and I had worked with Dr. Peer and we both respect him for his knowledge, experience, and excellent interpersonal skills,” Hendrix said.
Since retiring last year, Peer has remained active consulting in the higher education community, and Dr. Jones feels he will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. Peer was also thrilled to be able to help out A&M-Commerce during the search for a permanent provost.
“As to working with President Jones and Vice President Hendrix, I am delighted with the opportunity,” Peer said. “Having known both of them professionally for several years, I am looking forward in the months ahead to working more closely not only with them, but with as many others as possible in the Lion community.”
The Texas A&M System Board of Regents will be considering Hendrix’s appointment to the permanent position at their January meeting.
Currently, Hendrix will oversee outreach: distance education, off-campus sites, summer camps and conferences, study abroad and K-16 College Readiness initiatives. She will also be responsible for enrollment management, which includes admissions, registrar, financial aid and scholarships, Trio Services and Orientation.
As far as student affairs duties, Hendrix will oversee Residence Life, the Morris Recreation Center, the Sam Rayburn Student Center, Student Life, Student Disability Services, Health Services, Career Services, International Student Services and The Children’s Learning Center. Hendrix will be a part of the creation of a University College, which will begin in the fall.
Hendrix and Peer will face some unique challenges in their new positions, but Jones feels they have the passion to achieve their objectives.
“Our continuing challenge as an institution is to provide access and opportunity to students whose lives will be transformed by a college education,” Jones said. “That is our mission as a university, and our calling as educators. Both Dr. Hendrix and Dr. Peer embrace this goal.”
Hendrix sees the upcoming challenges she will face as opportunities, and she is asking students to help in this reorganization by assisting in designing systems and processes that will in turn provide the campus with the level of service they expect.
“President Jones is allowing us to develop an optimum model for improving student access and success,” Hendrix said. “We will also be developing a strategic enrollment plan that will target the students who we want to attract to our university.”
Peer will be welcomed at the university’s spring assembly in January, when he will begin to help the university make the transition from a joint division of Academic and Student Affairs to separate divisions.