Board meeting focuses on strategic plan

At the committee level and during a plenary session, board members explored a variety of strategic issues that have been identified by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, including the “new way to do college” initiative; academic programs; distance education; demographics; intercultural competence and diversity; physical plant; and time, balance and priorities. Work will continue over the next year on the strategic plan, which is intended to guide Northwestern’s efforts and activities through 2012.

One of the primary reference points for the strategic plan is Northwestern’s newly developed “Vision for Learning,” a statement describing the college’s learning goals and objectives. The board approved that statement unanimously.

Board members also attended the production of Jeff Barker’s play about missionary nurse Arlene Schuiteman, Sioux Center Sudan, and heard from a panel of staff members who spoke about their calling to work at Northwestern.

In other business, the board appointed the Rev. Irving Rivera of Bronx, N.Y., Linda Van Peursem of Surprise, Ariz., and Bob Wei of Upper Saddle River, N.J., as new trustees who will attend their first meeting next spring.