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.

Northwood Texas campus History/Facilities

Northwood University’s Cedar Hill campus opened in 1966, and continues to serve students from Texas, the nation, and the world.

Cedarwood Bridge

The Cedarwood Bridge was built in 1921, and donated to Northwood University by the Texas Department of Transportation. It was moved to the campus in May 2003 from its original location over the Paluxy River in Bluff Dale in Erath County. The blue “Knight” symbols on the bridge were added by contractors when it was reassembled on the Texas campus.

Hach Library

The building was named after Kathryn Hach, Chairman and CEO of the Hach Company which developed water and wastewater instrumentation. The Hach Library building is one of a few original Texas campus buildings. Years ago, the building was a boy’s camp lodge. Throughout the years, the building served as cafeteria, bookstore, Academic Dean and Registrar offices, as well as faculty offices. Currently, the facility houses the library and the Northwood National Costume Collection.

Samuel Sloan Cabin

Samuel Sloan moved to Texas from Arkansas in 1836 and served in the Texas army. He was married to Nancy Ann Pettigrew and raised thirteen children. Sloan built the cabin on the west side of the Trinity River in the mid 1840s on 320 acres of land that was obtained as payment for his service in the Texas army.

The cabin was moved to the Northwood University site and restored in 1983-84. The restoration by Northwood was made possible by gifts from Samuel Sloan descendants. This structure is one of the oldest structures in Dallas County. It serves as office space for faculty.

Butler Building

Original to the Texas campus, the Butler Building served many different uses. The building has been used as classrooms, offices, and a weight room. For several years, the traditional “haunted house” fundraiser program was located in the Butler Building. Currently, the Butler Building houses the program for working adults, University College, classrooms, faculty offices, and the Butler Art Gallery.

Patterson Memorial Chapel

In 1865, a group met in a log schoolhouse at the border of Freestone and Navarro Counties. In 1876, under the leadership of Rev. W.L. Patterson and Rev. Thomas J. Bonner, and with pledges of money and labor, a new building was erected and named. The Richland Association Reformed Presbyterian Church later became Eureka Presbyterian Church.

By the early 1980s, membership had transferred to the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Corsicana, leaving a vacant building slated for disposal. It was discovered by Mrs. Doc Swalwell in 1983, and at the request of the church congregation was deeded to the Swalwell’s in 1989. The Stalwell’s gifted the chapel to Northwood. It was moved to the Northwood University campus in October 1989.

The facility is used for special campus programs and houses the offices of Alumni, Annual Giving and Career Services.

Lambert Commons Building

The building was dedicated March 21, 1971 in honor of the late Joseph Lambert, Junior, a nationally known architect, businessman, and civic leader. The building then became the home of the library, cafeteria, and college administrative offices. In 2004, Lambert’s interior was redesigned to better utilize available space.

Athletics

The Texas campus early athletic history includes football, basketball, and soccer. Although the football and basketball programs faded from the scene, men and women’s soccer, golf, and cross country along with men’s baseball and women’s softball provide excellent athletic competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Each year, many Northwood University athletes earn Athletic All-American honors for academic and athletic accomplishments.

Student Organizations

Student involvement includes student government, sororities, fraternities and local and national campus organizations. Delta Epsilon Chi members routinely earn the right to compete at state and national competitions. Members have won many business events and are recognized by peers as students from one of the top business colleges in the nation.

Edwin and Amy Hopkins Academic Building

Dedicated in 1987, the Edwin and Amy Hopkins Academic Building is nestled across a ravine on the rolling grounds of the Texas campus. The 15,500 square foot structure contains ten classrooms, faculty and academic offices, a bookstore plus an academic computer room. Four of the large classrooms, each with a capacity of fifty, form a dramatic circle which when opened up by the use of moveable walls form an amphitheater with tiered seating arranged around a central platform.