1959 was a very good year.

Alaska and Hawaii became states; Jack Nicklaus won the USGA Amateur Championship; the Frisbee debuted; the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union was running at full steam ahead; and Northwood University was born.

As Gary Stauffer and Arthur Turner watched the race to space, they envisioned a new type of university - one where management led the way. While the frontiers of space were revealing their mysteries, Stauffer and Turner understood that all endeavors - technical, manufacturing, marketing, retail, all business types - needed management that could lead the way.

Then and Now

Northwood University educates the managers of the future - skill savvy, ethically impeccable leaders who know how to get the best from their teams and forge new processes to keep up with the expanding U.S. and ultimately, global economy. These are the graduates of Northwood.

The Northwood Idea

Northwood began in a 19th century mansion in Alma, Michigan. In 1993 after years of growth backed by the solid branding of the Northwood identity, Northwood officially became Northwood University. In 1959 and still today, the Northwood Idea of incorporating the teachings of the American free enterprise system into college classrooms has been an unquestionable success.

Today, there are campuses in Midland, Michigan; Cedar Hill, Texas; and West Palm Beach, Florida, as well as extension centers across the United States and abroad. There is also the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine, in addition to continuing education programs across the United States and Canada, a growing external degree program, and the Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management.

The Northwood Education Business

Northwood University is a private, tax-exempt, independent, co-educational, management-oriented college actively allied to business and the arts. Northwood translates its philosophy into practical, useful curriculums that are designed to prepare students for the realities of the working world. Northwood brings the business world into the classroom. Business instructors are successful career professionals who have chosen to direct their business talents toward preparing students about to enter the work world.

Practical Education

Northwood's career curriculums are developed in response to the needs of business and industry. Northwood University’s curriculums offer the most up-to-date programs and information. Practicing business professionals come to the classroom equipped with the most current relevant descriptions of what is transpiring in today's business world.

Graduates of Northwood have a solid understanding of business and practical, useful management skills. Graduates are successful in immediately becoming a part of the business world and have been prepared for it through a placement service that begins to work for students at freshman orientation and continues throughout their lives.

Northwood friends often remark that businesses are built on confidence, on making markets, on getting people excited and facing challenges. The Northwood Idea has never been described more accurately.

Geography

Reminiscent of the Florida Everglades, the 90 tropical acres that would become home to Northwood University’s Florida campus was originally inhabited by flora and fauna native to the South Florida region.

Northwood Florida Begins

In March 1984, Northwood began offering classes on the site under the leadership of Provost John Haynie. The Dalby Commons, originally built in 1982 as a conference center, served as the main campus, which functioned as an all purpose classroom, office and library building.

Imminent Growth

As word spread about Northwood’s cutting edge business curriculum, enrollment steadily grew. In 1985, ground was broken for the Johann M. and Arthur E. Turner Education Center. One of the interesting architectural features of the Turner Education Center is the library’s seeming levitation over the lake. The lake had to be dredged in order to make this possible.

A four million dollar, 38,000 square foot facility, the education center was named as a tribute to the Turners who were founders of Northwood. It was officially dedicated January 24, 1987. Serving for approximately ten years as a multi-purpose building, the Turner Education Center was a self contained institution housing offices, classrooms, an auditorium and an art gallery. Located on the first floor of the Turner Education Center, the Jeannette Hare Art Gallery was dedicated in the name of the Belgian-born sculptress after her 1995 death.

Housing Accommodations

Responding to the need for housing to accommodate increased global enrollments, the Willa M. and R. Gary Stauffer Residence Complex was constructed in February 1989.

Following construction of the Stauffer Residence Complex, the Smith Family Recreation Complex was dedicated November 1991 in remembrance of Steven Smith, the deceased son of Maureen and David Smith. The Smith Recreation complex contains a pool, handball, and tennis courts. The complex also contains a sand volleyball court and administrative offices.

Academic Excellence

Next, the DeVos-Cook Academic Center was constructed. The DeVos-Cook Academic Center, was dedicated on December 5, 1995, and named after Northwood supporters Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway Corp. and owner of the Orlando Magic, and Peter C. Cook, a leader in the automotive industry. The 23,000 square foot facility houses state of the art classrooms and faculty offices. The building is easily accessible from both the Dalby Commons and The Stauffer Residence Complex via a pedestrian bridge.

Athletes Respond

Throughout Northwood’s Florida campus history students have approached athletics with as much competitiveness as they do their business careers. Northwood accommodated a variety of athletic groups by constructing several facilities including: the Gustave T. Broberg Athletic Complex in 1994; the Arrigo-Vecellio Soccer Field in 2001; and the Arthur W. Silvester Jr. Baseball Field and Alumni Softball Field in 2002.

Student Life

Adding to the vision of on-campus student activities and competitive indoor sports, The Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center broke ground on May 13, 2004. Named after Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, a world famous philanthropist, the 50,000 square foot, state of the art, six million dollar facility was dedicated April 2006. The Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center serves as the first official home to Northwood’s Seahawks volleyball and basketball teams. In addition to indoor basketball and volleyball courts, the center provides locker rooms, weight and aerobics facilities, a student lounge, classrooms and a variety of offices and student facilities.

Global Diversity

While the Florida location is the youngest of the three campuses, it has quickly become the most regionally diverse. Northwood University hosts students from more than 40 countries and 35 states. The student diversity has become as global as its business perspective.