Changes to the Admissions team

Good afternoon NMC community,

We have some important changes ahead with the admissions team at NMC. After many years as Director of Admissions, Cathryn Claerhout has made the decision to transition to become the Customer Relations Management specialist within the Admissions Department. Cathryn has been a valued member of the Enrollment Services team who worked with many departments across the college toward our common goals. During her leadership she:

  • reshaped and modernized the college’s approach to recruiting, helping to introduce strategic enrollment management practices at the college.
  • implemented the college’s current CRM platform managing communications with prospective students.
  • presided over a large increase in early college and dual enrollment initiatives with local high schools.
  • served in leadership roles in numerous professional associations around the state.
  • has been a lead for two of the college’s strategic plan objectives.
  • served within college governance as a member of the Planning and Budget Council, AP Council, and the Employee Recognition Committee.

Cathryn will stay on as Director of Admissions until the College hires her replacement. Please take a moment to thank Cathryn for her leadership and accomplishments and wish her well in her new role.

Todd Neibauer
Vice President for Student Services and Technologies
Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1671

Performance Evaluation of President Nick Nissley

The NMC Board of Trustees recently completed an evaluation of President Nissley. This year the Board of Trustees contracted with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to coordinate its review process. The process included a core leadership competency evaluation, an evaluation of progress toward the strategic plan and ACCT-facilitated interviews with each trustee.

Overall, the board agreed President Nissley is meeting expectations. They pointed to several 2022 successes, including the successful negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with the Michigan Education Association, the development of new maritime certifications in the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, and the focus on the implementation of the strategic plan, NMC Next. The Board of Trustees also complimented President Nissley’s leadership skills in improving morale at the College, specifically with the faculty, and serving as an advocate for NMC in the community and in government affairs.

Read the full performance evaluation here.

Facilities Director Transition

Mike Chrypinski, NMC’s Director of Facilities, is retiring from NMC at the end of October. Mike managed several key projects during his 2+ years here including the opening of Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center and The Greenspire School’s relocation to the University Center. Mike oversaw a wide variety of roofing, painting, HVAC, and infrastructure improvements across campus. He also helped keep our students, faculty, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring proper signage and ongoing availability of PPE across the College. Please take an opportunity to thank Mike for his service to NMC, and wish him well in his retirement down in Florida!

Mike is replaced by Patrick Quinlan, a US Air Force veteran and Traverse City native who brings strong facilities expertise and leadership to the College. Patrick most recently served as the Director of Engineering at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Patrick is also an NMC and University Center alumni, and was a former math tutor during his time here as a student. Welcome, Patrick!

NMC Holiday Schedule

Hello NMC community,

As we emerge from the pandemic, we can (literally) breathe a little easier knowing that we have met an enormous challenge and are better and stronger as we move forward. The reasons for this are rooted in our NMC values. You have lived these values in large projects like co-creating and implementing the new strategic plan, NMC Next and in your daily interactions with your colleagues.

Our college community also worked to protect our greatest resource, our people, and understand that we need time to disconnect in order to recharge and get back to full capacity. In an effort to continue our commitment to the values of collaboration, respect and innovation we are pleased to share that President’s Council has decided to close the college this year during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Specifically the following days will be treated as additional holidays in 2022:

  • Tuesday, December 27
  • Wednesday, December 28
  • Thursday, December 29
  • The remaining (non-annual holiday) half day on Friday, December 30

This is a concrete example of the college’s commitment to its employees, to their well-being and their ability to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

We hope that these additional days off at the end of the year will help to ensure that the high performance and engagement levels of our people remain strong.

I’m also pleased to announce that President’s Council will submit to Policy Council a proposal to formally amend Staff HR Policy D-718 to include a closure of the college from December 24 through January 1 each year!

Thank you again for all you do to help our learners and our college community. We hope you are having a successful fall semester.

Mark

Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342

Northwestern Michigan College

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NMC October Conference is Oct. 11

NMC Next: Unlock Your Full Potential

Our NMC October Conference is back face to face! Faculty and staff will come together Tuesday, Oct. 11 for a full program of professional development led by colleagues and guest speakers. This year’s theme is Unlock Your Full Potential based on the NMC Next strategic plan.

NMC, CIE and PDI logosRenowned author and learning specialist Todd Zacrasjek will deliver the morning keynote with ways to unlock our learning potential. Zacrasjek, director of the Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning, will speak on “Uncovering Learning Myths That Waste Time and Money.” He will also lead four workshop presentations for faculty and staff.

