DUE WEST, S.C. Ð The Erskine College Board of Trustees announced at its regular meeting today that Dr. Steve Sniteman of Due West will fill the newly created position of Vice President for Enrollment Management and Technology, and Jeff Craft of Iva will take over as Director of Admissions.

Board Chairman Bill Patrick of Greenwood said the new vice president position was created after a "substantially renewed and concerted effort to increase enrollment" at the college.

"This is an important position," Patrick said. "Enrollment is what we need to focus on from a campus-wide aspect. We are looking for some excellent work from Dr. Sniteman in this area."

Sniteman is already familiar with Erskine, serving as a faculty member in the sociology department the past four years.

"Erskine is the one place where you can invest your life, not just your knowledge, into a student," Sniteman said.

From a technology standpoint, Sniteman said Erskine is on the verge of a major conversion to a new administrative software system "We are going to redo the way we do business at Erskine," he said.

Sniteman told the Board he was committed to the college slogan, "Christian Commitment and Excellence in Learning," and wanted to provide a concrete plan for enrollment management.

"We don't think anything is necessarily broken, and we're not expecting dramatic increases in enrollment from one year to the next," he said. "But we do think we can see steady improvement, and I think that there is no question that Jeff Craft is the right person to direct the admissions office. Your confidence in him will not be misplaced."

Craft is also no stranger to Erskine, graduating in 1989 and working as an admissions counselor and softball coach after that. He returns to Erskine from the University of Georgia, where he worked in admissions for a year and a half.

"It's good to be home," Craft told the Board. "A lot has changed but many things have stayed the same. Erskine is still about opportunities, and I hope to develop a plan to bring the best possible young people to Erskine every year."

Sniteman and Craft took different routes to their new positions. Sniteman received a B.A. in psychology from East Carolina University in 1967, then attended Troy State University where he received an M.S. in Business Management, then Command General Staff College in 1986, NATO Defense College where he received an M.S. in International Relations, and Utah State University where he received a Ph.D. in Family and Human Development.

Sniteman just completed his fourth year at Erskine, where he was promoted to full professor in 1995. He has served as the leader of the Mary McDill Family Life Institute, has been a member of the Erskine Planning Committee and been Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees.

The former varsity basketball player at East Carolina rose to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force where he piloted jet combat missions and served his country from 1967-1993.

Erskine President Dr. James W. Strobel said, "We are excited about these two new outstanding leaders. It was a tough job finding the right people who could handle all the roles that these positions require. They will face many challenges but we are confident they will do an excellent job."

Strobel discussed fulfilling the mission statement and enrollment goals, outlining a plan to increase enrollment. The key points were:

• retention;

• a comprehensive marketing plan;

• build on current strengths (faculty and programs);

• state-of-the-art technology;

• mission clarity and unity;

• athletic enhancement and success;

• a new science facility; and

• new leadership in enrollment management and technology.

New Board members and advisors are oriented at the summer Board meeting, and new voting members, in the Class of 2003, include Rock Hill Pediatrician Robert Alexander; Bartow, Fla., ARP pastor John Ball; Belk Simpson Senior Vice President Welch Bostick Jr. of Greenville; First Lancaster ARP pastor Gilbert Rowell; and Columbia stockbroker Mac Stidham III.

Filling vacant spots from the Class of 2000 are retired Erskine administrator Charles Carlisle of Due West, and Fayetteville, Tenn., farmer Robert Hamilton.

Advisors include Alumni Association President David Chesnut, an attorney in Atlanta; ARP Synod Moderator Jim Coad; Parent's Council President Vickie Chandler, a nutritionist in Greenwood; Moderator-Elect James Dickson, a retired Clover attorney; and Board of Counselors Chairman Bill Kibler, a stockbroker from Anderson.

Faculty representatives include Biology Professor Dr. Mary Lang Edwards from the college and Dr. Lloyd Melton from the seminary.

The Board also:

• received and acknowledged a gift of $4,000 from the Simpson Foundation and the Belk Simpson Foundation ($2,000 each) to establish the Belk Simpson College Scholarship Fund;

• received and acknowledged a gift of $4,000 from the Simpson Foundation and the Belk Simpson Foundation ($2,000 each) to establish the Henry Simpson Seminary Scholarship Fund;

• received and acknowledged a pledge of $4,000 per year from the Greenville ARP Church to establish The Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund;

• heard that the Committee on Erskine Theological Seminary gave approval for the seminary to develop an M.A. degree in Theological Studies and Master of Theology degree. Both degrees received faculty endorsement and the shape of the new degree programs will be presented later, although neither degree program will be implemented without Board approval;

• approved the Gender Equity Plan presented by Athletic Director Chip Sherer that will bring Erskine athletics into compliance with Title IX to be given full implementation by the 2001-2002 school year;

• heard a report from the inaugural meeting of the Enrollment Management Committee, chaired by Neely Gaston of Greenville;

• approved the total cost of the new science facility at $6.95 million; and

• heard a report that seminary enrollment was at a record summer high of 200 students, after setting a record of 345 students in the spring term.