The More Things Change
In the midst of a dramatic transformation that began
some fifteen years ago, Northeastern is taking a hard look at where it's been, where it's going—and what it will take to bring alumni along for the ride

By Karen Feldscher
Illustrations by James Steinberg

Kevin is sitting in a fluorescent-lit room in Richards Hall, munching on a sandwich. A 1976 recipient of a master's degree in actuarial science who now runs his own consulting business, he's been asked back to campus to participate in a focus group.

Northeastern wants to know what Kevin thinks about the alma mater he left nearly three decades ago. A place that has since undergone what most agree is a swift and remarkable makeover—from a blue-collar, commuter, "safety" school, to a more selective, academically rigorous, residential, and visually appealing university that attracts students from all over the world.

• Full story