President_Leadership Profile_Rev

Northern State University | 3 The Role of the President The president is the chief executive officer of the university and reports to the Board of Regents of the South Dakota University System through the Executive Director, which is vested with the constitutional authority to govern the system of public higher education in the state of South Dakota. Reporting to the president are the provost/vice president for academic affairs; vice president for finance and administration; vice president of enrollment, communications and marketing; vice president for technology and chief information officer; director of intercollegiate athletics; and dean of students. The president also works closely with the faculty senate president, foundation president and CEO, legal counsel and student body president. Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership After the successful five-year tenure of its former president, Northern is very well positioned for the new president to continue its forward momentum. The university is in stable financial condition and has a number of exciting initiatives underway, including campus expansion and building projects; new, robust academic programming; and numerous community and regional partnerships. Northern’s mission calls for the university to provide diverse academic, civic, social and cultural opportunities that prepare students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors, while also enriching the local and regional community. The university’s vision is to be regionally recognized as a student-centered, diverse community dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning, creativity and global awareness. Northern’s new president will empower the campus community to fulfill this mission and vision for the future. Strategic Plan In 2020, Northern State established its new strategic plan efforts, its Campus of Distinction Initiative. The NSU Strategic Action Team created a new mission, vision and values, emphasizing community, discovery and integrity. The next president will lead the university and its five Strategic Action Pillar Teams in meeting their goals. The teams include the Distinctive Learning Pillar Team, the Distinctive Experience Pillar Team, the Distinctive Partnerships Pillar Team, the Distinctive Leadership Pillar Team, and the Diversity Action Pillar Team. Enrollment Enrollment and retention remain key areas of focus for the next president. South Dakota high schools will see an increase in graduates through 2026, as reported by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Northern must be poised to capture this enrollment growth opportunity. The university has made strides to develop new academic programming and increase its graduate program offering in order to maintain overall credit hours. Additional efforts to grow sustainable enrollment must be framed by strengthening the university’s overall curriculum through strategic planning and creating an optimal academic learning and social environment to ensure life-long student success.