Farewell to an Innovator and a Friend
When Norm Bukwaz leaves Siena Heights
this summer, he’ll take a big piece of history
with him.
Perhaps more than any other single
administrator, this friendly, patient, down-toearth, energetic visionary is responsible for
transforming Siena Heights from a traditional
liberal arts college into the complex, multicampus institution it is today. “Norm is one
of the primary architects of the modern Siena
Heights University,” says Bob Gordon, dean
of graduate studies.
Although hired to teach sociology in
1974, Norm has spent virtually all his career
(under many job titles) leading Siena Heights
boldly into off-campus education. He started
all of Siena’s degree completion programs:
in Southfield (1977), Sylvania, OH (197785), Benton Harbor (1982), Monroe (1990),
Battle Creek (1992), Lansing (1995),
Kalamazoo (1996) and Jackson (1998). He
recruited and trained staff, enrolled and
advised each site’s first generation of
students, and continues to serve as mentor,
problem solver and “pinch hitter” for all site
directors. He also developed the community
college partnership model that provides the
operating foundation for most of the centers.
Hidden in those accomplishments,
however, is his greatest contribution: Norm
Bukwaz recognized the need, 25 years ago,
for a new option in higher education.
“In the mid-70s, people with technical
training had no options” for earning a
bachelor’s degree, he recalls. With Norm’s
Norm Bukwaz is one of the
primary architects of the
modern Siena Heights
University.
–Bob Gordon
leadership, Siena Heights pioneered
the concept of degree completion.
He introduced an active service
orientation to adult students,
established new and conveni [