Dec 4, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Advocates for Benzie County is sponsoring several listening sessions to hear residents’ needs and concerns regarding higher education access in Benzie County. As the group has been promoting the sessions, NMC wanted to ensure that our students and employees have also heard about the sessions. The dates, times, and locations are listed below.
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- Monday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Frankfort (City Hall)
- Tuesday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m., Benzonia (Mills Community House)
- Thursday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m., Honor (The Gathering Place)
- Saturday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m., Lake Ann (United Methodist Community Center)
- Wednesday, Dec. 13, 12 p.m., Frankfort Rotary (Hotel Frankfort) (NMC President Nissley Presenting)
- Thursday, Jan. 11, 2 p.m., Eagles Club of Interlochen
- Thursday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m., United Methodist Church in Elberta
- Tuesday, Jan. 23 7:30 a.m., Benzie Sunrise Rotary (Lucky Dog Bar) (NMC President Nissley Nick Presenting)
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the NMC Presidents Office at nmcpresident@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1010 with any questions or concerns.
Dec 1, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates
The NMC Board of Trustees Fellows Selection Committee is seeking nominations for the 2024 Northwestern Michigan College “Fellow” award. The Fellow is NMC’s highest honor and the following criteria are taken into consideration during the selection process.
- Demonstrated influential networking on behalf of the College – Exercising helpful influence among their resource networks in public life, academe or business and industry with those who can positively affect the mission of the College.
- Financial contribution – Demonstration of pattern of outstanding contributions over time to NMC.
- Time devoted in the interest of NMC – Exemplifying dedicated and loyal volunteer service over a period of years.
- Retirees – In addition to service deemed extraordinary during their active careers as members of the faculty and staff, retirees who continue to contribute to their academic or professional fields and provide exemplary service back to NMC as volunteers, mentors or advisors shall be considered.
Exceptional contributions in one or more of these areas may justify nomination. No staff, faculty, or trustee shall be named a Fellow while still employed or in office. A list of previously selected Fellows is here for your reference.
Please complete the nomination form to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominations may be submitted to the President’s Office and via e-mail to nmcpresident@nmc.edu by Thursday, December 21, 2023.
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Nov 1, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Dear NMC Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you are having a successful fall semester! As we welcome November, I hope you are looking forward to Thanksgiving as much as I am. To make sure we can all share in this important tradition I am asking for your help.
For the tenth annual year, Kristy McDonald’s Professional Communications class is partnering with the NMC Food Pantry and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan to donate to 125 families in the Traverse City community. Boxes–each of which feeding approximately six people–will be distributed at the NMC gym on November 20.
If you are enrolled at NMC as a student (part-time or full-time), you can apply to receive a full Thanksgiving meal for you and your family. The process will be confidential and convenient. The boxes also supplement for the days after the holiday itself, easing any uncertainty families might have.
Any monetary contributions that are collected in our month-long drive results in donors having the chance to win prizes like a weekend stay at the Delamar Hotel, an Elev8 family climbing package, a wine tasting for six at Chateau Chantal, and other prizes by donating $10 or more at nmc.edu/give. (Choose the amount, select “designate my gift to other,” and type in “Thanks For Giving.”) Donors can only enter the prize drawing once. Winners will be announced after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Community members also have the option to donate at a glow skate event hosted by our class on November 3 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Howe Ice Arena in the Traverse City Civic Center. Admission will be $10 to enter and $5 to rent ice skates.
The final option to assist is to donate pop cans in their marked bins, found in NMC’s North Hall, East Hall, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center and Parsons-Stulen Building. The bins will be collected twice a week from now until November 13. If any departments are interested in donating items, please contact Meredith Kilbourn at kilbou14@mail.nmc.edu.
Thank you for your help. Together we can ensure all Hawk Owls have a memorable Thanksgiving!
Nick
Oct 25, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates
NMC Community,
I want to share with the NMC community an exciting update on the Pitch for the Trades Competition. You may have heard bits and pieces of this story during the October 10th Professional Development Day, but I’d like to fill you in on the details.
