A Message from President Abíódún Gokè-Paríolá

Dear North Central Community and Friends,

I am pleased to share exciting news about the future of North Central.

On October 15, 2026, the Board of Trustees voted to designate the institution as a university and adopt the name North Central University Naperville, effective July 1, 2027. This decision marks an important milestone in our 165-year history and an exciting new chapter in the North Central story.

At its core, this decision is not about changing North Central. It is about more fully expressing who we are today. Four key considerations informed this decision:

Key Considerations:

· Institutional alignment: The ‘university’ designation better reflects North Central’s comprehensive portfolio including undergraduate pre-professional and professional programs, growing graduate offerings, professional pathways, student outcomes, and aspiration to be a premier mid-sized private institution in Illinois and the Midwest.

· Market clarity: Research shows that North Central is respected by those who know it, but too many external audiences and even many familiar friends do not clearly understand the breadth of its offerings, its competitive accreditation, and other points of distinction. It is also often confused with a community college. With community colleges about to start offering 4-year degrees the need to differentiate ourselves from them has become even more urgent.

· Naperville advantage: Incorporating Naperville into the name provides geographic clarity, market recognition, and a credible place-based advantage for undergraduate, graduate, adult, international, employer, donor, and partner audiences.

· Strategic timing: The number of college-bound high school students in Illinois will decline by 32% in the next ten years. Therefore, even though we have experienced good enrollment results, to continue thriving in a market with such significant decline requires us to leverage every advantage we have at a moment when we are still strong. Acting now capitalizes on current momentum to strengthen differentiation before the severe Illinois and Midwest demographic cliff and intensified competition in a shrinking market increase pressure on enrollment, yield, discounting, and net tuition revenue.

In many ways, the institution has already become what the new name reflects. The name is simply catching up to the reality of who we are and the opportunities we provide our students.

The decision also recognizes the importance of Naperville in our story. For more than 150 years, Naperville has been our home and one of our greatest strategic advantages. When North-Western College relocated from Plainfield in 1871, the citizens of Naperville donated the land and much of the funding needed to build Old Main, beginning a partnership that continues to this day.

As one of the nation's most respected communities, Naperville provides our students with extraordinary opportunities for internships, employment, community engagement, and lifelong connections. Including Naperville in our name helps others more immediately understand where we are and the unique advantages available to our students.

This decision also allows us to build on our current momentum from a position of strength. At a time when higher education faces significant demographic, economic, and competitive challenges, it is essential that North Central clearly communicate who we are, what we offer, and why a North Central education matters. This change positions us to do that more effectively while preserving the values and traditions that have guided this institution for generations.

While our name will change, the heart of North Central will not.

We will remain North Central. Our mission, values, Cardinal identity, commitment to student success, and tradition of personal, student-centered education will continue to define who we are, just as the relationships students build with faculty, staff, coaches, classmates, alumni, and friends will remain at the center of the North Central experience.

I recognize that this announcement may prompt questions, and that is entirely understandable. These FAQs are intended to provide additional information about the decision, the reasons behind it, and what it means for students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends of the institution. I encourage you to explore them and to continue engaging with us as we begin this exciting new chapter together.

Thank you for your support of North Central and for all you have done to help make this institution what it is today.

Sincerely,

Abiódún “G-P” Gòkè-Paríolá

President