Is the department to which you are the liaison large, medium, small or something in-between relative to other departments? Has there been an uptick in the number of undergraduate degrees conferred in the field? See the latest numbers [2] on faculty, graduate and professional school students, and undergraduate degrees conferred now available.
Links:
[1] http://www.library.northwestern.edu/about/library-administration/departments-offices/e-resources-collection-analysis/about/databank-11
[2] http://files.library.northwestern.edu/dmbank/unrestricted/patrons.xls