Our NMC Construction Technology program was selected as a finalist for the NACCE (National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship) Pitch for the Trades competition – with a chance to share part of a $150,000 grand prize! NMC’s Construction Technology Program, led by Carolyn Andrews, Construction Coordinator, is pitching the idea of adding 3D home printing technologies to the curriculum. Yes, the future is here, and 3D printed houses will have a role in the future of home construction. From small workforce neighborhoods to unique custom homes, 3D printed homes and communities are beginning to expand, and our local industry partners are taking notice.
Will Kitchen, from NMC’s Office of Possibilities (OOPS), identified the NAACE pitch opportunity, and Carolyn and Dan Goodchild quickly jumped in realizing this was a way to innovate the Construction program and be on the forefront of a new technology. Teaming up with Al Everett (developer and Principal of Thrive TC) and Lauren Tucker (Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area), they created a pitch. Their pitch was to deliver on the potential for 3D printing in our Construction curriculum, and a way forward for prototyping an actual 3D printed house here in Traverse City.
After successfully pitching along with 19 other semi-finalists, earlier this month, the team was one of just six teams selected to move on to the finals on Monday, October 30th. While there is no virtual option to watch, the entire NMC community will be cheering them on. No matter what the results, we are incredibly proud of Carolyn, Will, and Dan for taking the risk of trying something new and looking towards the future – a future where 3D printing of homes becomes the norm. A special thanks for the support provided by OOPS and the encouragement from partners like Lauren Tucker and the Home Builders Association.
Please join me in wishing them luck with the pitch! Go Hawk Owls!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Oct 2, 2023 | President Updates, Student News
Dear Students,
I am pleased to inform you of an important opportunity you will be offered in the coming days to participate in a survey of the institutionalization of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness on our campus. Participation will entail completing a 15-minute web-based survey; your unique link to the survey will be emailed to you from Surveys@srs.brooklyn.cuny.edu in the coming days.
This survey was designed to determine the state of your sense of belonging on our campus. Your views are especially important to us as we strive to increase the satisfaction of all students and to make NMC a great place to learn.
The survey is completely confidential and will be handled through the survey provider’s project team.
We welcome this opportunity to learn from an independent and research-driven study. We believe that NMC has the potential to be one of the best places for our students to thrive. However, data from the DEII study will be meaningful only if we have broad participation.
Within a week, you will receive an email from surveys@srs.brooklyn.edu, directing you to the online survey. The survey is easy to complete. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Dr. Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu or Surveys@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
Thank you in advance for helping us through participation in this study.
Sincerely,
Drs. Nick Nissley and Marcus Bennett
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Sep 15, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates
Dear NMC community:
I have an important development to share with you.
A group known as Best Benzie, comprising dedicated Benzie County residents, is actively exploring the possibility of Benzie County joining the NMC district through an annexation vote that could occur in November 2024. Currently, Benzie County is not part of any community college district.
Here are the key highlights of this annexation initiative:
- Enhanced educational access: If approved, Benzie County residents would gain the opportunity to attend NMC as in-district students, benefiting from significantly reduced tuition rates compared to the current out-of-district rates.
- Access to programs: Approved annexation would enable Benzie County residents to participate in valuable programs such as Michigan Reconnect as in-district students, ensuring they receive the full range of program benefits.
- Millage rate: Benzie County landowners, in the event of approval, would be subject to a millage rate of 2.0574 mils, aligning with the current rate for Grand Traverse County landowners.
- Financial impact: NMC stands to gain an additional $2.6 million of tax revenue annually if the annexation proposal is approved.
- Democratic process: It’s important to note that the decision to allow this issue onto the ballot rests with the NMC Board of Trustees. They will evaluate the level of interest from Benzie County residents and decide accordingly. After that, it would be up to the eligible voters to decide.
- Community collaboration: Should voters endorse the annexation and millage, NMC is committed to collaborating closely with community members and various groups to shape an educational facility and staffing model that aligns with the missions and needs of the Benzie community.
