A longtime Michigan State University official, who recruited one of the biggest and most diverse groups of students to the university, is watching the start of the new school year from the sidelines. It’s a move he says blindsided him.

For more than a decade, Jim Cotter has been the Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment at MSU.

On August 7th, he was dismissed from his job after more than 34 years of service and has since been replaced.

Through a news release on Wednesday, MSU announced Cotter’s dismissal, saying its replacing him with his colleague, John Ambrose. Ambrose has served as a longtime senior associate director in the university’s Office of Admissions.

It’s important to mention however, that although he was dismissed, Cotter was not fired and is still an employee with the university. It is undetermined what his future role with the university will be.

In its statement, MSU said the changes were necessary to address “future challenges” and change the way it recruits students.

This comes at a time when the university has welcomed one of its largest and most diverse groups of incoming freshman students in its history, even after a tumultuous year and a half of dominating headlines for its handling of sexual assaults by former MSU doctor Larry Nassar.

Helping to drive those numbers is Cotter, who has worked for the university for more than three decades; 11 of which serving in the role as director of the Office of Admissions.

In Wednesday’s announcement, MSU said Ambrose has been selected to be interim director for admissions and recruitment.

“Ambrose is now responsible for leading the team tasked with recruiting, admitting and enrolling undergraduate students as well as coordinating with academic leadership for scholastic achievement,” the news release said.

That public announcement, issued by MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant, didn’t sit well with Cotter.

He said it was “poorly written and misleading,” which has prompted him to speak out for the first time since he was dismissed from his role earlier this month.

“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,” Cotter said on Wednesday. “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.”

Cotter continued by expressing his distaste for the context in which MSU made the announcement.

“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,” Cotter said. “Having served at the University for more than thirty-four years, an institution I hold in highest esteem, I would expect more.”

Cotter continued by saying that he can “assure” that his many professional and personal associates, including his 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 conversations, that I had met every stated enrollment goal over my nearly eleven-year tenure as director.”

In September of 2007, MSU announced Cotter’s appointment as the director of the Office of Admissions after completing a national search.

During that time, he had been serving as acting director during the 2006-07 academic year.

According to an MSU press release, during his time as acting director, Cotter “worked to move fresh recruitment strategies and new admissions research projects forward.”

Cotter is no stranger to campus. Before taking on this new role, he had been the senior associate director of the Office of Admissions; a position he held since 2000.

He is also an MSU alumnus.

“Cotter brings significant knowledge of the admissions profession and a commitment to applying his talents to new leadership challenges,” Linda Stanford said in the 2007 news release.

At the time the press release was published, Stanford was the associate provost for academic Services.

“Known for his dynamic presentations and loyalty to Michigan State, Jim will expand the role of the Office of Admissions within the university and in relation to external partners,” Stanford said.

According to a news release from May of this year, the 2018-19 freshman class, made up of roughly 8,400 students, is the second-largest domestic non-resident total in university history.

“The class represents an increase in in-state students,” it says. “Currently, 76 percent of incoming freshman are from Michigan, compared to 70 percent at this time last year.”

The university says, at the same time, the academic profile of the 2018-19 class remains consistent with the middle 50 percent having an ACT composite score of 23-29 and SAT combined score of 1130-1300.

Among domestic students, African American enrollment is up nearly 24 percent.

“MSU continues to have the largest population of African American students in the Big Ten,” the release says. “Hispanic enrollment is up 25 percent, while Asian enrollment climbed 36 percent.”

Despite that data, MSU said it is going in a different direction as it relates to its leadership in the office of admissions.

“The Office of Admissions is undertaking a set of sweeping changes that will allow them to address future challenges and more strategically recruit new Spartans,” MSU Provost June Pierce Youatt said in the news release. “I am very pleased John Ambrose has stepped up to lead MSU admissions on an interim basis while they undergo the work of realignment.”

Ambrose replaces Cotter, who is currently on paid administrative transition leave, according to the university, while he “explores alternative opportunities being offered to him by the university.”

In a statement, Ambrose said it is an “honor to continue in this important work alongside such an incredible group of persons.”

He also attributed the office’s success, in large part, to Cotter.

“For more than 10 years, Jim Cotter guided one of the most diverse groups of professionals I have ever worked with and the impact of his inclusive leadership style is not just local but national and global.”

When asked what kind of “future challenges” MSU is facing, university spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said the challenges refers to “recruiting future students based on the more competitive circumstances.”

Guerrant continued by saying that birth rates in Michigan and across the Midwest are lower than previous decades, with fewer 18-22 year-olds to recruit college.

“This isn’t unique for MSU, all colleges, community colleges and institutions of higher learning will be faced with the same challenge of competing for fewer students,” she added. “MSU will need to rethink its recruitment and marketing strategies to keep up.”

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as of this year, our state’s birth rate is tied at a record low.

Ambrose became an employee of the university back in 2008 as the senior associate director for inclusion, strategic planning and student success.

According to MSU, while in that role, Ambrose developed recruitment initiatives for undergraduate students as part of efforts to promote a balanced and diverse community on campus.

The Detroit native is a graduate of Cass Technical High School. His degree is from Western Michigan University and Marygrove College.

Prior to joining the Spartans, he served in leadership at the national and state levels of the Michigan Association for College of Admissions Counseling.

“He is heavily involved in community youth development programs such as Michigan Youth Foundation and the Michigan Golf Program,” according to Wednesday’s release.

* This story corrected a reference to John Ambrose’s first name as well as Linda Stanford’s first and last name.