chancellor

By Cheyenne Martin The Messenger

John Schmidt is the new Vice Chancellor for Student Services at Troy State University.

His new position is an old job with new responsibilities and part of the ongoing effort to combine the main TSU campuses in Troy and Phenix City, University College, TSU-Montgomery and TSU-Dothan into one accredited university.

Schmidt, who was most recently Vice President for Student Affairs, said his new duties are similar but with a different scope, as he will oversee student services across the university system.

"The responsibilities and scope are a lot more far reaching," Schmidt said.

While working in student affairs, Schmidt oversaw student organizations, student life, recreation facilities and security on the Troy campus.

Now his duties will broaden to include unifying financial aid and enrollment processes for all campuses.

Schmidt will also handle with the task of reorganizing student organizations and policies.

"There are two challenges to look at overall," he said.

"One is the student organization composition with the Student Government Association, its policies and how students will be represented.

The second one is to create a common student handbook."

Schmidt hopes to put a team together to address these two major challenges.

"We have a secret ingredient at TSU," he said.

"We have wonderful people…in student affairs who are student oriented and service oriented.

We have the right people to meet those challenges."

Schmidt said Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. offered him the new position much to his surprise and honor.

"I felt honored to be selected to be part of Dr. Hawkins' leadership team," Schmidt said.

In a press release, Schmidt stated that he was grateful for Hawkins' "faith in my abilities to lead this vital position in our university."

Schmidt joined the TSU administration staff in 1994 as Executive Assistant to the Chancellor and served as Vice President for Advancement before becoming the Vice President for Student Services in 1999.

The combined student enrollment for all campuses is just over 22,000.