Focusing on his observations of campus life—drawing from personal experiences and current statistical trends—
Central Michigan University (CMU) president, Dr. Neil MacKinnon, reflected on his first 100 days in office during Feb.11 events on campus with the CMU and Mt. Pleasant communities in attendance.
Admissions staff in the audience shared that the new president had previously emphasized he would refrain from making any declarations during his first 100 days unless absolutely necessary. This approach seemed to garner a large turnout as members of the campus community were eager to hear his thoughts and direction as he will soon begin to take action.
Years before becoming president of CMU, MacKinnon worked as a pharmacist, and he utilizes this background as a warm anecdote, offering CMU a “prescription” of gratitude, including three primary effects if one is to take a dose each morning.
“There are three auxiliary labels on it … may cause shifts in perspective, may cause feelings of abundance, and third, decreased feelings of fear and anxiety,” MacKinnon said. “[My wife and I] are incredibly grateful to be here … We believe we are here on purpose, for a purpose.”
Along with this sentiment of gratitude, MacKinnon emphasized during “The First 100 Days Reflection” event, that he does not want to brush over the challenges the university is facing.
“We need to be honest and upfront about those challenges,” MacKinnon said, “along with some solutions. But, overall, I think the arching theme is one of gratitude.”
Throughout his first 100 days, President MacKinnon explained he has been actively listening in a variety of ways. This began prior to his arrival on campus—having each of his cabinet members submit their respective areas’ challenges and points of pride.
“More recently, two weeks ago, I had my cabinet do a dreaming exercise where I asked each one of them to think of a big idea that would move our university forward, pretending resources aren’t an issue,” said MacKinnon, sharing his inspirations for the future success of CMU.
Provost Paula Lancaster was also introduced following the recent confirmation of her new role, and MacKinnon shared their plans for ongoing listening activities, including half-day visits to each college to gather insights from faculty, staff, and students.
He mentioned he has been touring administrative units behind the scenes to learn more about their work, as well.
This aligns with President MacKinnon’s philosophy of being as accessible as possible to CMU stakeholders early in his presidency.
“I have been erring on the side of saying yes,” he explained. “It’s important for me to hear. Whether it’s an individual request to meet with me… or an organization, I have been saying, ‘Yes.’”
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Courtesy Central Michigan University
Beyond formal meetings, MacKinnon credits the informal, unscripted moments as some of the most enlightening experiences. He spends time in the dining hall, works out in student areas, and immerses himself in campus spaces.
“I can’t tell you how beneficial that has been to hear from our students directly in their own spaces and how they’ve opened up,” MacKinnon shared.
Current student-athletes in the audience echoed this sentiment, describing MacKinnon as inclusive and highly engaged with athletic programs. They highlighted his consistent effort to be present with everyone, mentioning he has even participated in teams’ practices.
Under his commitment to active listening, MacKinnon went on to highlight the importance of community connections with CMU, particularly in Mt. Pleasant and with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
Through these listening activities, MacKinnon gathered insights and shared his perspectives on what he has learned, organizing his reflections around five key themes: The pride CMU alumni feel for their alma mater; the eagerness of CMU’s external partners to collaborate; the strong sense of pride among CMU’s faculty; the importance of inspiring engaged and accomplished students; and fostering a sense of community across the university.
“There’s something special about our alumni network … It has been very evident to me already,” MacKinnon said reflecting on his first theme. “People see value in us. In fact, they want more of us.”
Emphasizing his third theme of CMU pride from faculty, MacKinnon also shared that he plans to engage in teaching and research himself. He has already delivered lectures to students and had his first publication appear in a peer-reviewed journal alongside other CMU faculty earlier this year.
Additionally, MacKinnon has donated time to completing tangible acts of service, including contributing to the Student Food Pantry, citing CMU as an institution that does not “let others fall apart. We are alongside them. We put our arm around others when they are hurting, and I have seen this over and over again even in my first 100 days.”
MacKinnon made it clear he would be transparent about the university’s challenges, and he did just that, addressing the concerns on stakeholders’ minds: budget cuts and enrollment declines.
“There have been seven consecutive years of budget cuts … There have been 14 years of enrollment declines, and you put that together … those people that are left [in different units] are doing an awful lot of work,” MacKinnon said.
“Can we turn things around?” MacKinnon asked, acknowledging that many long for the “glory days” of CMU, when the institution reached peak enrollment in 2010. “It’s a resounding yes … I am fully confident [CMU] can turn things around,” he said, citing his reflections on the university’s people, resources, and the strong sense of pride in the institution.
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Courtesy Central Michigan University
He even went as far as comparing CMU to his children, underscoring his dedication and passion for the university. MacKinnon explained that just as he cherished watching his children grow, he cannot turn back the clock to relive those early years. Instead, he must foster their growth in the present.
“When I think of CMU, we can’t turn back time to go back to those glory years … I can’t guarantee today that enrollment is going to be 28,000 again anytime soon. But what I can tell you is I still think our best years are in front of us,” MacKinnon said.
To illustrate one challenge contributing to enrollment and retention issues, MacKinnon invited ten audience members to join him on stage to demonstrate the idea that for every ten students who begin their journey at CMU, only four statistically make it to graduation.
“In some ways, the numbers are not atypical for a university that looks like us,” MacKinnon stated. “On the other hand, 25% of our students do not come back after their first year.”
“We need that sense of belonging … To me, that’s a role for all of us in the room … Ultimately, I think everything we do at this university, we need to ask the question: Is this in the best interest of our students?” Mackinnon said, offering a solution to the issue.
“I think if we answer consistently ‘yes’ to that question, these numbers will change.”
MacKinnon shared the university is currently seeing a positive trend in enrollment.
“As of right now we are up 201 students year-over-year this semester,” he said. “That’s an increase of 1.5%, so that’s good news, but how do we build on that momentum?”
MacKinnon is working with the Board of Trustees to develop a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan aimed at creating a roadmap for enrollment growth. CMU will collaborate with an advisory firm and review its online enterprise. This plan includes expanding research and development expenditures, engaging communities through a new community relations committee, enhancing organizational culture to position the university as an employer of choice, and ensuring institutional sustainability.
Having experience at institutions with project management offices, MacKinnon proposed establishing such a department at CMU to improve the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan.
“That will really help us implement new things quicker and make sure we are being efficient while we are doing that,” MacKinnon said.
To further support the implementation of his Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, MacKinnon also announced a new initiative called Go Grants. These grants, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, will be available to students, staff, administrators, and faculty to fund ideas that align with the plan’s directives.
MacKinnon hopes to fund 20 to 25 Go Grants.
“Hopefully you can see, 100 days into this, I am excited,” he explained. “I am optimistic about our future. We have so many fantastic foundational pieces in place. Yes, we have some big challenges, and some of those will require a lot of hard work, but I am confident we will get there, and the most glorious years for CMU are still ahead of us.”
The official investiture of MacKinnon at CMU’s 16th president will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 4.