The Reimagine Task Force evaluates Northwest's current structure, programs and initiatives to ensure they are responsive, innovative, and aligned with institutional goals. The group will develop recommendations to strengthen the university's commitment to a campus culture that supports the success of all students, faculty, and staff.
Student success is a core value of Northwest Missouri State University. The university remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that all students, particularly underserved students, have the resources and support needed to succeed.
The task force will:
The task force's first meeting focused on establishing its purpose, outlining key priorities and identifying initial steps in the reimagining process. Members reviewed programs and services offered by the former Office of Diversity and Inclusion to assess strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement. Task force members will research best practices at other institutions, examine existing programs and services offered by other Northwest departments and meet to discuss ideas for the new office.
The task force focused on analyzing collected data, refining strategic direction and preparing for community engagement. Members summarized key findings from research of best practices, internal program assessments and initial feedback, identifying significant themes to guide decision-making. The task force evaluated whether to pivot, stay the course, or make adjustments based on alignment with institutional goals and stakeholder needs. In preparation for upcoming listening sessions, the team developed key questions and assigned responsibilities to ensure meaningful engagement with students, faculty and staff. The meeting concluded with final questions and takeaways, clarifying priorities for the next phase.
The task force conducted listening sessions and invited participants to share their feedback about programs and services available to students at Northwest to help the task force determine what changes or actions are needed. The goal of the listening sessions was to understand the opportunities and challenges as campus community members perceive them and collect valuable information about people's understanding, ideas and perspectives to make solid recommendations in the following steps.
Student sessions:
Staff sessions:
Faculty sessions:
The task force reviewed feedback and information themes gathered during listening sessions and began discussing programs and serves a reimagined center could offer independently and in collaboration with other units. The task force also began discussing potential structures and names for the reimagined center in preparation for making recommendations to Northwest leadership.