- Education center: In line with this commitment, NMC envisions establishing a physical presence in Benzie County, including teaching and classroom space, a state-of-the-art computer lab, technology resources for students, versatile meeting spaces for interactions with students and community groups, and dedicated office space for permanent and visiting staff.
This potential annexation discussion is still in the early phases. I will be representing NMC in these talks along with several trustees and college executive staff members. Next steps include:
- Stakeholder gathering: On September 19, Best Benzie will hold a meeting to inform key stakeholders of the desire to move forward with annexation.
- Town Hall: In October, Best Benzie will hold a town hall meeting to share the intention of annexation with the Benzie County community.
- Listening sessions: Following the Town Hall, NMC will host listening sessions from October to December to better understand the Benzie County community’s needs.
This annexation initiative holds the potential to significantly enhance educational opportunities in our region, foster collaboration, and positively impact the lives of Benzie County residents. We will continue to keep you updated as this process unfolds. In fact, we’ll be holding upcoming meetings on our campus to keep you further informed of what’s unfolding.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Nick
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the Aug. 12 passing of Dr. Kari Kahler, a cherished member of our Northwestern Michigan College community for more than 40 years. Many of you knew she had been fighting cancer for several months. Today, we remember her incredible career and contributions to NMC. Kari’s journey began as a Conference Center Coordinator in 1982 and grew to embody our NMC value of lifelong learning. Over the years, her unwavering dedication and passion for student success left an indelible mark on our institution. Her career at NMC culminated with becoming Associate Dean of Learning Services in 2012. For more than a decade she oversaw Academic & Career Advising, Disability Support Services, Honors, Phi Theta Kappa, Student Success, and Tutoring.
Kari’s commitment to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) as the advisor of the Alpha Rho Pi chapter was truly remarkable. Since assuming this role on May 12,1997, she became a true PTK ambassador for Northwestern Michigan College. She embodied the spirit of PTK by ensuring its visibility on campus, attending events, and sharing her unyielding passion with students. Under her guidance, the Alpha Rho Pi Chapter thrived and grew, becoming a beacon of excellence.
Her legacy shines brightly through her tireless efforts to nurture student leadership. Kari’s collaborative spirit and boundless enthusiasm led to initiatives that impacted not only PTK students but the entire student body. She spearheaded the establishment of the first-ever “Student Leadership Luncheon,” creating a platform to recognize and celebrate student leaders across campus. Her involvement extended beyond PTK, as she co-founded the College’s inaugural Rotaract group, providing students with opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills through service. Kari’s impact resonated throughout the campus, with her students assuming leadership roles in various student organizations.
One of her most cherished accomplishments was the Blair Mentoring Project, which she co-founded with Emily Witte at Blair Elementary School. Through this project, Kari and her team paired NMC student mentors with Blair fifth graders, nurturing their leadership potential and fostering resilience. She helped these students see themselves as future leaders and college students.
Kari’s dedication went beyond PTK. She played an instrumental role in keeping the Food Pantry operational during the pandemic, served on the BBQ board for many years, led the Developmental Education Committee, and managed the honors program at NMC. Her commitment to student success was palpable, and she supported numerous students who faced challenges, always striving to provide them with the help they needed to thrive.
Her impact extended to the regional level, where she served as Michigan’s regional coordinator for PTK. She provided guidance and insight to the regional officer team, acting as a liaison to PTK headquarters. Her dedication was recognized in April 2015 when she received the distinguished regional coordinator award from headquarters.
Outside of her professional commitments, Kari found solace in camping and cherished her little piece of heaven on earth in Leelanau County. Her family, including her husband Chad and her children Cori and Casey, held a special place in her heart.
Kari’s passion for fostering student leadership, her dedication to Phi Theta Kappa, and her immense contributions to Northwestern Michigan College will forever be remembered. As we mourn her loss, let us also celebrate her legacy and the positive impact she had on countless lives.
