和记棋牌娱乐 welcomed the return of its nearly 750 教职员工 to campus Wednesday during its All-Employee Meeting, 大学校长博士. Lance Tatum outlined strategic priorities for the institution as it begins the 2024-25 academic year.
During his address to employees at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts, Tatum – who is entering his second year as the University’s 11th 总统 – expanded on the themes he discussed during his inaugural address last spring of enrollment growth and sustainability, enhancing the collegiate experience and supporting the people of Northwest.
“当一个人看着西北, 人们看到了对学生成功的坚定承诺, 和记棋牌娱乐认为这是和记棋牌娱乐任务的核心,塔图姆说. “除了, one would see a university committed to providing access to education for all students, particularly for those who may not be able to or may not desire to attend a large university. What has become obvious over the past year is that through deep interpersonal relationships, Northwest creates an environment where challenging and supporting students go hand in hand, leading students to positive experiences and powerful outcomes.”
As higher education confronts the threat of decreased enrollment and perceptions that the value of a college degree has diminished, Tatum maintained Northwest is an “exceptional university” that “thrives on the synergy between its dedicated students, 教职员工, bolstered by an engaged 校友 network and the support of a community that values its presence.”
Northwest surpassed 10,000 students for the first time last year. 今年秋天, the University is renewing its focus on increasing its on-campus undergraduate enrollment through investments in new tools, 修改招聘和录取策略, 提高品牌认知度.
The University also is working to attract students by offering opportunities in emerging programs such as 的电子竞技, which Northwest has quickly developed into one of the premier programs of its kind in the Midwest.
“The goal is not merely to get more students but to target and pursue the right students,塔图姆说. “We often say that if we can get a prospective student to Maryville, 他们可以看到和记棋牌娱乐校园的美丽, experience the culture of caring shown by our 教职员工, 并见证和记棋牌娱乐学生的兴奋, 他们会选择西北.”
西北总裁博士. Lance Tatum delivers his address to University employees during the annual All-Employee Meeting. (摄影:Todd Weddle/和记棋牌娱乐)
关于大学经历, Tatum recalled one of the first conversations he had with leadership upon beginning his presidency last year centered on Northwest’s aging infrastructure. 因此， 这所大学今年夏天开始了一项里程碑式的, $105 million infrastructure modernization project that will deliver more reliable, 可持续和经济高效的供暖, 校园设施的冷却和供水.
“虽然对一些人来说不方便, the energy modernization and Martindale Hall projects indicate progress,塔图姆说. “We promise there will be a day in our future when the holes and trenches around campus will be filled, 和记棋牌娱乐的停车位也会重新开放, 和记棋牌娱乐美丽的校园将被恢复.”
在他讲话的开头, 塔图姆回忆了他担任西北航空公司总裁的第一年, 包括他和他的妻子的欢迎气氛, 吉尔, have enjoyed in Maryville and through interactions with 校友 and friends of the University.
“不管是什么场合, 大或小, we have always walked away from those conversations impressed with the passion of those who call Northwest their university,塔图姆说. “在和记棋牌娱乐上任之初, 吉尔 and I would comment on how touched we were by the affinity and passion for Northwest voiced by those we had met. In the beginning, we were curious about what drove this passion. What was the secret sauce that connected people so deeply with this university? 当和记棋牌娱乐继续与员工互动时, 校友, 社区成员, 和学生, 很明显，秘密武器是它的人民, 包括前任和现任熊狸.”
In addition to Tatum’s remarks, Northwest employees heard from Dr. 罗伯特·沃斯，一位历史学副教授 教师参议院 总统; Duane Havard, the director of 校友 relations who is 员工委员会 总统; and Chloe DeVries, a senior biochemistry major from Red Oak, Iowa, who is serving as 学生参议院 总统.
DeVries backed up Tatum’s observation of Northwest’s “secret sauce” by reflecting on the ways faculty members like Professor of Political Science Dr. Brian Hesse and Senior Instructor of Chemistry Patricia Warner have had positive impacts on her.
“Every student has 教职员工 members who have made lasting impacts on them, 当我环顾四周, I see key people who have already shaped many of my friends or people that I count,德弗里斯说. “As we embark on a new school year, remember that these impacts happen every single day. 经常, they are small enough interactions that you might not realize it – when you stay after class to answer another homework problem, 当你问一个学生他们的游戏, 表现或活动, 或者去看他们, or when you bring treats to work … My list is too long to mention every person here who has had an impact on me. The 教职员工 are the foundation that makes Northwest special.”
