MIDLAND , MI — Today, Northwood University breaks ground for the new Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies, on the University’s Midland , MI , campus. The 25,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will consist of areas for large group gatherings, classrooms, an alumni lounge, conference room, faculty offices, an auditorium and more. Professor Jim John, chair of Northwood’s Aftermarket Management program, recently shared with aftermarketNews some additional details about the project.
When did the idea for the Aftermarket studies program and building first come to light?
JJ: The idea was first discussed in May 2000 between Gene Gardner (then president of AAIA) and myself during an association meeting in Reno , NE. The Sloan Aftermarket Management Program was named because of the family’s generous donation to our Aftermarket Building Fund. We believe it will help dramatically enhance the enrollment in our Automotive Aftermarket Management (AAM) program. It will also enhance executive education for the University.
What does this new facility mean for Northwood, in terms of student growth and opportunities?
JJ: This new building should place greater emphasis on the opportunities of aftermarket management employment because of the commitment made by our donors to the building fund.
What effect will the new building have on campus, in terms of raising awareness of the program (or the prestige of the program) among the student body? How will programs in Texas and Florida benefit from the building?
JJ: Certainly a $6 million dollar commitment will have a very positive effect on our student body (current and future students) and our Florida and Texas campuses will benefit because of our plans to update, realign and promote our aftermarket management program on a national basis. The many benefactors believe in the program and want to employ our graduates.
How do you plan to market this new facility and degree program to prospective students?
JJ: We are developing a new plan that will involve our admissions department so that we can promote our aftermarket management program on a national basis. We are also considering the development of an aftermarket MBA degree which we would market through AAIA, MEMA, SEMA and the aftermarket press. We are also planning a series of executive education programs that we will offer in the Sloan Building in conjunction with the University of the Aftermarket.
What does this new facility (and the programs that will be held there) mean for the aftermarket industry?
JJ: We hope that the aftermarket industry will recognize the strong efforts placed on this curriculum by our University and how it has benefited this industry in both the short and long term. We want this building to be the center for aftermarket education across all levels for the aftermarket.
Will the building be available for use by the industry at large?
JJ: Yes, we plan to utilize this facility for any and all aftermarket meetings, functions, etc. Examples would include: association meetings, programming group meetings, aftermarket seminars and wholesale/retail group functions. We intend to use the building for traditional classes on Monday through Thursday, with long weekends, school breaks and summer school for seminars and executive education.
How will the University of the Aftermarket use the building?
JJ: The University of the Aftermarket headquarters would be located in this building and will be part of our executive education plans.
Will there be a separate part of the building used specifically for the University of the Aftermarket?
JJ: The University of the Aftermarket will operate out of the Sloan Building and will utilize all aspects of the facility as needed. Since most U of A functions take place in the evening and on weekends, it will not interfere with normal undergraduate classes and activities in the facility. We will encourage not only the University of the Aftermarket to utilize the building, but other industry groups including associations and companies to hold meetings and to conduct workshops and seminars.
Did the funds from the Sloan family go exclusively toward the building itself, or are those funds also being used for aftermarket programs?
JJ: The funding from the Sloan family will be used exclusively to build the facility.
Often during a major fundraising effort done in concert with a construction project, philanthropic donors are recognized in some permanent way in the building…a wall of bricks with donor names engraved on them, or a room named after a certain donor, for example. How are other major donors to this project being recognized?
JJ: The major benefactors of the building, the Sloan family, will have their name on the outside of the building, recognizing their major commitment. Other major donors who have sponsored various aspects of the building (classrooms, auditorium, lounges, board rooms, conference rooms, and offices) will be recognized at the location of the sponsored area. Additionally, all donors will be recognized on a specially designed donor wall in the building. Recognition will include individual names, along with corporate names and logos. It is our intention to make sure that everyone who enters this facility will understand the importance of those affiliated to the aftermarket industry and their support of the building. Donor recognition is very important to us, as evidenced by other named facilities on our campuses.
Editor’s Note: Warren Mault, Michigan Campus development officer, and Dr. Timothy Nash, provost and COO, Michigan Campus, Northwood University , also contributed to this interview. Stay tuned tomorrow for additional news and photos from today’s groundbreaking.