Other presenters will deliver a variety of sessions with hands-on learning for improving your teaching, your work, and your work life as we unlock our potential and implement the college mission. Topics include Creating Community Partnerships, Disruptive Innovation at NMC: Introducing the Office of Possibilities (OOPS), Learning Without Thinking, and ALIVE! Embracing Life and Thriving After Pandemic Losses. View the complete schedule for this year’s event.

The day starts at 8 a.m. with coffee and donuts at the Dennos and the opening talks in Milliken Auditorium and ends with a game of kickball on campus grounds. In between, there will be four workshop sessions, lunch, and cider and apples.

Our October Conference, sponsored by the Center for Instructional Excellence and the Professional Development Institute, is a unique opportunity for faculty and staff to collaborate and learn together. The campus is closed for business and classes on Oct. 11, so shut your office door and join your colleagues for a day of food, fun and learning!

Help the new Office of Possibilities drive innovation at NMC!

I want to share an update on how we are driving innovation at NMC, and how you can get involved. As many of you know, we have been very fortunate to rely on the NMC Foundation for the support of Innovation Grants to improve teaching and learning at the college. But the landscape of higher education is changing, and disruptive innovation has become more critical to ensure NMC’s long-term success. We are fortunate to have dedicated faculty and staff who have always been willing to take risks and embrace new ideas. We are also experiencing a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Traverse City as more start-ups, incubators and collaborative spaces take root in our region.

With all of this in mind and in partnership with the Foundation, we are moving forward with a more disruptive and exciting innovation framework at the college. The Office of Possibilities (or OOPs) will allow students, faculty and staff to explore and develop the next “big idea.” Unlike the previous innovation process, it will involve mentoring to challenge and flesh out the idea, connecting back to the entrepreneurial community and focusing on a growth-driven mindset to expand innovation at NMC. We know there will be failures, and that is okay (and why we are called OOPs), and this development will provide the resources and space needed to push, experiment and disrupt how we will meet the needs of NMC and our community.

So how do you get involved? That’s easy!

  • OOPs is a start-up itself. We are still learning, measuring and refining, and Fall represents our “soft launch.” Bring your ideas to OOPs office (open Thursdays from 8–10 a.m.) in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (Room 116 by the west entrance). This is your chance to connect with OOPs mentors Steve Rice and Will Kitchen and a host of others from the college and local community!
  • Attend the innovation session during Professional Development Day Tuesday, Oct. 11 to hear how OOPs was launched and learn to apply the same principles to begin formulating your ideas.
  • Email us at innovationnext@nmc.edu or visit the OOPs website (NMC login required) to find additional resources, the pitch deck template and more.

After mentoring and development, projects that are ready for review will be part of an active pitch. High potential, disruptive ideas will hopefully get funded. The first pitch event is Friday, Oct. 21 from 1–3 p.m. in IC 104/105.

We look forward to hearing your ideas and appreciate the support of the NMC Foundation as we drive innovation and challenge the norm at NMC.

Best regards,
Jason Slade
Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives

Parking enforcement starts Sept. 5

The Traverse City Parking Patrol will begin issuing warnings at NMC Saturday, Aug. 27 and start issuing citations for parking violations on Monday, Sept. 5. All NMC students and employees must have their 2022-2023 permits displayed then. If you haven’t received your permit, they’re available at the Campus Safety & Security office in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (#9 on the Main Campus Map) and the Enrollment Services office on the main level of the Tanis Building (#5 on the Main Campus Map).

The Traverse City Police Department has provided the following information on how to avoid parking tickets on campus by properly displaying your parking permit:

  • Place your permit in the bottom left-hand corner of your windshield.
  • Place your permit right side up. An upside-down permit will be considered invalid.
  • Hang tags must be on the rear view mirror. 
  • Be sure that the expiration date on your permit can be seen from the outside of your vehicle. (Some vehicles have a tint on the edges of their windshield, so be sure your permit is not behind a tint, as it will make it difficult to see from the outside.) When it doubt, get out of your vehicle and be sure you can see the entire permit from the outside.

If you do get a ticket, payment can be made at the red drop-off payment box at the east end of the Cedar lot in front of the Health & Science Building on main campus. You can also mail the fine in to the city, or pay at the parking services office in the public parking garage at 303 E. State St. Payment information is also on each ticket.

