National Student Clearinghouse Appoints Dr. Donald Hossler as Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

HERNDON, Va., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Student Clearinghouse has appointed Indiana University School of Education Professor Dr. Donald Hossler as executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the research arm of the National Student Clearinghouse. Dr. Hossler will remain on the faculty at Indiana University (IU), where he will continue to teach graduate classes and conduct research. His appointment begins February 8, 2010.

The National Student Clearinghouse is the nation's trusted source for degree and enrollment information and provides reporting, verification and research services for more than 3,300 colleges and universities representing over 92% of the nation's postsecondary enrolled students. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center collaborates with higher education institutions, states, school districts, individual high schools, educational organizations and the U.S. Department of Education as part of a national effort to better inform education leaders and policymakers.  Through accurate longitudinal data outcomes reporting, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center enables better educational policy decisions leading to improved student outcomes.

Dr. Hossler is an internationally-recognized expert on issues of college choice, student financial aid policy, enrollment management, and higher education finance. As executive director, he will oversee the research center's operations, strategies and delivery of its public service mission.  The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center works very closely with higher education institutions and school districts to assure it can provide cost effective, reliable, accurate and impactful reports, while protecting the privacy of students and institutions. Dr. Hossler has directed the Project on Academic Success (PAS), part of the IU Center for Postsecondary Research (CPR). In his new role, IU faculty and staff from PAS and CPR will assist in future projects.

Currently, Dr. Hossler is the Executive Associate Dean for the School of Education at Indiana University Bloomington.  In addition, he is professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and the coordinator of the Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate programs.  Dr. Hossler has also served as the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services for IU Bloomington, and the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services for the seven campuses of the Indiana University system, and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies.  He has received career achievement awards for his research and scholarship from the American College Personnel Association, the Association for Institutional Research, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.  

During his long and distinguished career, Dr. Hossler has consulted with dozens of colleges, universities, and related educational organizations.  He has presented more than 130 scholarly papers and lectures and authored or co-authored 12 books and monographs and more than 65 articles and book chapters. His areas of specialization include college choice, student persistence, student financial aid policy, and enrollment management. He currently directs funded projects of The College Board, the Lumina Foundation for Education, and the Spencer Foundation focusing on student success and persistence.  

ABOUT THE NATIONAL STUDENT CLEARINGHOUSE®

The National Student Clearinghouse (a non-profit formed in 1993) is the unique and trusted source for higher education enrollment and degree verifications.  The Clearinghouse serves as a single point of contact for the collection and timely exchange of accurate and comprehensive enrollment, degree and certificate records on behalf of its more than 3,300 participating higher education institutions, which represent over 92% of the national enrollment.

Through its verification and reporting services, the Clearinghouse saves higher education institutions cumulatively more than a hundred million dollars annually.  Most Clearinghouse services are provided to colleges and universities at little or no charge, including enhanced transcript and research services, enabling institutions to redistribute limited staff and budget resources to more important student service efforts.  All Clearinghouse services are operated in full compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

In addition, the Clearinghouse provides accurate FERPA compliant verifications to student loan providers, employers, student credit issuers, student health insurance providers, the U.S. Department of Education, and others who access its registry more than 100 million times annually.  

For more information, visit www.studentclearinghouse.org.

SOURCE National Student Clearinghouse