Monmouth approaches a record

By: Ian Van Anden
Sports Editor

Monmouth has been creeping closer to record enrollment in recent years, and it got even closer this fall. The fall 2006 enrollment is just single digits behind the all-time record set in the Vietnam era.

Monmouth College, however, is holding the final tally close to its chest in an attempt to fend off a “numbers war” with Knox College. According to Christine Johnston, associate dean of admission, Knox has released a statement claiming Monmouth has reached a total of 1,400 students, and this is not true. For now, though, Monmouth is attempting not to release any further numbers.

It is, however, known that Monmouth is on the verge of setting a new record of enrollment, and is only slightly behind where they were in the late-1960s. During that time period, there was a rush of students clamoring for college entrance in an attempt to dodge the draft.

According to the enrollment report from the faculty meeting on Sept. 5, the Admission Office has brought in a class of 370 first-time students, 38 transfers, and 24 international students to Monmouth’s campus this year. According to the enrollment report, however, these numbers are not final.

John Klockentager, vice president for enrollment for the past three and a half years, has chosen to move on in the face of one of Monmouth’s largest freshman classes. According to a letter released by President Mauri Ditzler, Klockentager’s resignation went into effect on Friday, Sept. 1.

Klockentager has chosen to move on to Albertson College of Idaho to take the same roll he has he held here at Monmouth.

During his tenure at Monmouth College, Klockentager formed a well-organized and effective admission staff, according to Senior Associate Director of Admission Michael Blaesing. Klockentager and his staff, over the past three years, have recruited over 1700 students to Monmouth, increasing the overall enrollment by 25 percent.

The makeup of the student body has also altered greatly since Klockentager’s arrival. According to the enrollment report, from 2003 to 2006 there has been a nine percent increase in the number of minority students attending Monmouth.

The majority now makes up 84 percent of the student body, while the minority makes up 16 percent. Residents of the state of Illinois make up 90 percent of the campus, while 6 percent are from out of the state, and 4 percent are international students.

Blaesing said, “For the staff, John’s management and leadership will be greatly missed. He had 30 years of experience and you cannot replace that.”

Despite the loss of Klockentager, Blaesing is confident there will not be a let-down in the admission office’s recruiting success. “There is not a nervousness; rather, there is a comfort knowing the experience we still have in the office,” he said. Among others in the admission office, Blaesing and Associate Dean of Admission Kristi Hippin each have 10 years of experience in admission work. Associate Dean of Admission Christine Johnston has the most experience of the group, as she has been working in the business for 16 years.

Blaesing also has “absolute confidence that even in the absence of a vice president for enrollment, the staff can do a good job. Everyone here knows what they are doing.” Blaesing added that not one person has stepped up to fill the void Klockentager has left. “It really has been a team effort.”

On the future vice president for enrollment, Blaesing is hoping for someone who would be “creative in recruiting a class of 450 students, as well as being a leader of the staff.”

The college is currently in the beginning of the search process. According to Johnston, President Ditzler and an unnamed trustee are searching for potential hiring firms. These firms specialize in searching and hiring presidents, vice presidents, and deans for institutions such as Monmouth.

Johnston also said there were originally three firms in the running, but one has dropped out, leaving two firms as possibilities. President Ditzler and the trustee will be meeting with those two firms as the month progresses.

Johnston says the college has not set a schedule for hiring a new vice president for enrollment in an attempt to create a solid pool of qualified applicants. However, Johnston predicted that candidates would start being contacted by the end of the calendar year.
The Admission Office has also added a new member to its team. Monmouth College 2006 graduate Russell Bold has been hired as an admission representative. According to Campus Visit Coordinator/Secretary Angela Reimolds, this is an attempt to lessen the load on the rest of the staff in the absence of Klockentager.