Northwood University Northwood University ( NU ) is a private university in the United States with campuses in Midland , Michigan ( opened in 1961 ) , Cedar Hill , Texas ( opened in 1966 ) and West Palm Beach , Florida ( opened in 1984 ) . Also , the university has four international joint programs , including one with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux , Switzerland , began in 2001 . More than 33 , 000 persons have graduated from the institution . History . Northwood University opened as Northwood Institute in 1959 by Arthur E . Turner and R . Gary Stauffer . One hundred students enrolled at the new school , which was initially located in a 19th - century mansion in Alma , Michigan . Northwood Institute moved to Midland , Michigan , in 1961 . The Jesuits operated a seminary known as " West Baden College " at the former West Baden Springs Hotel , in Orange County , Indiana , from 1934 until June 1964 , when declining enrollment forced the closure of the facility . They sold the property to a Michigan couple , who in turn donated it to Northwood Institute , which operated a satellite campus of their business management school under the great dome on the property from 1966 until 1983 , when it was closed . During the same time frame during which the Indiana campus was opened , a Northwood facility was also established in Texas , which continues to serve students in the Southwest United States . In 1982 , David E . Fry became president of the school . The Florida residential campus was added and the academic curricula was expanded . The school was accreditied by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools . In 1993 , the name was changed from " Northwood Institute " to Northwood University and The DeVos Graduate School of Management was created . A joint program with the Hotel Institute Montreux was established in 2001 to combine Swiss hospitality traditions with American management practices . The school , located in Montreux , Switzerland was Northwood University ' s first international venture . University College program centers were expanded for a total of 40 locations in eight states and program centers were begun in Bahrain , Malaysia , People ' s Republic of China , Sri Lanka , and Switzerland . In October 2007 , Keith A . Pretty was named Northwood ' s third President and CEO . On February 27 , 2014 , Northwood announced that it would close its residential operations at the Texas location , while continuing to expand its adult degree program there . Undergraduate programs . Traditional programs . Northwood grants the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with majors in : Accounting , Advertising & Marketing , Aftermarket Management , Automotive Marketing & Management , Computer Information Management , Economics , Entertainment Sport & Promotion Management , Entrepreneurship , Finance , Fashion Marketing & Management , Hospitality Management , International Business , Management , Marketing , Management Information Systems , and Operations & Supply Chain Management . DeVos Graduate School of Management . The school provides a Master of Business Administration degree and utilizes case study methodology to learn management by practicing management . Athletics . Michigan campus Timberwolves . The teams of the Northwood University ' s Michigan campus are known as the Timberwolves . The campus is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division II level ; primarily competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( GLIAC ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , football , golf , ice hockey , soccer , tennis and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball , tennis , track & field and volleyball . Men ' s ice hockey . Northwood University men ' s ice hockey competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association ( ACHA ) and is a member of the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference ( MCHC ) . Florida Campus Seahawks . The teams at the Florida campus of Northwood University are known as the Seahawks . The campus is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , competing in The Sun Conference ( formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , golf , soccer and tennis ; while women ' s sports include basketball , golf , soccer , softball , tennis and volleyball . The 2007 women ' s soccer team won the Florida Sun Conference championship and advanced to the NAIA National Championship in Olathe , Kansas . The Seahawks lost in the quarterfinals , but made history as the most successful women ' s soccer team ever at Northwood University . The men ' s soccer team reached the quarterfinals at the NAIA National Tournament , and were the most successful sports team at Northwood during the 2006 - 07 academic year . The men ' s basketball team is coached by Rollie Massimino , who is best known for leading Villanova to the 1985 NCAA national title . In their first year of competition they reached the national tournament but lost in the first round for the 2006 - 07 season . In 2014 the team won the Sun Conference Tourney and attended the NAIA National Tournament in Branson for the eighth straight year . In their second year of competition they reached the elite eight of the national tournament before losing . They play at the Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center . The women ' s basketball team has won 2 consecutive conference championship titles ( 2006 – 07 , 2007 – 08 ) under former head coach John Thurston . In the 2007 - 08 season the Lady Seahawks made an appearance at nationals held in Sioux City , Iowa . The Lady Seahawks lost in the first round against Bethel College who was the # 1 seed . Texas Campus Knights . The teams at the Northwood University Texas campus are known as the Knights . The campus is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , competing in the Red River Athletic Conference ( RRAC ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , golf , soccer and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball and track & field . Starting July 1 , 2013 , the Northwood Knights will join the Sooner Athletic Conference ( SAC ) for all sports .