Don’t Keep It Secretby President Greg Christy

DAN ROSS

A year ago the stock market took the largest one-week dive since the Great Depression and a major financial crisis began rocking the country. Colleges and universities were affected too and wondered what impact the economic downturn would have on efforts to recruit and retain students. 

We got our answer this fall when we welcomed a strong class of new students: 370 freshmen and transfers, up from 328 a year ago. That brings our total enrollment to 1,206, which is higher than we were expecting six months ago. We praise God for his provision for Northwestern and in the lives of our students. We’re thankful that in spite of the financial strain many families are experiencing, a Northwestern College education is still highly valued.

In response to economic challenges, we implemented several new initiatives last year to maximize our enrollment. One program was the Red Recruiter Scholarship, which enabled alumni and friends to provide a $500 scholarship for any prospective students who enroll. Last year the names of over 300 students were referred to our admissions office. Thank you for making this program successful. See www.nwciowa.edu/redrecruiter for details on how you can participate again this year.

What students in your schools, church or neighborhood might benefit from the Christ-centered education Northwestern offers? Are there other ways you can encourage students to consider Northwestern? In the past, alumni have offered to pay students’ flights to visit their alma mater. Others drive them to campus themselves. Some simply use a phone call, personal note or e-mail to share how their Northwestern experience prepared them for the life they are now living.

A new initiative for this year is our Legacy Grant, which offers financial aid to students with a family or church connection to Northwestern.

Students are eligible for a Legacy Grant if:

• A parent or grandparent attended Northwestern for at least three semesters
• A sibling is currently enrolled or has graduated from NWC
• The student attends a Reformed Church in America congregation

Students receive a $1,500 Legacy Grant if they meet one of the above criteria, $2,000 if they meet two, or $2,500 for meeting all three.

Several people from across the country who have recently visited Northwestern for the first time commented to me that our college is “the best kept secret around.” Best is good. Secret is not. Together let’s change that.