Biography

Roger J. Thompson
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
Indiana University

In May 2006, upon the recommendation of then Provost Michael McRobbie, the Indiana University Board of Trustees confirmed the appointment of Roger J. Thompson as Vice Provost for Enrollment Management (OEM).  Dr. Thompson is responsible for all areas related to the recruitment and retention of students.  This effort is implemented through the following OEM departments:  Office of Admissions, Office of Enrollment Planning and Research, Office of Orientation Programs, Office of the Registrar, Office of Undergraduate Scholarships, Office of Student Financial Assistance, and the Office of System Design and Development.  These departments are responsible for providing services to currently enrolled students and those students interested in enrolling at Indiana University.  Additionally, the Office of Enrollment Management provides services to the faculty and staff of IU, as well as community members, alumni, and supporters of Indiana University.

During Dr. Thompson’s tenure at Indiana University, the quality of the freshman class has grown to the highest level in the history of Indiana University.   Additionally, new financial aid programs, including the 21st Century Scholar Covenant and the Pell Promise, have been developed and implemented to help low and middle income families with the cost of attending Indiana University.  Further, a new approach to merit based scholarships was introduced and implemented in the Fall 2007 semester for students beginning in Fall 2008.  This new attention and direction to recruiting the best and brightest has led to not only enrolling the most academically talented freshman class in IU history, but the most diverse freshman class in the history of the institution.  Record applications and student enrollment continue to build at Indiana University due to the outstanding work of all team members in OEM.

Prior to arriving at Indiana University, Dr. Thompson served as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Alabama, where enrollment reached record levels in terms of freshman class size, diversity and quality.  Dr. Thompson served the University of Alabama for eight years beginning in 1998, when he arrived from the University of Southern California where he served in a number of capacities during the 1990’s.  Before joining USC, Dr. Thompson served two other institutions as an advisor and student affairs professional.  He has made numerous presentations at state, regional and national conferences and is leading a new research agenda at Indiana University focused on student persistence, student satisfaction, program effectiveness, college affordability and pre-enrollment characteristics as a predictor for student success.

A native of the west coast, Dr. Thompson earned a B.A. in Broadcasting from California State University, Long Beach, an M.S. from the University of Central Missouri and a Doctorate in Higher Education Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California.