CMU President sees strengths and opportunities in first 100 days

Central Michigan University President Neil MacKinnon offered his initial assessments of the university based on what he has learned in his first 100 days in office. During Tuesday’s “First 100 Days Reflection Event,” MacKinnon shared his findings, his optimism and his plan to boost engagement with the university’s strategic plan.

The president’s findings

MacKinnon explained the many ways he has been interacting with and listening to the university community, including half-day tours of several colleges and administrative units alongside newly announced Provost and Executive Vice President Paula Lancaster.

MacKinnon said he noticed a high level of pride and loyalty among alumni, faculty and staff, and found CMU students to be engaged, accomplished and motivated. He also has been impressed by how students and the entire community step up to help each other.

“We don’t let others fall apart. We’re alongside them. We put our arms around others when they are hurting,” MacKinnon said. “I’ve seen it over and over again, even in my first one hundred days.”

Other strengths MacKinnon pointed to are external partners who want to work closely with CMU and a supportive Board of Trustees.

Challenges and opportunities

President MacKinnon identified some of the challenges he saw affecting students, faculty and staff. Citing years of budget and position cuts and extra workloads for many, he said he noticed people questioning whether CMU could regain the success it experienced at its peak enrollment 15 years ago. He said he was highly optimistic.

“We can’t turn back time to go back to those glory years. I can’t guarantee enrollment is going to be 28,000 again anytime soon,” he said. “But I can tell you that I still think our best years are in front of us. I am convinced by the people I’ve met in my first one hundred days that we are going to rise to a period of innovation and success.”

After explaining the challenge of reversing CMU’s enrollment trend and boosting the university’s student retention rate, MacKinnon said he is implementing a strategic enrollment management plan as one way to build upon recent enrollment gains.

And, he said he wants to hear new ideas to boost enrollment, and to achieve other priorities, from the university community.

Go Grants

Achieving CMU’s strategic plan goals will help with recruitment and retention of students and faculty and staff. And to help the university community engage with those plan goals, MacKinnon announced the launch of a new initiative called Go Grants. He said Go Grants will provide resources to help CMU make progress toward inspiring student success, engaging communities, enhancing organizational culture and ensuring institutional sustainability.

“People have a lot of good ideas. This is your opportunity to show us your best ideas that will move our university forward,” MacKinnon said.

The Go Grants will be distributed as one-time funds in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, MacKinnon said. The funding is available to individual students, faculty and staff, and to campus teams and units who submit ideas to help CMU’s strategic plan implementation gain momentum. Interested applicants can share their ideas by completing an online submission form. MacKinnon said he hoped to fund between 20 and 25 proposals aligned with strategic plan priorities.

Fireside chat

Following his presentation, President MacKinnon invited Student Government Association President Carolina Hernandez Ruiz to the stage to ask questions in a fireside chat-style interview. Hernandez Ruiz asked about several topics including the strategic plan, international student enrollment and tuition costs.

When asked how CMU will address federal actions that may impact diversity and inclusion efforts, teaching and research, MacKinnon said inclusiveness remains one of the institution’s core values regardless of what is happening beyond CMU’s campus.

“A sense of belonging and that we lift each other up is something that is really important especially in a time of uncertainty,” MacKinnon said.

To conclude the chat, Hernandez Ruiz asked what MacKinnon most wanted the CMU community to know about his approach after his first 100 days.

“I am incredibly optimistic about our future,” he said in response. “You are incredibly resilient. You are loyal to this place. We have incredible partners. It’s why I am so optimistic.”