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John D. Haeger leads Northern Arizona University in its commitment to undergraduate education—a commitment enhanced by the university's ongoing efforts in research, graduate education and distance learning.
Dr. Haeger has been NAU president since November 2001 after joining the university to serve as NAU provost in June 2000.
During his term as president, Dr. Haeger has guided the university to new heights in student enrollment in Flagstaff and across the state, answering the call from the Governor's Office and the state Legislature to make higher education accessible and affordable to all Arizona citizens. He also has ushered the university into its largest building boom since the 22-year term of former NAU President J. Lawrence Walkup.
As the nation grapples with an increasing need for scientists, health professionals, engineers and technical experts, Dr. Haeger is re-emphasizing the university's efforts to attract and retain qualified teachers who will draw students into these fields.
Further, he has fully endorsed a national effort to increase institutional accountability, explaining that Northern Arizona University must perform on a level that demonstrates its significance to students and to society.
Among other university achievements under his leadership:
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Tuition guarantee. NAU President John Haeger instituted a pilot "block tuition" proposal that would guarantee first-time, full-time freshmen and transfer students the same tuition rate for eight semesters, bringing predictability to the cost of higher education. |
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'Finish in Four' guarantee. NAU promises to provide students the advisement help and courses necessary to obtain their degree within four years. |
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Expansion of nursing and the health professions. The university has placed special emphasis on graduating more students in nursing and developing or expanding programs in the health professions, including occupational therapy, athletic training and physicians assistant. |
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Commitment to research. With a goal to underpin the university's distinctive research profile, President Haeger has instituted NAU's first office of Vice President for Research. In Yuma, ground has been broken on a 12,225-square-foot building that will provide collaborative research opportunities in environmental disciplines and will accommodate expansion of four-year degree programs in engineering and nursing. |
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High Country Conference Center. Dr. Haeger initiated a joint partnership among NAU, the city of Flagstaff, the Arizona Board of Regents, Sodexo Conferencing and Drury Hotels to build a 42,000-square-foot conference center and an adjoining hotel and parking structure. The complex will be a financial, cultural and educational asset to the university and Flagstaff communities. Consultants have estimated the economic benefit to northern Arizona to be about $7 million annually. |
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Largest gift in university history. The College of Business Administration was able to acquire the largest gift in university history, a $25 million donation from prominent business leader William Franke. The college was renamed The W.A. Franke College of Business. |
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Arizona Cardinals partnership. The National Football League's Arizona Cardinals agreed to continue to operate their training camp at the Flagstaff campus. About $2 million is added to the northern Arizona economy as a result of the Cardinals training camp. |
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Yuma branch campus. NAU took its acclaimed venture in Yuma to a new level after receiving unanimous approval from the Arizona Board of Regents to designate NAU-Yuma as a branch campus. The designation allows NAU to build programming and resources at its Arizona Western College site. |
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Yuma campus named Hispanic Serving Institution. The U.S. Department of Education designated NAU-Yuma a Hispanic Service Institution. This designation will strengthen NAU-Yuma's ability to serve Hispanic students by making it eligible for increased funding to be used for activities such as faculty development, student support services, development of academic programs, endowment funds, scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching and renovation of instructional facilities. |
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Distance Learning. In addition to extending programs in rural Arizona, Northern Arizona University has expanded programs and buildings and solidified the university's presence throughout Maricopa and Pima counties. Fully one-third of NAU students take courses through distance programs at 37 sites throughout the state. |
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'Going green.' The university is home to the greenest building in Arizona and one of the three greenest in the world after receiving a "Platinum" rating for its Applied Research and Development building shortly after the university earned "Gold" ratings for buildings that house Engineering and The W.A. Franke College of Business. Dr. Haeger also is a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, created as an avenue for university leaders to define and address the challenges of climate change. |
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Opening a door to China. Dr. Haeger, who serves on the American Association of State College and Universities' Committee on International Education, has signed agreements with several Chinese universities that will enhance the international flavor of NAU's campus as well as offer Chinese students a degree from NAU and their home university. |
Dr. Haeger is a member Arizona Board of Education, the Governor's P-20 Council, the board of directors of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, known as TGen, is former chair of the United Way of Northern Arizona board, serves as commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and is past chair of the Council of Presidents of the Big Sky Conference.
He has worked at all levels of higher education—professor, chair, dean, vice president, and provost.
Dr. Haeger earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Loyola University in Chicago. He was a professor and chair of the history department at Central Michigan University as well as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He later worked as associate dean and then interim dean and finally dean of the College of Graduate Studies/Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at the same institution.
He also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Towson University in Maryland.
He had substantial years in the classroom before his administrative career and published several books and numerous articles on topics related to the history of economic change in the United States and how it affects individuals and institutions. His 1982 book, The Investment Frontier: New York Businessmen and the American West, won a national award from Choice magazine, and his 1991 book, John Jacob Astor: Business and Finance in the Early Republic, argued for Astor's role as the first modern American venture capitalist.
Dr. Haeger has said he still defines himself by his teaching and research on economic development. "In a way, I am now living the story that I used to teach and write about," he said.