Northwestern College Leadership Confer with US Congressional Leadership

Northwestern College President Lawrence Schumacher and his wife Gail, the College’s Executive Vice President of Operations, recently had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to meet with numerous Congressional leaders, most importantly, those heading up the US House Education and Workforce Committee. The purpose of the trip was to discuss higher education, the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and most importantly, the impact that the federal regulatory agenda was having on family-owned institutions like Northwestern College, a 113 year old college located in the Chicagoland area.

“Higher Education institutions don’t operate in a bubble,” commented President Lawrence Schumacher. “We are highly regulated and operate under the direction of our accreditor – the Higher Learning Commission – in addition to the statutory guidelines set out by the federal and state governments and the administrative rules set forth by the US Department of Education and the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Having an opportunity to talk to congressional leadership and to share with them both the positive and negative impacts of these statutory and administrative dictates has become a necessity in the operations of our institution.” President Schumacher further commented that he and his wife were warmly received by each of the Representatives they engaged with, and that they were grateful to have had the opportunity to discuss higher education with so many fine Congressmen that have the ability to impact how Northwestern College operates.

Over the course of their two days in the nation’s Capital, the Schumachers (long-time owners of Northwestern College), were able to speak one on one with Congressman John Kline of Minnesota (Chairman of the House Education & Workforce Committee); Congressman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina (Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education & Workforce Training); and Congressman Ann Wagner of Missouri (Senior Deputy Whip).

Northwestern College President and Ex. Vice President of Operations, Lawrence & Gail Schumacher, met with Cong. John Kline [MN-02], Chairman of the House Education & Workforce Committee, to discuss higher education issues.