Vickie Cook has been named the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Retention Management at the University of Illinois Springfield, pending Board of Trustees approval.

Cook has been serving as Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment & Online, Professional and Engaged Learning since August 2021.

In this expanded role, she will be responsible for undergraduate, online and graduate admissions; international admissions; enrollment processing and operations, financial aid and the overall student retention work of the institution. A new Division of Enrollment and Retention Management will be established and include the offices of Admission, Records/Registration and Financial Aid.

“The decision to appoint Cook to this role and to establish a new Division of Enrollment and Retention Management highlights our university-wide efforts to place greater priority on our enrollment and retention strategies,” said Janet Gooch, UIS chancellor. “Cook is a highly regarded leader at UIS and beyond, and I am confident she will be successful in this elevated role.”

Cook’s appointment will be effective Dec. 16, and she will serve as vice chancellor-designee until her anticipated approval by the BOT in January.

“I am looking forward to leading a team of professionals across the new division of Enrollment and Retention Management,” Cook said. “The new division will assist UIS in maximizing deliberate strategies to build student enrollment and retention effort. Enrollment and retention at the institutional level are critical to providing a healthy institutional environment where students can feel a sense of belonging as they work to accomplish their educational goals.”