Fall 2015 EOS-Tina UlrichTina Ulrich, Director of Library Services, has been selected as the NMC Employee of the Semester for fall 2015.

Tina has displayed the values of Northwestern Michigan College as described below.

Learning is at the center; improves the learning experience through innovation, agility and thoughtful risk taking: Tina wrote and secured an Innovation Grant for the Open Educational Resources (OER) “no textbook” program for fall 2015 semester. Ten instructors were chosen to pilot the program. Since then, many more instructors have begun using Open Educational Resources. This program has already saved our students over $140,000.

Actions governed by the highest degree of ethics, integrity, and personal responsibility: Tina holds regular meetings with the OER instructors, sends weekly emails with updated information and had the OER instructors present a workshop at the fall 2015 CIE Professional Development Day.

Exhibits a learning focus, both as a learner and an educator; Exhibits foresight, and collaborates with others: Tina has also trained all of her staff to assist instructors and students with the OER program. Lastly, through Tina’s design, the OER program is now being fully evaluated. There’s probably not an area at NMC that the OER program hasn’t touched. Tina is doing all of this work in addition to her duties as the director of the library. Her vision, leadership and innovation are helping our entire community of learners. Many schools across the nation are trying OER programs. Tina helped NMC be part of this movement.

Practices responsible stewardship for the human, physical, and financial resources; Values all people and invests in their personal and professional growth: By saving money on textbooks, students have more money to spend on courses and other expenses. By helping instructors recreate their courses without a traditional textbook, she’s helping instructors stretch their skills.

For being selected as the Employee of the Semester, Tina will receive a framed certificate acknowledging her selection, a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant, and a parking spot or an additional paid day off.