Dr. Althea Riddick Named Interim Assoc. Vice Chancellor Of Enrollment
Robert Kelly-Goss
Posted On July 28, 2017
Dr. Althea Riddick has spent 21 years in higher education, and that experience coupled with her current role as Elizabeth City State University’s registrar, has prompted Chancellor Thomas Conway to name the Gates County native interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment.
When asked about the appointment, Chancellor Conway remarked that, “Dr. Riddick has earned her reputation as an effective, no nonsense straight-talking leader in higher education during her tenure at both ECSU and COA. I have asked her to take on this new role knowing she has the trust and confidence of the campus and the communities we serve. Her leadership and energy is already making a positive difference.”
Dr. Riddick came to ECSU as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 2012, from College of the Albemarle, where she served as Vice President of Learning and Chief Academic Officer. She takes over ECSU’s top enrollment position at a time when the university is seeing a rise in admissions applications, and overall numbers.
During the Board of Trustees meeting in June, an enrollment report stated that 371 students had informed the University of their Intent to enroll. That’s up significantly over 2016.
As the university increases its efforts to enroll students, ECSU has received more than 2,000 completed applications from potential freshmen, up from more than 1,500 last year. From those applications, ECSU has accepted 1,400 students, up from 845 last year.
“My focus is to ensure the policies and procedures in all of enrollment management meet the expectations of current and prospective students, and our community stakeholders,” said Dr. Riddick.
Dr. Riddick is taking the enrollment helm ahead of the 2018 roll out of the N.C. Promise Tuition Plan. Approved by the legislature during the most recent budget session, N.C. Promise will allow in-state students to attend ECSU for $500 per semester, and out-of-state students $2,500 per semester.
The plan applies to all students, including those who began their college career before fall 2018. Student fees along with room and board cost will not be impacted.
According to Dr. Riddick, the enrollment and admissions staff is anticipating a great deal of interest in ECSU, as a result of the plan.
“We’re preparing for the increase in the fall of 2018, with N.C. Promise,” she said.
Dr. Riddick is a graduate of ECSU with a degree in business education. She went on to earn a master’s in vocation education from East Carolina University, and a doctorate in education from Northcentral University.
