In March, I reported in this paper that "Northland College is resilient, unique, committed to partnership and service, and working to expand the ways that we enrich the economic sustainability and cultural vibrancy of Ashland and the region." I am now delighted to point to solid data and exciting new initiatives that support those assertions.
Let's start with the data. This coming fall, Northland College will welcome the largest new class of students in years. The numbers of new first year students and transfer students will each exceed previous years. Included in this class will be more local students, as well as students from coast to coast, who come to this community because of our strong curriculum, hands-on approach to teaching and learning, and promise of internships that increase job prospects and starting salaries for our graduates. The strong academic and extracurricular talents of these new students is just as exciting. And while the numbers to date are very strong, the applications continue to come in!
Clearly, prospective students like the options and the opportunities that we offer, and appreciate the generous financial aid and scholarship assistance, including our unique Access Guarantee program where qualified students can obtain the benefits of a private college education at a public school cost. Our work to make transferring to Northland College easier is also being well received. Finally, adding to our strong enrollment data for the fall are numbers showing that our retention of current students is also increasing thanks to a series of efforts championed by a faculty, staff and student retention task force.
As was reported not long ago, the generous support of donors led to a breakout year. We surpassed all of our goals for raising scholarship dollars. The loyalty and generosity of those who have helped with these gifts (employees, alumni, friends, corporate and foundation partners) is humbling and remarkable. We also recently accepted a large anonymous gift that relieved much of our debt and placed us in an even more secure position. At the very time when many colleges are struggling to survive, Northland now has the opportunity to grow and improve.
We are reviewing a variety of reports and plans created last year, and will be making several new commitments to you next year. One is commitment is our expanded support and services to Native American communities, families, and youth through the initiation of an Indigenous Cultures Center and expanded resources to our Native American Studies Program. Northland envisions an Indigenous Cultures Center that can serve as a primary place of cultural exchange, learning, and a place where individuals collaborate to find solutions to community issues.
In addition, Northland will continue to promote service programs with and for the city and region. We remain actively engaged in the "Friends of the Field" effort to find ways to improve the shared athletic facilities used by the Ashland school district, community, and college. These joint efforts proceed even as we continue our work on an athletic master plan. We have also committed to enhancing community opportunities to engage with the campus for arts and letters offerings.
Another exciting way the college is expanding and improving is the way we partner with and provide expertise to the region. The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) has a strong tradition of actively engaging the community, professionals across the region, and the college (students, faculty, and staff) in important environmental work. We have taken steps to support and strengthen the institute in news ways. In so doing, there will be growth in programming, additional personnel, expansion of the areas of emphasis, improved clarity in the structure of the work and in the ways to connect with the people of the region. In the fall we will initiate a national search for a new SOEI Executive Director. There will be three areas of focus including Integrated Ecosystem Science (research and field work funded primarily by grants and contracts), Sigurd Olson Legacy (wilderness and adventure education), and Sustainability (to include trainings, research, outreach and programming related to creating human, economic, and environmental wellbeing). Area leaders and other staff will be hired to join with our current staff to make this all successful. Other strengthened college operations such as our grants support office will also support further growth of the institute.
Northland College is proud to be woven deeply into the fabric of the Ashland community and region. We continue to recruit and hire new employees who are or become active citizens here. We welcome you to campus and invite conversation on additional ways we can be important to you. Only in working together to strengthen the Chequamegon Bay region can we build opportunities for our collective and individual wellbeing. Join us as we work toward that new future.
Let's start with the data. This coming fall, Northland College will welcome the largest new class of students in years. The numbers of new first year students and transfer students will each exceed previous years. Included in this class will be more local students, as well as students from coast to coast, who come to this community because of our strong curriculum, hands-on approach to teaching and learning, and promise of internships that increase job prospects and starting salaries for our graduates. The strong academic and extracurricular talents of these new students is just as exciting. And while the numbers to date are very strong, the applications continue to come in!
Clearly, prospective students like the options and the opportunities that we offer, and appreciate the generous financial aid and scholarship assistance, including our unique Access Guarantee program where qualified students can obtain the benefits of a private college education at a public school cost. Our work to make transferring to Northland College easier is also being well received. Finally, adding to our strong enrollment data for the fall are numbers showing that our retention of current students is also increasing thanks to a series of efforts championed by a faculty, staff and student retention task force.
As was reported not long ago, the generous support of donors led to a breakout year. We surpassed all of our goals for raising scholarship dollars. The loyalty and generosity of those who have helped with these gifts (employees, alumni, friends, corporate and foundation partners) is humbling and remarkable. We also recently accepted a large anonymous gift that relieved much of our debt and placed us in an even more secure position. At the very time when many colleges are struggling to survive, Northland now has the opportunity to grow and improve.
We are reviewing a variety of reports and plans created last year, and will be making several new commitments to you next year. One is commitment is our expanded support and services to Native American communities, families, and youth through the initiation of an Indigenous Cultures Center and expanded resources to our Native American Studies Program. Northland envisions an Indigenous Cultures Center that can serve as a primary place of cultural exchange, learning, and a place where individuals collaborate to find solutions to community issues.
In addition, Northland will continue to promote service programs with and for the city and region. We remain actively engaged in the "Friends of the Field" effort to find ways to improve the shared athletic facilities used by the Ashland school district, community, and college. These joint efforts proceed even as we continue our work on an athletic master plan. We have also committed to enhancing community opportunities to engage with the campus for arts and letters offerings.
Another exciting way the college is expanding and improving is the way we partner with and provide expertise to the region. The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) has a strong tradition of actively engaging the community, professionals across the region, and the college (students, faculty, and staff) in important environmental work. We have taken steps to support and strengthen the institute in news ways. In so doing, there will be growth in programming, additional personnel, expansion of the areas of emphasis, improved clarity in the structure of the work and in the ways to connect with the people of the region. In the fall we will initiate a national search for a new SOEI Executive Director. There will be three areas of focus including Integrated Ecosystem Science (research and field work funded primarily by grants and contracts), Sigurd Olson Legacy (wilderness and adventure education), and Sustainability (to include trainings, research, outreach and programming related to creating human, economic, and environmental wellbeing). Area leaders and other staff will be hired to join with our current staff to make this all successful. Other strengthened college operations such as our grants support office will also support further growth of the institute.
Northland College is proud to be woven deeply into the fabric of the Ashland community and region. We continue to recruit and hire new employees who are or become active citizens here. We welcome you to campus and invite conversation on additional ways we can be important to you. Only in working together to strengthen the Chequamegon Bay region can we build opportunities for our collective and individual wellbeing. Join us as we work toward that new future.
