ONE Northwood University

Feb 8, 2008

Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

Northwood Colleagues:

Our Board of Trustees (BOT) is made up of 23 women and men who serve without remuneration to provide policy guidance and direction for our University. They are true leaders who give generously of their time and talent to ensure our University is progressing satisfactorily. The BOT met on the Florida Campus January 25 during a very active week including the Outstanding Business Leaders (OBL) Gala and Forum as well the Dow/Hantz graduate students on campus. This week's message is a brief recap of many of the topics we discussed. I hope you will take away from this the enthusiasm as well as the depth of inquiry with which the Officer Team and BOT are addressing the future of Northwood University.

Probably top of mind for everyone is what is happening in the terms and semesters discussion. No decisions yet, but I can assure you the debate was lively at the BOT Academic Committee. There are reasons to retain terms just as there are reasons to change to semesters. I will not recount the pros and cons of each here for fear of over- or understating a particular viewpoint. However, I can assure you once the choice is made, the decision will be final. Mission accomplished. We will further focus our energies on the pressing business of communicating the decision and the rationale of the decision, and any steps needed to implement the change in either format.

The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) has led much of our activity. The completion of the Systems Portfolio last fall revealed "Opportunities for Improvement" across academic and operational areas. Fundamental to change driven by AQIP is the need for actions to be based on data. To that end, assessments as outlined in the Systems Portfolio and program reviews have been or are soon to be launched–National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Student Opinion Survey, Academic Program Review Process, and Northwood Strategic Planning Process (NSPP). The Dashboard/Scorecard project has not only caught on but is being widely used to track and measure progress.

Much discussion revolved around opportunities for enrollment enhancement such as dual enrollment structures, transfer articulation process, high school articulation process, and on-line accrediting process, increasing community college and transfer applications, etc. The enrollment model now shared by University College (UC) and DeVos in Michigan is being looked at as an efficient means for recruiting adult students. It has also prompted active discussion around other common points of enrollment, something that has the potential to simplify the complexities presented by our multi-unit structure.

The 50th Anniversary logo was unveiled along with a lengthy discussion of the various activities that will be a part of our 50th year celebration. Details were shared on the progress of the book to be written on our history. Dr. David Fry and Dr. David Richards of the Margaret Chase Smith Library will be the co-authors of this publication.

For the first time at a BOT meeting, athletics was on the agenda. Florida, Texas, and Michigan athletic directors all reported increases in their athletic rosters and a host of awards, recognitions, and wins, and an outline of the challenges and needs of our programs. With athletics being a key element in enrollment management, campus spirit, and eventual alumni and community involvement, we were pleased to include this information in our considerations.

On-line program delivery was explored as regards its growth potential for traditional, DeVos and UC. The fastest growing aspect of higher education, on-line learning, can be a key factor in uniting us as One Northwood. Expect to hear more about this in the coming months.

A report on our International Program Centers (IPC) held our Board's attention. IPCs are becoming a significant proportion of Northwood's student population. We have seen a more than five-fold increase in enrollment from 76 students in fall 2002 to 429 in fall 2007. The combined programs in China (Changchun and Wuxi) represent the biggest share of the increase at 273 students. Switzerland is next with 95. Count on our global presence to be an increasingly important part of the future of Northwood University.

Growth capacity, facilities, faculty/staff development, budgeting processes, communications and marketing were discussed. In the upcoming Weekly Messages, I will report on each endeavor as it develops further.

The BOT meetings are where all our planning and work is put on the table and the future of Northwood University is determined. You may have noticed by now I feel strongly about the importance of communications within an organization. Our next BOT meeting is in May and you can expect a recap of that meeting after it occurs.

Have a great weekend!

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)

pretty@northwood.edu

Feb 8, 2008
	Board of Trustees Meeting Recap Northwood Colleagues: Our Board of Trustees (BOT) is made up of 23 women and men who serve without remuneration to provide policy guidance and direction for our University. They are true leaders who give generously of their time and talent to ensure our University is progressing satisfactorily. The BOT met on the Florida Campus January 25 during a very active week including the Outstanding Business Leaders (OBL) Gala and Forum as well the Dow/Hantz graduate students on campus. This week's message is a brief recap of many of the topics we discussed. I hope you will take away from this the enthusiasm as well as the depth of inquiry with which the Officer Team and BOT are addressing the future of Northwood University. Probably top of mind for everyone is what is happening in the terms and semesters discussion. No decisions yet, but I can assure you the debate was lively at the BOT Academic Committee. There are reasons to retain terms just as there are reasons to change to semesters. I will not recount the pros and cons of each here for fear of over- or understating a particular viewpoint. However, I can assure you once the choice is made, the decision will be final. Mission accomplished. We will further focus our energies on the pressing business of communicating the decision and the rationale of the decision, and any steps needed to implement the change in either format. The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) has led much of our activity. The completion of the Systems Portfolio last fall revealed "Opportunities for Improvement" across academic and operational areas. Fundamental to change driven by AQIP is the need for actions to be based on data. To that end, assessments as outlined in the Systems Portfolio and program reviews have been or are soon to be launched–National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Student Opinion Survey, Academic Program Review Process, and Northwood Strategic Planning Process (NSPP). The Dashboard/Scorecard project has not only caught on but is being widely used to track and measure progress. Much discussion revolved around opportunities for enrollment enhancement such as dual enrollment structures, transfer articulation process, high school articulation process, and on-line accrediting process, increasing community college and transfer applications, etc. The enrollment model now shared by University College (UC) and DeVos in Michigan is being looked at as an efficient means for recruiting adult students. It has also prompted active discussion around other common points of enrollment, something that has the potential to simplify the complexities presented by our multi-unit structure. The 50th Anniversary logo was unveiled along with a lengthy discussion of the various activities that will be a part of our 50th year celebration. Details were shared on the progress of the book to be written on our history. Dr. David Fry and Dr. David Richards of the Margaret Chase Smith Library will be the co-authors of this publication. For the first time at a BOT meeting, athletics was on the agenda. Florida, Texas, and Michigan athletic directors all reported increases in their athletic rosters and a host of awards, recognitions, and wins, and an outline of the challenges and needs of our programs. With athletics being a key element in enrollment management, campus spirit, and eventual alumni and community involvement, we were pleased to include this information in our considerations. On-line program delivery was explored as regards its growth potential for traditional, DeVos and UC. The fastest growing aspect of higher education, on-line learning, can be a key factor in uniting us as One Northwood. Expect to hear more about this in the coming months. A report on our International Program Centers (IPC) held our Board's attention. IPCs are becoming a significant proportion of Northwood's student population. We have seen a more than five-fold increase in enrollment from 76 students in fall 2002 to 429 in fall 2007. The combined programs in China (Changchun and Wuxi) represent the biggest share of the increase at 273 students. Switzerland is next with 95. Count on our global presence to be an increasingly important part of the future of Northwood University. Growth capacity, facilities, faculty/staff development, budgeting processes, communications and marketing were discussed. In the upcoming Weekly Messages, I will report on each endeavor as it develops further. The BOT meetings are where all our planning and work is put on the table and the future of Northwood University is determined. You may have noticed by now I feel strongly about the importance of communications within an organization. Our next BOT meeting is in May and you can expect a recap of that meeting after it occurs. Have a great weekend! Keith A. Pretty, J.D. President and CEO Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 989.837.4203 (phone) 989.832.9590 (fax) pretty@northwood.edu