Board approves new mission statement and suite-style hall

The board voted to move forward with constructing a residential facility to house about 60 students. Rooms would be arranged in suites, with a bathroom in each suite. The hall would include commons areas.

“This style of residence is something between a traditional residence hall and an apartment building,” says President Greg Christy. “Suite-style halls are becoming very popular, so we’re excited to be able to provide this new option for our students.”

Officials hope to begin construction next spring and have it completed by the end of 2010. It would be used to provide needed housing for students following the closing of Heemstra Hall after this school year.

In addition, the board approved new mission and identity statements developed after much input from faculty and staff over the past year.

Mission Statement:

Northwestern College is a Christian academic community engaging students in courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ and pursue God’s redeeming work in the world.

 Identity Statement:

Northwestern College is a Christian college in the Reformed tradition, founded in 1882 by the Reformed Church in America. We are committed to providing a Christian liberal arts education in an undergraduate, intercultural and residential environment. We offer bachelor’s degrees in a variety of traditional and professional programs.

Christy says the new mission statement is a fresh way of stating what Northwestern’s mission has been throughout its history. “This isn’t a change in our mission, but a new way of articulating it,” he says. The identity statement incorporates much of the wording of the previous mission statement that described Northwestern but didn’t talk about its purpose.

“The new mission statement and the Vision for Learning that was adopted in 2006 make a very strong statement about who we are and what we desire to have happen in the lives of our students,” says Christy. “The most important thing is that we’re living out the mission each day to the best of our ability, with God’s grace, and that the mission is the basis for all decisions we make.”