If you have any questions about parking enforcement on campus, please call Campus Safety & Security at (231) 995-1111.

Health & Science Building atrium will be a city polling place August 2

The Health & Science Building atrium on NMC’s main campus will be used as a city polling place for Precinct 9 voters again this year, including for the Tuesday, August 2 primary election from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some parking in the Cedar lot will be set aside for voters at those times.

(The NMC Bookstore will be closed that day as well, and will reopen with normal hours Wednesday, August 3.)

New Music Publication

Dr. Jerry Young, an Adjunct Tuba Instructor at NMC, in collaboration with co-author Scott C. Watson (University of Kansas) recently published a new book titled A Practical Guide to Studio Teaching in Higher Education. Published by GIA Publications of Chicago, the text serves as handbook for those who aspire to deliver private instruction in all music performance areas including academic preparation, applying and interviewing for jobs, and building a successful career. Jeff Cobb, Director of Music Programs and Choirs at NMC, served as a consultant for text content on two-year colleges.

Parking enforcement starts Jan. 14

The Traverse City Parking Patrol will begin issuing warnings at NMC Friday, Jan. 14 and start issuing citations for parking violations on Friday, Jan. 21. All NMC students and employees must have their 2021-2022 permits displayed then. If you haven’t received your permit, they’re available at the Campus Safety & Security office in the West Hall Innovation Center (#9 on the Main Campus Map) and the Enrollment Services office on the main level of the Tanis Building (#5 on the Main Campus Map).

The Traverse City Police Department has provided the following information on how to avoid parking tickets on campus by properly displaying your parking permit:

  • Place your permit in the bottom left-hand corner of your windshield.
  • Place your permit right side up. An upside-down permit will be considered invalid.
  • Hang tags must be on the rear view mirror. 
  • Be sure that the expiration date on your permit can be seen from the outside of your vehicle. (Some vehicles have a tint on the edges of their windshield, so be sure your permit is not behind a tint, as it will make it difficult to see from the outside.) When it doubt, get out of your vehicle and be sure you can see the entire permit from the outside.

If you do get a ticket, payment can be made at the red drop-off payment box at the east end of the Cedar lot in front of the Health & Science Building on main campus. You can also mail the fine in to the city, or pay at the parking services office in the public parking garage at 303 E. State St. Payment information is also on each ticket.

If you have any questions about parking enforcement on campus, please call Campus Safety & Security at (231) 995-1111.

Sad News

Longtime NMC Librarian and Archivist Ann Swaney’s husband, Gerald Swaney, passed away December 12. Gerry was connected to NMC for many years through his efforts recruiting young people into technical and STEM programs, taught College for Kids classes, and was instrumental in development of the Career Tech Center’s Manufacturing Engineering program. Read more and share memories here.

Also, Business Instructor Jane Zlojutro’s husband Nicholas Paul Zlojutro passed away December 12. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City. Read more, share memories and find visitation and memorial service information here.

Sad News

Mary PierceLongtime NMC faculty member Mary Pierce passed away on October 16, 2021.

Mary served as a faculty member in the English departments of several colleges and universities, but she spent most of her career at NMC. In 1999, she won NMC’s Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award after being nominated by her students.

A celebration of Mary’s life will take place at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. A memorial luncheon will follow. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of Michigan or TART Trails, Inc.

Read more and share your memories here.

Health & Science Building atrium will be a city polling place

The Health & Science Building’s first-floor atrium on NMC’s main campus will be used as a city polling place for Precinct 9 voters again this year, including on Tuesday, Nov. 2 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Some parking in the Cedar lot will be set aside for voters at those times.

Voters are asked but not required to wear masks at the polling place. Masks will be provided for people who don’t have them but would like one. Those not voting are asked to avoid the polling place during voting. (NMC’s Keep Safe plan requires that face masks be worn in all other NMC common areas, hallways and classrooms.)

Parking enforcement starts Sept. 5

The Traverse City Parking Patrol will begin issuing warnings at NMC Monday, Aug. 29 and start issuing citations for parking violations on Sunday, Sept. 5. All NMC students and employees must have their 2021-2022 permits displayed then. If you haven’t received your permit, they’re available at the Campus Safety & Security office in the West Hall Innovation Center (#9 on the Main Campus Map) and the Enrollment Services office on the main level of the Tanis Building (#5 on the Main Campus Map).

