It almost seems as though Ohio University Communications and Marketing has begun issuing news releases in the form of Mad Libs. News of its frequent appointments might read like this:

“The search for a leader who can take Ohio University’s _______________ (insubstantial ideal) to the next level has successfully culminated in the appointment of ________________ (name of new administrator) to the position of _____________ (associate/vice/executive) _______________ (director/provost/president) of ______________ (superfluous or troubled department). The university created this position to oversee the implementation of _________________ (vague goals). _________________(new administrator’s name) will receive a salary of ________________ (exorbitant six-figure sum).

Such a template might be appropriate in light of the administration’s newest appointment: Craig Cornell, vice provost of enrollment management. Despite obvious budgetary woes, the university continues to create new administrative jobs and hire more and more high-paid administrators.

If this latest new position is essential, why wasn’t someone taking care of it before? University enrollment is no small matter, and it certainly shouldn’t have required an astonishing four-year search to find someone able to take on the task. In addition, OU has an Office of Institutional Research that compiles information about student enrollment — what have they been doing all this time? And if it is necessary to create new programs to increase undergraduate enrollment and to improve the quality of the undergraduate student population, as the real news release claims, will one position be enough?

The university needs to shape up — highly paid Band-Aid administrators will only compound, not fix, what’s wrong in Cutler Hall.