{"id":430,"date":"2017-06-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/president-scott-hagan-looks-ahead-first-100-days\/"},"modified":"2021-12-28T23:11:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T23:11:58","slug":"president-scott-hagan-looks-ahead-first-100-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northcentral.edu\/blog\/president-scott-hagan-looks-ahead-first-100-days\/","title":{"rendered":"President Scott Hagan looks ahead to the first 100 days"},"content":{"rendered":"

June 1, 2017 is a historic day for North Central University, as the seventh president in the institution\u2019s nearly 87-year history officially begins in his new role. Scott Hagan, M.A., has been on this journey for more than a year<\/a>, since he heeded the invitation of Board of Regents member Tom Jacobs,\u00a0who said, \u201dYou were made for this job,\u201d and allowed his name to be put forth for the position.<\/p>\n

His unanimous selection by the Board of Regents was announced in February and his introduction to the NCU community was met with great enthusiasm. Now, following a two-month transition during which he had the rare privilege to run his first few laps alongside outgoing President Gordon Anderson, Hagan has taken the baton and is ready and eager to lead NCU into the next chapter.<\/p>\n

The first 100 days<\/h2>\n

While the American public has grown accustomed to anticipating and evaluating the first 100 days of a new president\u2019s time in office (which happens every four or eight years), North Central University hasn\u2019t had a \u201cfirst 100 days\u201d of a new leader for 22 years.<\/p>\n

These first 100 days of President Hagan\u2019s tenure are important, but rather than facing them with any kind of trepidation, Hagan is eager to lean into \u201ca pretty steep learning curve\u201d and apply his proven skills as a leader to this new environment.<\/p>\n

In laying out his plans, Hagan is quick to point out that far beyond plans or programs, his priority is people, first connecting with them, and then connecting them to the vision and goals that lie ahead.<\/p>\n

Hagan sees amazing opportunity in what\u2019s about to happen, noting that the people working at this university right now are in a position to build something brand new. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to hundreds of people in the last two months,\u201d Hagan said, \u201cfrom alumni who are 80 years old to new graduates. Everybody loves this place! And every single person tells me in one way or another, it has not yet reached its potential.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think leadership transition is a great moment where you help people to start feeling something new. And the great thing about the human heart and human mind, especially for Christians, is that we do believe in new beginnings, we believe in resurrection and rebirth, we believe in healing\u2026 so there is a theological and emotional template for moving organizations forward, just like you move people forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making connections<\/h2>\n

With most of his career spent in leadership positions, Hagan is familiar with people\u2019s natural response when a new leader comes on board. \u201cSome people come from a culture where if the top guy says something, we\u2019ve got to drop everything and do it,\u201d Hagan pointed out. \u201cI am not that way. My style is to process out loud; I present a lot of ideas or suggestions, but not demands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hagan noted that in the early stages, it\u2019s about learning the rules and the resources. \u201cYou poke around by offering an observation or making a suggestion or giving an idea. Then you tap a rule or you tap an absence of resources, or a complexity.\u201d This process allows the new leader to better understand the environment before introducing dramatic changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn organization is first, people,\u201d Hagan said. \u201cIt is second, structure. For me to learn and understand North Central University, is foremost to learn and understand the lives of the great people that serve here. Everything starts and ends with relationships. That\u2019s where trust happens. Visions or ideas are secondary to the bond people feel, one to another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hagan described the essence of the process for getting to know an organization: \u201cYou gotta cannonball into the lake,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there are those few seconds when you go from dry to wet, and it\u2019s all cold, and it\u2019s the transition; but it\u2019s only for a few seconds, and then your body acclimates to the temperature of the water and it\u2019s refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the two-month transition before day one as president, Hagan is feeling good. \u201cI think I\u2019m past that shock of hitting the water, and it\u2019s becoming refreshing,\u201d he reflected. \u201cI\u2019m enjoying the people and their stories. My first one hundred days is spending a lot of time one-on-one and in small groups sharing stories and getting to know one another\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plans and strategies<\/h2>\n

Hagan readily acknowledges that putting the people and relationships in place is a vital first step, but there is much to do beyond that, too. One \u201crhythm\u201d of higher education that the new president has observed is the natural movement of personnel that happens with the cycle of a school year. \u201cThere is a lot of movement with faculty, staff, and administration right after graduation,\u201d Hagan pointed out. \u201cIt\u2019s a time when people make their career moves and professional decisions for their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of these natural transitions, some of Hagan\u2019s first hundred days will be spent making key personnel decisions. His faith and confidence in the leaders around him help make this a less daunting task. \u201cWhen you\u2019re new you don\u2019t have the privilege of understanding all the situations\u2026\u201d Hagan observed, \u201c\u2026but God helps and you have wise people around you; you just have to be thoughtful. You have to get good counsel as best you can, to understand where the decision needs to be in this area of personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

A university of promise<\/h2>\n

After the clear priority on getting to know the people of the university, President Hagan does have a guiding theme for the first hundred days and beyond, \u201cWe are a university of promise,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you think of the word, \u2018promise,\u2019 you think of something yet unopened, something in the future that\u2019s even better than what lies in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three key supporting themes Hagan wants to introduce are to engage, align, and expand our pathways. He explained each briefly:<\/p>\n