STEUBENVILLE — Eastern Gateway Community College has taken steps to address academic and financial issues raised by higher education oversight agencies, officials have announced.

Mike Sherman, who has decades of higher education leadership experience and was highly recommended by former Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel, will serve Eastern Gateway as an executive on loan.

Sherman will report to the Eastern Gateway Board of Trustees with a direct line to the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Sherman will oversee an assessment of the college’s internal operations and the development of an action plan to address the most critical priorities needed to stabilize the institution.

Lauren Mounty, who began working with Eastern Gateway on Dec. 11, will continue to serve as the lead person responsible for review and evaluation of the college’s financial aid department, specifically with the goal of updating internal processes and procedures to facilitate timely and consistent Pell Grant reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Education.

John Crooks will continue to lead Eastern Gateway as interim president while focusing on items identified by the Higher Learning Commission to maintain the college’s accreditation status.

To date, Eastern Gateway has satisfactorily addressed six of the seven items identified by the commission.

As Eastern Gateway’s provost before being named interim president, Crooks’ academic experience will be instrumental in the college’s ability to address HLC’s remaining concerns, school officials said.

“I am grateful for the expertise provided by all three of these individuals, and the board is committed to supporting them so that Eastern Gateway can continue providing a quality academic experience for the students we serve,” said Jim Gasior, chair of EGCC’s board of trustees. “We believe there is a bright future ahead for Eastern Gateway, and the work we do now will help ensure the lasting legacy of our college.”