The park's small-business incubator was named the 1997 Randall M. Whaley Business Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association. Residential housing in the office park is under construction. In addition to outstanding guest artists, more than 1,000 faculty and students from the School of Music and the School of Speech perform annually in events that are open to the public. Northwestern is a charter member of and the only private institution in the Big Ten Conference. The University sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic teams and numerous club sports.
Northwestern athletes compete at the highest level.
Teams in 9 sports advanced to NCAA postseason competition. The football team captured its second straight Big Ten championship and played in the Citrus Bowl. The women's soccer team, in only its third season of varsity competition, played in the NCAA tournament. The men's tennis team earned its first trip to the NCAA national tournament since 1990, and the men's golf team tied for seventh nationally in the NCAA golf competition.