A cultural center, possible residential hall and making NEIU a choice for Latino students are the highlighted goals from University President Sharon K. Hahs says she’d like to see complete in the next decade.
In President Hahs’ State of the University Address on Sept. 23, she presented the completed six strategic goals, along with the new mission and vision statements as endorsed by the Board of Trustees on Sept. 18. She also laid out plans for the school to build a new $70 million science building.
“These are all significant and exciting projects,” said Hahs about the second and third action steps in the fifth strategic goal. The second action step calls for an addition of “a residential life component consistent with the mission of the University.” Hahs added that this would, “most assuredly mean a residential hall.”
“We hope to stretch that to, just a little bit, by 2017,” said Hahs explaining that she hopes to complete these “action steps” in the six strategic goals by that year because this will be the school’s sesquintennial, or 150th year anniversary. Thought the original plan was to have them complete in five to seven years.
The third step is a proposed plan for this year, for the development of a cultural center to build programs for a “Latino resource center, an Africana resource center and perhaps an Asian American center,” said Hahs. She explained the initial name of this center is “Diversity Village,” and the project will be co-chaired by Sharron Evans, Director of Student Activities and Daniel Lopez, Director of El Centro. This is proposed to be located in Building E.
The Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives will, according to Hahs, allow Latinos an academic choice and set up programs for Latino studies.
“Northeastern Illinois University, as a public comprehensive university with locations throughout Chicago, provides an exceptional environment for learning, teaching, and scholarship. We prepare a diverse community of students for leadership and service in our region and in a dynamic multicultural world,” reads the mission statement to explain how the university defines its goals. The new vision statement reads, “Northeastern Illinois University will be a leader among metropolitan universities, known for its dedication to its urban mission, for the quality of its programs, for the success of its graduates, and for the diversity of its learning environment.”
The two big items involve capital development. Hahs explained that the school is still waiting for the Illinois Works to be passed in Springfield, a fund for a new Education building, and a proposal for a new Science Building. The Science Building issue was brought in to light by Mary Kimble of the Biology department. Kimble explained the current Science Building was in dire need of work to make it better. Hahs said the proposed plan for a new building would cost the university about $70 million and the school simply couldn’t afford it now. But Hahs told Kimble that working to make a better and more modernized science building is important to her.