EAST LANSING - Jim Cotter, the head of Michigan State University's Office of Admissions said he was shocked to learn the university wanted him out of the job he'd held for more than a decade.
But he was appalled by way the university announced his dismissal.
A news release put out Wednesday announcing an interim executive director of admissions and recruitment concluded by saying Cotter "is currently on paid administrative transition leave while he explores alternative opportunities being offered to him by the university."
In a statement of his own, Cotter called that statement "both disrespectful and poorly articulated.
"Having served at the University for more than thirty-four years, an institution I hold in highest esteem, I would expect more," he wrote.
Cotter, an MSU alumnus, said Thursday that MSU's announcement necessitated a response on his part.
"I want to make crystal clear that this is not a misconduct issue," he said.
Cotter said he was not given a reason as to why the university no longer wanted him in the job.
MSU expects its 8,400-student incoming freshman class to be its largest and most diverse ever.
Cotter said he was told that he'd met enrollment goals consistently. However, he also was told earlier this summer that the university wanted to move in a new direction with new leadership, he said.
Asked about Cotter's ousting, university spokesperson Emily Guerrant referenced Provost June Youatt's statement from the news release, in which Youatt said the office is "undertaking a set of sweeping changes that will allow them to address future challenges and more strategically recruit new Spartans."
Guerrant declined to discuss Cotter's job performance and said there are no investigations of Cotter by MSU's Office of Institutional Equity, which reviews complaints of discrimination and harassment.
“Jim is very much a valued member of the MSU community," she said.
John Ambrose, who joined MSU in 2008 as senior associate director for inclusion, strategic planning and student success, is filling in as interim head of the admission's office.
MSU trustee Brian Mosallam praised Cotter and his work on behalf of the university, writing in an email that he is a "tremendous ambassador of this university and is universally loved and respected around the country."
"This year we will have the largest, most diverse class in MSU history," Mosallam wrote. "That is because of Jim's leadership. I cannot say enough great things about him, and his work here at MSU."
Cotter played baseball at MSU as a student and was captain of the 1979 Big Ten Championship team.
Members of the 1979 Michigan State baseball team, standing from left: Mark Sutherland, Larry Hohs, Jim Cotter and Randy Hop. Seated from left are Joe Lopez, Eric Rosekrans and Randy Bastien. (Photo: File / Lansing State Journal)
Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.
Read Jim Cotter's full statement to the Lansing State Journal below:
"On this historic first day of class at Michigan State University I am compelled to respond to this afternoon’s poorly constructed media release regarding my dismissal as Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment at MSU. With the largest and most diverse freshman cohort in University history having moments ago finished their first day of classes, I am proud of all our Admissions TEAM accomplished under my leadership. For a press release to suggest that I am on “paid administrative transition leave, while exploring alternatives being offered by the university” is both disrespectful and poorly articulated. Having served at the University for more than thirty-four years, an institution I hold in highest esteem, I would expect more.
As I have remained quiet since my dismissal on August 7th, 2018, today’s poorly written and misleading release now makes it necessary for me to speak out. I can assure my many professional and personal associates, including my family, that this transition was by no means prompted by poor performance or unethical behavior. I was shocked to be informed that my services were no longer needed despite being assured, during the same conversation, that I had met every stated enrollment goal over my nearlyeleven year tenure as director.
To those who have reached out on my behalf, my most sincere gratitude. I have served Michigan State University with my heart, my soul and my mind since my days as an undergraduate in the 1970s. This evening I have no regrets but am stunned by the actions and words of a university that I dearly love."
Respectfully,
James William Cotter
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