Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Dr. Paul Shepherd
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu
Welcome to Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
The Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (SAEM) team engages in ongoing work and leadership of strategic initiatives that align with Equity 2030 and the Academic and Student Affairs strategic plan. Our team supports student affairs and enrollment management at Minnesota State colleges and universities by providing support to campus leaders, convening teams to share and distribute effective and innovative practices, and guiding the implementation of strategic initiatives to achieve the Minnesota State Equity 2030 goal.
Minnesota State strives to ensure access to an extraordinary education and the comprehensive support needed for students to achieve their goals. The Minnesota State Strategic Enrollment Management Approach is an overview of how system initiatives, strategies, and goals align and connect with strategic enrollment management planning and implementation at colleges and universities.
Minnesota State believes that basic needs security is essential to students' wellbeing and is committed to providing resources that can help promote success inside and outside of the classroom. Visit the basic needs resource hub to learn more.
Minnesota State employees can learn more about basic needs and mental health resources, initiatives, and communities of practice on the Basic Needs and Mental Health page of ASA Connect.
The Minnesota State SAEM team plays a crucial role in supporting financial aid processes across campuses. They provide guidance on best practices, policy, and legal compliance, ensuring that financial aid offices operate efficiently and effectively.
Key functions include:
- Liaison Role: Connecting with campus financial aid offices, campus services units, and outside software vendors to streamline financial aid processing.
- Intermediary Support: Facilitating communication between campus offices and state and federal agencies to navigate and break down bureaucratic challenges for campus administrators.
- Legislative Advocacy: Developing and promoting the Minnesota State financial aid agenda ahead of legislative sessions, ensuring that the needs of students and Minnesota State colleges and universities are represented.
Through these efforts, the SAEM team helps ensure timely processing of financial aid applications and awards, making higher education more accessible for all students.
Resources
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP)
- Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE)
User Friendly Student and Family Financial Aid Guide
Contact
Christopher Halling
System Director for Financial Aid
christopher.halling@minnstate.edu
Senior Campus Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (SAEM) leaders play an essential role in fostering equity, inclusion, and student success at all Minnesota State colleges and universities. The Minnesota State SAEM team strives to support senior campus SAEM leaders in their work and often calls upon them to engage in systemwide projects and initiatives.
Senior campus leaders often connect with one another through system managed listservs and small group meetings. Contact Dr. Paul Shepherd, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to get connected.
Contact:
Dr. Paul Shepherd
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu
Minnesota State provides information, services, and support to veteran and service members, including interactive military-to-college tools, and access to military-friendly services and help.
Learn more about Minnesota State resources and policies for veterans and service members.
Access to veteran and service member resources and services is made possible by partnerships between Minnesota State and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Program, the Minnesota National Guard, other branches of the armed services and state and federal agencies.
The Student Affairs and Enrollment Management team supports a wide variety of functional area communities of practice. These communities are designed to connect professionals working in student affairs and enrollment management functional areas with colleagues working at all Minnesota State colleges and universities.
We invite Minnesota State employees to view the Communities of Practice page on ASA Connect to join communities of practice related to your work!
Dr. Paul Shepherd
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu
Shawn Anderson
System Director for Student Development and Success
Shawn.Anderson@MinnState.edu
Christopher Halling
System Director for Financial Aid
Christopher.Halling@MinnState.edu
Gary Hunter
System Director for Policy, Procedure, and Intellectual Property
Gary.Hunter@MinnState.edu
Kelly Hussong
Administrative Assistant for the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Kelly.Hussong@MinnState.edu
Kate Noelke
Director for Student Mental Health and Wellness
Kate.Noelke@MinnState.edu
Ali Pickens-Opoku
System Director for Strategic Enrollment Management
Ali.Pickens-Opoku@MinnState.edu
Gina Sobania
Director of Military, Veteran, and Adult Learner Services
Gina.Sobania@MinnState.edu