Northwood University is Doing Good Things

If you visit Northwood University these days, you’ll notice a real good vibe on campus. - Midland Daily News 

An editorial in the March 29, 2012 edition of the Midland Daily News sings our praises, pointing out many of the good things happening at Northwood University. “You’ll be impressed with what you see,” proclaim the editors. 

While it is always nice to receive outside recognition there is only so much a visiting editorial writer can capture in one visit. As you and I know from the Spring System Update, there are many good things happening at our University, thanks in large measure to the good work all of you do, which include: 

• Fall enrollment commits are up on two of our residential campuses over 2011 and we have a number of new and innovative efforts such as the Summer Tuition Discount and Seamless Enrollment-Flexible Delivery under way to increase these further.
• The numbers for our DeVos Graduate School and Adult Degree Program are over 100%.
• Josh Linkner and the Texas campus’s panel discussion moderated by NU Governor Bill Wallace highlight a steady stream of cutting-edge business leaders who continue to visit our campuses to share their experience and insight with our students. 
• Several of our athletic teams such as the Florida and Michigan men’s basketball teams enjoyed successful seasons while their respective coaches, Rollie Massimino and Jeff Rekeweg, also took home honors.
• Our Study Abroad Program won the YPO’s “Best of the Best” Award for the second time in its third year in existence.
• DECA teams in Florida and Michigan took home state championships.
• The Texas Iron Knights (similar to Iron Chef) was a huge success.
• As seen in the example of our new Lansing, Michigan site we are focused on growing the Northwood enterprise in markets with strong community college partnerships. 

Many of the good things happening at NU include positives for each of us individually: 

• Our “Get Fit” program is at the half way mark and so far the results are very positive.
• As of April 20, Northwood will broaden its TIAA-CREF investment funds from 12 to 33.
• Employees who participate in our healthcare program will receive a 60% rebate of their total contribution for 2011. 

All that and so much more are reasons to celebrate and stay positive. But as we also know from the System Update we have our work cut out for us too. We need to keep these successes in mind as we focus our energy and attention on those things that need improving, the most important being enrollment on our three residential campuses.

For certain, we have many important tasks before us but increased enrollment is, and must remain, job one especially over the next four months. I encourage each of you to keep your focus and a positive attitude, especially in finding new and innovative ways to attract more students to our campuses.

To see the complete Midland Daily News editorial click here. 

Have a great weekend!

Keith

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
pretty@northwood.edu