President's Letter

Bearcats,

This year, we begin an important new chapter for Northwest Missouri State University as we launch the development of our next four-year strategic plan, Excellence: The Northwest Way. This plan will guide our work from 2026 through 2030 and reflect our mission, our values and our enduring commitment to student success.

Northwest has weathered challenges and celebrated remarkable achievements — national championships, transformational capital projects and innovative academic programs. None of that happens without people who believe deeply in this institution. That is why this planning process matters. Together, we will build a plan that honors our heritage, strengthens our momentum and positions Northwest for the future.

Our work will continue to be centered on the four institutional priorities that have guided us since my inauguration:

• Enrollment growth and sustainability: Expanding recruitment, strengthening retention and ensuring financial stability so students feel known, supported and valued.
• The collegiate experience: Elevating the holistic student journey inside and outside the classroom, investing in the pride, spirit and community that define Northwest.
• People: Supporting our faculty, staff and students and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive.
• Operations: Ensuring our systems, resources and infrastructure operate efficiently and sustainably in alignment with our mission.

A key component of this effort is the Northwest Insights Advisory Group. This group is not a decision-making body; rather, it exists to listen, gather perspectives and ensure that every voice at Northwest has a path into this process. When this plan is complete, I want every person — regardless of role or department — to be able to say, “I understand our plan, and I know how my work contributes to it.”

In the months ahead, the campus will engage in listening sessions, surveys and a SWOT analysis across divisions and departments. Your feedback will shape our goals, initiatives and the direction of Excellence: The Northwest Way.

This work is about more than drafting a plan — it is about charting the future of Northwest together. As President John F. Kennedy reminded us, “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” Over the next several months, we will build that purpose and direction in a way that reflects the best of who we are.

Thank you for your dedication, your partnership and your belief in the power of a Northwest education. Together, we will write the next chapter of this University’s story — one defined by excellence, purpose and the Bearcat way.

Go Bearcats,
Dr. Lance Tatum
President