Fall 2002 - Northwestern College

C a m p u sn e w s
N o r t h w e s t e r n C l a s s i c
T h e a t re pro j e c t
on schedule
The adaptation and expansion of the old Auditorium into
the new theatre arts center is on target for its projected completion
date of the winter of 2003-04.
As of late September, the catwalk system had been
installed, the orchestra pit and other areas of the lower level
had been poured, and block work had been completed. Plans
call for the roof to go up in October so that interior work can
continue at full force throughout the winter.
Meanwhile, fund raising continues on the $8.3 million pro j-
ect, with $6.26 million committed so far. A brunch will be held
in Des Moines on Oct. 26, and the development office is busy
with many individual donor calls.
Couch appointed to lead
institutional re s e a rc h
Charlie Couch, Northwestern ’s re g i s t r a r
since 1998, has been appointed to an additional
role as director of institutional
re s e a rch. He will be involved in new eff o r t s
to organize and collect data to assist college
o fficials in the decision-making process.
“One of my responsibilities will be to help
Charlie Couch
departments understand what data they need
to collect so they can make better decisions,”
says Couch. “Right now, I’m working in conjunction with the
math department as they assist the admissions office in building
a mathematical model they can use to determine if
p rospective students can succeed here. We hope to determine
what the key components of a student’s re c o rds are—such as
high school grade point average, class rank, ACT score, family
b a c k g round—that will help us know a prospective student’s
potential for success at Northwestern.”
Couch also will coordinate the compilation of
N o r t h w e s t e rn data for various third parties, such as U.S. News
and World Report.
Couch will split his time between his registrar and
re s e a rch duties. He will be aided by Sandy Van Kley, who has
been promoted to assistant re g i s t r a r.
A staff accountant and assistant registrar at LeTo u rn e a u
University before joining Northwestern ’s staff, Couch earn e d
an M.B.A. from LeTo u rneau and a bachelor’s degree from the
University of Texas at Ty l e r.
College explores study abroad options in South Africa
continued from page 5
n a ry, government org a n i z a-
tions and Christian ministries.
“ We kept hearing in
South Africa that it’s a microcosm
of the world,” says
Trapp. “First-, second- and
t h i rd-world cultures are all
ensconced there. Changes are
happening so fast, students
would get to see big political
changes there . ”
A d d i t i o n a l , l yTrapp says a
trip to South Africa would
have great potential for
impacting NWC students spiri
t u a l l y. “The whole truth and
reconciliation movement is
couched in Christian terms; it’s
all about forgiveness. There is
a strong evangelical Christian
community there; the fervor of
their faith is amazing.”
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