The new Vogel Welcome Center is the most recent addition to Northwestern’s campus. This $3.1 million building just had its dedication on Friday, September 17, during homecoming weekend.
Around 80 people attended the dedication, but this did not kick off the beginning of the use of the welcome center. Those who work in the building moved in after Labor Day and it has been host to prospective students as of September.
Since June 1, NW has hosted 162 prospective students, showing this welcome center was a much-needed addition to campus life.
The Vogel Welcome Center gives a great first impression when prospective students first arrive on campus.
Tamara Fynaardt, vice president for enrollment and marketing, said, “One of our top goals as the enrollment and marketing team is to get students to visit campus because when they get here, they’re able to feel what we’ve been describing to them in our brochures and on our website. We want to leave them with a lasting impression, and that starts with a standout first impression.”
Fynaardt shares that they get many “wows” when people enter the Vogel Welcome Center. Students touring campus start and end their day on campus at the welcome center, so it is crucial in turning prospective students into enrolled students.
This space is also used to welcome friends of the college, such as donors and alumni. With this new space, NW is hoping to make a great ‘standout’ impression that fits along with our beloved school motto. This impression is hoping to be extended to all people who step foot on our campus.
The new building is also for our beloved faculty. The Vogel Welcome Center is where admissions, financial aid and marketing/communications teams work. There are currently 20 employees who have their workspaces within the Vogel Welcome Center.
Moving those employees to this new space opens up for rearrangement of offices in other areas of campus, allowing for more upcoming projects such as a new women’s residence hall in place of Kepp Hall.
This project was made possible by a generous donation from the naming donor, Frank Vogel. Frank is a 1947 alum and served on NW’s Board of Trustees for 28 years. He has dedicated the building in honor of his late wife Lois.
The Vogel Welcome Center is currently up and running. Any current NW students are encouraged to stop by and take a look at the newest addition to campus. 
