College Announces Office Integration, Staffing Changes

Pennsylvania College of Technology will combine its Admissions and Financial Aid Offices to enhance the services it provides to students, and the college has announced staffing changes resulting from the new office structure.

Effective June 4, Dennis L. Correll, who had been director of financial aid since 2004, assumed the new position of associate dean of admissions and financial aid. Earlier this year, the college"˜s admissions director since 1975, Chet D. Schuman, declared his intent to retire in June 2009.

Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour said Schuman's pending retirement in 2009 presented the administration with an opportunity to look at other models and institutions for insight on how to plan for future enrollment operations.

"We recognize that students and families need help estimating costs and determining how to pay for college early in their college search," Gilmour said. "A combined office structure will allow us to provide financial-aid information and assistance early in the admission process and, we hope, to encourage more people to take advantage of financial-aid opportunities to help pay for college."

The president said that she will be directly involved in activities to support the new operational structure in admissions and financial aid. During the 2008-09 year, which she called a transitional year, Gilmour said both Correll and Schuman will report to the college's senior vice president, William J. Martin. Jan A. Kuzio, assistant director of financial aid, will serve as interim director of financial aid during this time, performing operational duties previously held by Correll.

"I will work with the three of them (Martin, Schuman and Correll) and with other employees on an Enrollment Management Taskforce to implement the transition and reposition Admissions and Financial Aid over the next year," Gilmour said.

She noted the institution also has plans to introduce a new marketing plan in 2008-09 and that, looking at the impact of external challenges such as the affordability of higher education on Penn College enrollment and the retention of students from enrollment through graduation, is a top institutional priority.

"We have been very successful in attracting growing numbers of students to Penn College over its nearly 20-year history," Gilmour said. "It is important that we continue to adapt our processes and services as necessary to meet the needs of our students, our community and the modern workplace. We are fortunate to have, from our newer and our more experienced staff members, a real commitment to do what is best to keep Penn College strong and to ensure our students' success."

Correll began his employment with Penn College in 1986 as supervisor of budget and investments. He was promoted to manager of cash management and investments before being appointed associate dean for institutional advancement and executive director of the Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation in 1999. He holds a master's in business administration from Bloomsburg University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Mansfield University.

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