HANCOCK – The faculty and staff are doing their best to move Finlandia University forward, according to Philip Johnson, and Wednesday he and other university representatives gathered to talk about some of those efforts.

Johnson, who is Finlandia president, said during the university’s Community Partners update meeting at the Finnish American Heritage Center, there are new programs and new capital improvements at the university initiated to make it more responsive to student needs.

Getting new students to come to Finlandia is one of the more important efforts for university staff, and Johnson said in most families it’s the mothers who have much of the influence in making the decision what institution their child attends.

“We’re doing all we can to make sure we can reach mom,” he said.

As with most post-secondary institutions, Johnson said the fall semester is a critical time for Finlandia.

Johnson said the Finlandia Board of Trustees has been an important part of the continuing efforts to improve the university.

“I would put my leadership team against any other,” he said.

Johnson said for the 2015-16 fiscal year, the university is in the black, and he’s expecting the same for next year.

“We prepared a balanced budget for 2016-17,” he said. “That’s important.”

This past year, Johnson said about $1 million has been spent on capital improvements, including McAfee Field fieldhouse, science classrooms and the student lounge at the Paavo Nurmi Center.

Other upgrades include an expansion of the physical therapy assistant program and a new website, Johnson said. There are also new tenure-track faculty members.

Finlandia University will be 125 years old in 2021, and Johnson said efforts are being made for its Plan 2021, which is an articulation of how to improve the university, including bringing in more students.

“That’s a concern for us,” he said.

Johnson said Finlandia is working to make certain violence and sexual assaults do not become an issue on campus.