The Traverse City Police Department has provided the following information on how to avoid parking tickets on campus by properly displaying your parking permit:

  • Place your permit in the bottom left-hand corner of your windshield.
  • Place your permit right side up. An upside-down permit will be considered invalid.
  • Hang tags must be on the rear view mirror. 
  • Be sure that the expiration date on your permit can be seen from the outside of your vehicle. (Some vehicles have a tint on the edges of their windshield, so be sure your permit is not behind a tint, as it will make it difficult to see from the outside.) When it doubt, get out of your vehicle and be sure you can see the entire permit from the outside.

If you do get a ticket, payment can be made at the red drop-off payment box at the east end of the Cedar lot in front of the Health & Science Building on main campus. You can also mail the fine in to the city, or pay at the parking services office in the public parking garage at 303 E. State St. Payment information is also on each ticket.

If you have any questions about parking enforcement on campus, please call Campus Safety & Security at (231) 995-1111.

Alpha Rho Pi is a top 10 PTK chapter

NMC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society, finished as the seventh-most distinguished chapter out of more than 1,200 chapters at the organization’s annual conference held in April. It is the highest the chapter has ever finished.

Rank is determined by combining scores for two projects, Honors in Action and College Project. NMC’s projects were both in the top 50 nationwide. Previously, the Honors in Action project was judged the top project in Michigan, while the college project was second runner-up.

NMC’s Honors in Action project goals were to demonstrate undergraduate fundamentals, critical thinking and reflective skills in a research project. Their project, Deconstructing the Binary Complex in Racism, will also be published in Civic Scholar, PTK’s undergraduate research journal, this summer. For the project, which was also awarded a $1,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, chapter officers and advisor participated in Title Track’s Understanding Racial Justice course, hosted “An Evening for Social Justice” with opening music from Crystal Turner and Seth Bernard, a free community screening of John Lewis: Good Trouble documentary and a panel discussion following with facilitators from Title Track, Northern Michigan E3, adjunct faculty Diane Emling, students from Phi Theta Kappa’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion panel and PTK chapter officers. 

As a follow-up to the event, PTK hosted a Songwriting for Collective Liberation Workshop with musician and Title Track facilitator, Seth Bernard. Chapter members created a music video with lyrics and submitted it as media accompanying the Honors in Action project submission.  

Parking enforcement starts Jan. 18

The Traverse City Parking Patrol will begin issuing citations for parking violations at NMC on Monday, January 18. All NMC students and employees must have their 2020-2021 permits displayed by that date. If you haven’t received your permit, they’re available at the Campus Safety & Security office in the West Hall Innovation Center (#9 on the Main Campus Map).

The Traverse City Police Department has provided the following information on how to avoid parking tickets on campus by properly displaying your parking permit:

  • Place your permit in the bottom left-hand corner of your windshield.
  • Place your permit right side up. An upside-down permit will be considered invalid.
  • Hang tags must be on the rear view mirror. 
  • Be sure that the expiration date on your permit can be seen from the outside of your vehicle. (Some vehicles have a tint on the edges of their windshield, so be sure your permit is not behind a tint, as it will make it difficult to see from the outside.) When it doubt, get out of your vehicle and be sure you can see the entire permit from the outside.

If you do get a ticket, payment can be made at the red drop-off payment box at the east end of the Cedar lot in front of the Health & Science Building on main campus. You can also mail the fine in to the city, or pay at the parking services office in the public parking garage at 303 E. State St. Payment information is also on each ticket.

If you have any questions about parking enforcement on campus, please call Campus Safety & Security at (231) 995-1111.

Sad News

Stephen Ballance photoLongtime NMC instructor and Art Department head Stephen Ballance passed away on October 21, 2020.

Steve joined the NMC faculty in 1971 as a part-time instructor of photography, taught Photography and Art Appreciation from 1981 through 2000 and served as the head of the Art Department from 1986 through 2000, according to his obituary. He also headed the Physical Education Department from 1981 through 1986 and taught sailing to Great Lakes Maritime Academy students. He considered his work with his students as his most important accomplishment.

At Steve’s request, a private memorial service will be held in the spring. Recognitions of Steve’s contribution to the community should be directed to the Paul & Delphine Welch Art Department Scholarship at Northwestern Michigan College, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686. Read more and share your memories here.