2025 State of the University Address focused on progress and change

Reflecting on his first year as Central Michigan University’s 16^th president, Neil MacKinnon delivered the 2025 State of the University Address Wednesday, November 5, in Plachta Auditorium. President MacKinnon shared plans for the university and why he remains optimistic that CMU will experience future success. His presentation was followed by a fireside chat with Student Government Association President Akua Acheampong.

First year as president

In MacKinnon’s reflection on his time so far at CMU, he said that when people start new jobs at unfamiliar places, they can be disappointed. He said that is not the case for himself and his family.

“For my wife Leanne and I, CMU has exceeded our expectations. We have fallen in love with this university and community, and we want to thank you for embracing us,” he said.

MacKinnon also highlighted his work in year one as a professor and researcher at CMU. He said he regularly speaks to classes in a variety of disciplines and developed a research program, under which four studies have successfully undergone ethics review, with MacKinnon co-authoring seven peer-reviewed publications.

Progress in key priorities

Pointing to the loss in enrollment of about 13,000 students over the past 13 years, MacKinnon addressed the current enrollment situation at CMU. He said enrollment has stabilized, but there are lingering questions about the number of international students who will be able to attend CMU due to federal policies affecting the visa process.

MacKinnon said the university is drafting an extensive Strategic Enrollment Management Plan to address enrollment challenges. Priorities of the upcoming plan include increasing CMU’s market share, improving student success, promoting CMU’s distinctive position and increasing online offerings.

On student retention, MacKinnon said CMU has lifted its first-to-second year student retention for three straight years to 78.3%.

“Those improvements are significant and certainly take a collective effort. It takes a community wrapping its arms around students and saying, ‘we want you to come here, and we want you to cross the stage and get your diploma’,” he said.

President MacKinnon said engaging the community is a university priority, and that progress has been made to strengthen community bonds. He cited the formation in the last year of a Community Relations Committee comprised of university and community members to improve relations and integrate efforts. CRC led the recent Paint the Town Maroon campaign which included signs for businesses showing CMU pride, special t-shirts and a downtown concert.

“We’re in this together. We’re either going to rise together or fall together,” he said. “The community relations committee is just one strategy to have better synergy across our community.”

Other examples of strengthened community engagement cited by MacKinnon involve  the university’s relationship with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, new transfer agreements with community colleges, tuition agreements with companies and the economic impact in the community of CMU Athletics. MacKinnon said a recent independent economic impact study found that athletics brings $109 million into the local economy each year.

A strong CMU embraces change

After explaining the progress CMU is making, MacKinnon said he believes the university is moving in a positive direction, despite some challenges.

“I say with confidence today that the state of our university is strong. But we can be even stronger,” he said. “Becoming stronger will necessitate change. I am convinced that we are strong but there is so much opportunity to become even stronger.”

MacKinnon said the CMU Board of Trustees has charged him with creating a roadmap for change at the institution, and that he will need everyone’s help in embracing and driving change. He pointed to themes university leaders identified that show CMU tends to be risk averse and siloed, preventing the institution from being as innovative as possible.

To help the university successfully implement the changes ahead, MacKinnon said the University Transformation Office has formed the Change Champion Network. The network is comprised of 26 faculty and staff across campus who have volunteered to help foster awareness, understanding and acceptance of institutional and procedural changes at CMU.

The Caring University

President MacKinnon said he wants CMU to become a model of The Caring University, a concept put forth in a book by author Kevin McClure. Strategies laid out in the book include two things that MacKinnon said CMU is already emphasizing: making the employee experience a strategic priority and cultivating and sustaining caring leaders.

The development of an Employee Value Proposition shows CMU’s commitment to prioritizing the employee experience, according to MacKinnon.

“Our ultimate goal is that we become a preferred employer with the ability to both recruit and retain top-notch faculty and staff,” he said.

MacKinnon said examples of CMU’s commitment to cultivating and sustaining caring leaders can be found throughout the CMU Leadership Standards.

CMU’s brightest days ahead

President MacKinnon concluded his State of the University Address by explaining why he believes CMU’s brightest days are ahead.

“Time and time again when CMU has been tested, we have risen to the challenge and exceeded expectations,” he said.

MacKinnon highlighted a quote by President E.C. Warriner from an article written 100 years ago in the Central Normal Life newspaper days after a fire destroyed the school’s Old Main building. He wrote, “With such a faculty and student body and host of alumni as Central has, our future looks brighter than ever.”

“I could say the exact same thing in 2025,” MacKinnon said. “With our faculty and staff, our student body, our alumni and our community partners, our future is incredibly bright.”

A full recording of the event is available here: 2025 CMU State of the University Address.