Northwest beginning 2024-25 with sights on enrollment growth, enhancing collegiate experience

Northwest Missouri State University welcomed the return of its nearly 750 faculty and staff to campus Wednesday during its All-Employee Meeting, where University President Dr. 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 president – 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.

“When one looks at Northwest, one sees an unwavering commitment to student success, which we believe is at the heart of our mission,” Tatum said. “In addition, 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, faculty and staff, bolstered by an engaged alumni network and the support of a community that values its presence.”

Northwest surpassed 10,000 students for the first time last year. This fall, the University is renewing its focus on increasing its on-campus undergraduate enrollment through investments in new tools, modifying recruitment and admissions strategies, and improving its brand perception.

The University also is working to attract students by offering opportunities in emerging programs such as eSports, 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,” Tatum said. “We often say that if we can get a prospective student to Maryville, and they can see the beauty of our campus, experience the culture of caring shown by our faculty and staff, and witness the excitement of our students, they will choose Northwest.”

Regarding the college experience, Tatum recalled one of the first conversations he had with leadership upon beginning his presidency last year centered on Northwest’s aging infrastructure. As a result, the University embarked this summer on a monumental, $105 million infrastructure modernization project that will deliver more reliable, sustainable and cost-effective heating, cooling and water to campus facilities.

Additionally, a renovation is underway at Martindale Hall that is transforming that building into a state-of-the-art academic space for training future allied health professionals.

“Although an inconvenience for some, the energy modernization and Martindale Hall projects indicate progress,” Tatum said. “We promise there will be a day in our future when the holes and trenches around campus will be filled, and our parking spaces will be open again, and our beautiful campus will be restored.”

At the outset of his remarks, Tatum reflected on his first year as Northwest’s president, including the welcoming atmosphere he and his wife, Jill, have enjoyed in Maryville and through interactions with alumni and friends of the University.

“No matter the occasion, big or small, we have always walked away from those conversations impressed with the passion of those who call Northwest their university,” Tatum said. “Early in our tenure, Jill 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? As we continued interacting with employees, alumni, community members, and students, it became clear that the secret sauce is its people, both former and current Bearcats.”

In addition to Tatum’s remarks, Northwest employees heard from Dr. Robert Voss, an associate professor of history who is Faculty Senate president; Duane Havard, the director of alumni relations who is Staff Council president; and Chloe DeVries, a senior biochemistry major from Red Oak, Iowa, who is serving as Student Senate president.

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 faculty and staff members who have made lasting impacts on them, and as I look around, I see key people who have already shaped many of my friends or people that I count,” DeVries said. “As we embark on a new school year, remember that these impacts happen every single day. Often, they are small enough interactions that you might not realize it – when you stay after class to answer another homework problem, when you ask a student about their game, performance or activity, or show up to watch them, 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 faculty and staff are the foundation that makes Northwest special.”