Why did Penn State create a new VP position during a hiring freeze?

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town.

The Penn State Transparency Tracker is an ongoing effort by Spotlight PA to document and share the ways in which the university is, and is not, being transparent with the community. Due to its special “state-related” designation, Penn State is not subject to open records laws beyond the public disclosure of basic financial information.

At the end of July, Penn State announced a “strategic hiring freeze” that would last until at least the summer of 2023. An internal memo sent by President Neeli Bendapudi dated July 28, and obtained by Spotlight PA, stated open positions could only be posted if they are reviewed and deemed critical by a department head.

“Critical positions may include those that are necessary for safety, student success, compliance, or show a financial return on investment,” Bendapudi wrote in the memo.

On Aug. 8, Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Melvin for the newly created position of vice president for enrollment management. Melvin previously worked at the University of Kansas as the vice provost for enrollment management.

In response to the news, Spotlight PA asked Penn State the following questions on Aug. 17:

• At a time when the university is under a “strategic hiring freeze,” there may be some concern about adding a new top-level position that reports directly to the president. Mr. Melvin previously made nearly $205,000 a year at the University of Kansas. Will Mr. Melvin be making a similar salary at Penn State? Will his salary be among the top 25 highest salaries Penn State publicly reports each year?

• President Bendapudi’s internal memo from July 28 announcing the “strategic hiring freeze” mentions that critical positions that can be hired for during the freeze include “those that are necessary for safety, student success, compliance, or show a financial return on investment.” What category does Mr. Melvin’s new position fall under to deem it critical?

• The Penn State announcement mentions that Melvin will lead the “newly established Enrollment Management Office.” Does the university plan to hire additional positions for this office? If so, how many?

• Finally, please send me a copy of the job opening that was posted publicly for the “vice president for enrollment management.”

Penn State responded on Aug. 18:

“As noted in our news release, the strategic hiring freeze announced Aug. 1 is not a complete freeze on all hiring,” Lisa Powers, senior director of university public relations, said in an email. “Searches to fill critical roles will still move forward as Penn State will continue to hire for positions that support the University in important ways. As you know, University enrollment at Commonwealth Campuses has been stagnant or declined in recent years, which has a negative impact on the overall fiscal health of Penn State and the communities it serves in fulfilling the University’s educational mission across the state. Among its Big Ten counterparts, Penn State is one of the few that did not have an enrollment management office separate from its undergraduate education office. The change to a dedicated enrollment management office was necessary so that significant enrollment challenges can receive the focus and senior-level support needed for optimal enrollment.

“With regard to a job posting, President Bendapudi determined that this position was a critical and necessary hire, in short order, and it is within her discretion to make such strategic hires as she deems appropriate without always going through a protracted process. As you also are aware, the University is addressing a structural deficit and this approach was viewed by her as the best way to meet the University’s needs in this area.”

Seeking clarity on a couple points, Spotlight PA followed up with these questions on Aug. 23:

• The job for which Mr. Melvin was hired was not posted publicly for others to apply for?

• And, since Penn State “did not have an enrollment management office separate from its undergraduate education office,” does the university plan to hire additional positions for this office? If so, how many?

Penn State responded on Aug. 24:

“As indicated in my initial response, President Bendapudi determined that this position was a critical and necessary hire, in short order, and it is within her discretion to make such strategic hires,” Powers said in an email. “Dr. Melvin has been in his new role for 9 days and determinations on office staffing/structure have not been made beyond the fact that the existing areas of Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of Student Aid and the Office of the University Registrar will be part of this new strategic endeavor, as already noted.”

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