The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Washington has awarded Northwest Christian University a $383,750 grant to upgrade the University’s student information system used to maintain student records, provide enhanced transparency in the academic journey, and keep students connected through technology to their professors, classmates, educational resources, and campus community.
“The generous grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a game-changer for Northwest Christian University,” said Joseph D. Womack, Ed.D., the University’s President. “With our thanks and gratitude, NCU’s implementation team will use the funds received from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to upgrade the University’s technology platform to meet the needs of a growing and diverse student population enrolled in our curriculum based in wisdom, faith and service.”
In the last eight years, NCU’s student population has grown 60%. Because the current technology platforms are stretched to the limits of their capabilities, a cross-departmental team, led by Information Technology Director Christopher (Stead) Halstead, has engaged in a robust process refinement and software search and selection effort to support student recruitment and retention initiatives.
“The team identified Jenzabar and its ‘One’ platform as our partner and solution moving forward,” said Halstead, who spent two years ministering to college students after completing his undergraduate education with generous grant support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “The successful migration to this platform will resource our staff and students with the necessary tools to ‘train purposeful graduates,’ a core tenant of our mission.” No service interruptions are expected for students and faculty during the platform migration slated to be completed in June 2020.
Halstead led the campus-wide grant development team, including with support from the NCU Office of Advancement, to submit the application to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
About M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, created by the will of Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington- that seek to strengthen the region’s educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways.