Over the summer, NIU welcomed new provost Raymond W. Alden III, hoping that with his arrival, change is on the horizon.

Alden was appointed June 1 as executive vice president and provost. Alden joins NIU from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he served in the same position.

“The first priority that I really got a sense for in the interview process is the need for university strategic planning,” Alden said. “The university has done very well despite a severe financial crisis. We need to focus on where the university is going.”

Students can expect to see some changes around campus within the next academic year, Alden said. A major change will occur when NIU breaks ground in October for a new residential facility for students with dependents. Alden also mentioned an early alert program in the works. This program will help detect struggling students so they can receive help before it is too late.

Alden’s appointment capped a year-long search process for NIU’s new provost.

“The provost search committee did an outstanding job laboring for a year. We were lucky,” President John Peters said. “This was the richest pool of talented, experienced candidates [for provost]. We were in a very good situation.”

Originally, Peters and the search committee looked at eight candidates. Peters thought Alden was a “cut above the rest,” and had final say in the decision.

“I listened intently to what the students, search committee, faculty and staff had to say,” Peters said. “I picked the person who best fit the external and internal direction the university must go. [Alden] was an instant leader and very experienced.”

Alden has confidence and is serious-minded when it comes to aspects of higher education, Peters said.

“[Alden] and I have been talking about strategic planning efforts that fit NIU and can be turned into identifiable goals and outcomes,” he said.

Paul Stoddard, vice-chair of the Provost Search Committee, discussed what made Alden a prime fit for NIU.

“His experience.” Stoddard said. “He has essentially done the same thing at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. UNLV is about the same size as NIU. Alden can step in and perform his job immediately and that was not the case with some other candidates. Alden, of course, will have to learn about NIU. He will take the plans for NIU and put the pieces together.”