Northwestern Office of the Provost

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Staff Newsletter | January 2025

Dear colleagues,

As we settle into 2025, I am looking forward to working with you on a range of projects. Currently, we are nearing critical milestones in a University-wide effort: Northwestern’s 10-year review for reaffirmation of accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Led by the Office of the Provost’s Strategy and Policy team, this immense undertaking has been in full swing for months. The team has been collaborating with working groups across Northwestern’s campuses – engaging with more than 45 units, including many from the Provost's Office – to gather evidence to build the University’s case for re-accreditation. Northwestern’s accreditation status is an important marker of educational quality and establishes the University’s eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs. I am proud of our colleagues’ work thus far, and by this spring, Northwestern’s report to the HLC will be complete.

The full report will be reviewed by a team of peer reviewers from HLC-accredited institutions who will visit the Evanston campus on April 28 and 29. During the visit, there will be opportunities for Northwestern community members to meet with the peer review team. For more details about the process, including the criteria for accreditation and the timeline, see the Office of the Provost’s Reaffirmation of Accreditation website. The schedule of opportunities to engage with the peer review team will be publicized as we near the visit.

With everyone working together to welcome the peer review team to Northwestern, we are well positioned to showcase our world-class University at its best.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Hagerty
Provost
First Chicago Professor of Finance

All about the staff

Meet Michael Bugajski

Michael Bugajski joined Northwestern as Business Coordinator for Academic Support and Learning Advancement (ASLA) in August 2023. In this role – which includes overseeing departmental communications, managing payroll for student workers and arranging professional development sessions for student workers – he supports all six of ASLA's student-centered programs.

What was your path to higher education and your role?

I studied philosophy and aviation management at university, then took a detour to teach in Japan via the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. When I returned to the U.S., I worked with a firm that did aerial mapping. I eventually realized that education was my calling and went back to Japan again with JET. I lived in northern Japan for six years teaching English to K-12 students. Then, I returned to the U.S. to be closer to family and found myself at Northwestern in a position that allows me to combine my administrative skills with my love of education!

What do you most enjoy about your job?

Working with students was my favorite part of being a teacher, and now, I am genuinely excited to be part of the next chapter for our student workers.

What is something fun or interesting about you that people may not know?

I was actually training to be a pilot. I earned my private pilot’s license when I was only 18 years old, and while I haven’t been able to do any flying in recent years, I still have a deep and abiding love of getting in the air on a nice cool day.

Staff who started roles in December

Center for Civic Engagement

Maeve Creagan, Communications and Operations Coordinator
Jody Koizumi, Administrative Assistant

Financial Aid

Chad Keitel, Senior Enrollment Information Clerk, Evanston

International Student Scholar Services

Ariana Drule, Assistant Director International Scholar Advising
Lydia Gunn, International Scholar Advisor
Cara Lawson, Associate Director of Scholar Services
Jennifer Mok, Associate Project Manager

News, notes and need to know

Buffett's new International Diplomacy Series

The Buffett Institute for Global Affairs has launched a yearlong initiative that invites students, staff and scholars to reflect on the future of diplomacy. This series examines the lessons to be learned from the high-profile peace processes of the last few decades and will explore how diplomacy can help shape a more resilient, equitable and peaceful world. See the full series lineup on Buffett's website.

First-Gen Friday Instagram takeover

First-generation faculty, staff and students will be highlighted on Fridays via the Student Enrichment Services Instagram story. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the form. Participants will receive $25 in Cat Cash.

Updates from Human Resources

Northwestern’s Policy on Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment requires that, once a year, staff members provide information on the nature and extent of their outside professional activities and financial interests. On Feb. 3, an email will be sent with a direct link to Northwestern's eDisclosure system. Disclosures must be completed by March 3 and will be reviewed by supervisors. Please email nucoi@northwestern.edu with any questions.
Human Resources has partnered with the Employee Assistance Program SupportLinc to offer a free online Caregiver Grief and Loss Support Group on Tuesdays from Feb. 4 through Feb. 25, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The group will be participant-led and facilitated by a licensed counselor. Register to join the sessions.

Performance Excellence 2024-25 timeline

Northwestern’s Performance Excellence supports individual development and helps teams, departments and the University become stronger and more effective. Here is the timeline for this academic year's process.

Jan 29: Staff and supervisors have a mid-year check-in
May 21: Staff complete written self-review in myHR Learn
June 18: Supervisors complete written review and assign rating in myHR Learn
July 30: Supervisors conduct performance meetings, finalize written reviews and release reviews and ratings; staff finalize reviews

In case you missed it

University leaders provided the annual financial update for 2025 to the Northwestern community.
The Administration and Finance team created the PO Business Hub, a one-stop intranet site for all business-related resources.
Northwestern is accepting letters of inquiry for the 2025-2026 Racial Equity & Community Partnership Grants program until Jan. 24.
View more news from around the University.

Mark your calendar

Events

Jan. 21, 5 p.m.: MLK Commemoration 2025: Keynote Address with Shermann "Dilla" Thomas
Jan. 28, 1:30 p.m.: Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) Annual Fireside Chat with President Michael Schill
Feb. 12, 8:30 a.m.: Join Office of the Provost colleagues for conversation, a breakfast bite and a private viewing of the new Block Museum exhibition Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland. Zhegagoynak, the place now known as Chicagoland, has long been a critical hub for Indigenous art and the exhibition will explore confluences that continue to shape Indigenous creative practices in the region and beyond. RSVP online .
Feb. 25, 5 p.m.: Hearing Silences: 50 Years of Black Women Faculty at Northwestern, a documentary about pioneering women between 1975 and the present
March 4, 4:30 p.m.: Women’s History Month Keynote Address "Earth is a Relationship: Feminist Ecologies of Survival" will feature poet and Queer Black Feminist scholar Alexis Pauline Gumbs.

Key dates

Jan. 29: Office of the Provost Winter Quarter All-Staff Meeting and Coffee With Colleagues
March 1: Deadline to make nominations for honorary degrees

More resources

Help us build future newsletters! If your unit is working on a project that is relevant to the entire Office of the Provost, or if you have awards, honors or accomplishments to share, send an email to officeoftheprovost@northwestern.edu.

Learn more about the Office of the Provost