Hope in Uncertain Timesby President Greg Christy

DAN ROSS

The question I have been asked most frequently in recent months is how our country’s economic challenges are affecting Northwestern. As President Obama noted in his February speech to Congress, these are some of the most challenging economic times since the Great Depression.

My sense is every aspect of society is indeed being impacted. Higher education is no different. Most colleges have seen endowments drop by 25 to 30 percent or more, and no one is quite sure what the impact on enrollment might be. 

Our primary goal has been keeping NWC affordable for students and families in these uncertain times. In light of that, we are actually reducing our tuition slightly for 2009–10 and increasing the amount of financial aid we are providing. Managing these two actions in this economic climate has been difficult.

We have also been tightening our belt to reduce expenses while seeking to maintain the high-quality academic, co-curricular, student life and spiritual formation programs for which we are known. In addition, we have worked diligently to maximize our revenues through increasing gift income and achieving the best possible enrollment and retention numbers for next fall and beyond. 

So far, our gift income is ahead of last year’s in spite of the economy. In particular, giving to the Northwestern Fund, which directly impacts student tuition, is up. This is a testament to the loyal support of our alumni, friends and churches. We were also blessed by a first-time donor whose $250,000 challenge gift has already generated more than $200,000 in new revenue from others who made a first-time or increased gift in support of the Northwestern Fund.

As for enrollment, we are cautiously optimistic. Our applications are well ahead of last year. We had more than 250 top students and their families on campus during January and February as part of an expanded scholarship competition, compared to 74 students last year. Early indications are that this year’s four Scholarship Days greatly enhanced the likelihood these students will choose Northwestern.

Our challenging economic times remind me of our chapel program’s theme this spring: “Ecclesiastes and Revelation—The Search for Meaning and the Revelation of Jesus.” As a campus community, we are studying the ancient biblical wisdom through the lens of meaning revealed in Jesus Christ. Together we have been seeking and discovering the meaning of life, the hope for the future and a guide for the journey. 

While the challenges we are experiencing cannot be ignored, we shouldn’t obsess over them. Over the course of history, renewal—including spiritual renewal—has often followed times like these. At Northwestern, our distinctively Christian mission calls us to remind students that while these times may be uncertain, we serve a God who is unchanging, unshakable and worthy of trust.