Dear Northern Alumni:

On behalf of the faculty, students and staff at MSU Northern, I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year and hope you have had a wonderful Holiday Season. I am most pleased to serve alumni. Many of you know that my wife, Jaynee, runs the Alumni Association at MSU Bozeman, so I came to my role as Interim Chancellor with a wonderful appreciation of the important role that alumni play in the life of a university campus. Your support over the years has made a real difference in the lives of many Northern students. With your continued help, we will be able to strengthen our position as the regional university campus for northcentral Montana and the Hi Line.

This year we are continuing to develop and sustain viable programs and services that emphasize career oriented educational options for students and serve the social and economic needs of our region. In the current economy, Northern, along with campuses across the nation, is facing some challenges. Our response to those challenges will focus and strengthen our campus so that what we do, we do well.

Our graduates continue to be in high demand and many succeed in securing personally fulfilling and well paid jobs right out of college. Your help in recruiting students to and from Northern and your contributions of time, talent and treasure remain central to our continued success. I urge you to remain connected to Northern. In this way we can all support Northern's mission of improving the quality of life in northcentral Montana. Help us to spread the word by talking about Northern's programs and about your experiences here and the difference your education has made in your life.

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2009.

Rolf Groseth
Interim Chancellor