Human Resources will be sending out further communications regarding grief support services available on campus later this week. Do not hesitate to reach out for resources. The true impact of her work is with the countless lives she touched. But I also want to shine a light on just how dedicated she was to our College and all that we represent. A true servant leader, we are all better for knowing her and having her be part of our community.
Kari and her family established the Dr. Kari Kahler Scholarship at Northwestern Michigan College and have asked that gifts be directed to this scholarship in her memory. This scholarship will honor her legacy by providing financial assistance to former Blair Elementary students as they pursue their education at NMC. Learn more about the scholarship and donate here.
NMC Positions (42 years of service as of 2023)
- Conference Center Coordinator 1982–1986
- Residence Hall Supervisor 1981–1987
- Career Planning and Placement Specialist 1985–1990
- Assistant Director, Housing/Student Activities/Campus Activities 1987–1990
- Director of Housing & Student Life 1991–1996
- Adjunct – Psychology – 1998–2021
- Coordinator – Center and Employment Services – 1997–2006
- Director of Learning Services 2006–2012
- Associate Dean of Learning Services 2012–Present
NMC Leadership/Engagement
- Classification Review Team Member
- Honors Committee – Honors Director
- Food Pantry Team Member
- Barbecue Board – College Liaison
- PDI Advisory Board – Member
- Crucial Accountability Instructor
NMC Recognitions
- Employee of the Term – 1989 Winter Term – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 1995 – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 2005 – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 2012 – Awarded
- Team Excellence Award 2021 – Nominee (Learning Services)
Phi Theta Kappa Roles & Recognition
- PTK – Alpha Rho Pi Chapter Advisor
- Michigan Regional Coordinator
- Student Development Representative – PTK Honors Program Council 2020–2024
- PTK Leadership Studies Curriculum Instructor
- Recognition: PTK Faculty Scholar – 2020
- Recognition: Continued Excellence Award for Advisors 2022
Feb 27, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates
Good morning NMC community,
I am pleased to share an important update regarding the college’s accreditation cycle, including results from the recent mid-cycle assurance review.
As you know, in 2019 NMC started on an Open Pathway to maintain accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC.) This is a 10-year cycle focused on quality assurance and institutional improvement. The Open Pathway option includes regular monitoring, a mid cycle Assurance Review, a Quality Initiative project and an end of cycle Comprehensive Evaluation for Reaffirmation.
We are now on the other side of our Mid-Cycle Assurance Review point. I am pleased to share that HLC formally notified us in January that NMC “Met” all Core Components of the Criteria for Accreditation. This result indicates the strength of the college in meeting the HLC expectations in all areas. The next step along the pathway is for NMC to propose a Quality Initiative project between September 1, 2023 and June 2025. Once the proposal is approved by the HLC, we will begin work on our project. The completed project is due no later than June 1, 2028. Stay tuned for more information as we co-create this important college project.
While our accreditation truly takes a college-wide effort, I want to specifically thank Joy Goodchild, NMC’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, for her leadership and role in authoring the Assurance Argument, as well as Lisa Balbach and Nick Roster in their significant contributions in authorship. I also want to thank those who provided their support leading to our successful review: Shelly Grant, Stephen Siciliano, Wayne Moody, and Michael Anderson.
I look forward to engaging our college community around the next phase of this important work!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Feb 14, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Dear NMC family,
My heart is heavy this morning about the tragedy at Michigan State University last night. This hits much too close to home. We all know someone with ties to MSU, including our own alumni. Like many of you, I am feeling both sadness and frustration. While some things are outside of our control, I want to reassure you we have many safety protocols in place and practice drills monthly. We also have many resources to offer support and help you process your feelings and concerns. Our teams in human resources and student services are sharing the details with you today. Most importantly, I want you to know that I am confident that our NMC family will continue to support one another, and help each other move through this.
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Dec 20, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
Dear colleagues:
Following are our institutional priorities for professional development for 2023-2024.
It is encouraged to link your sabbatical and professional development leave proposals to one or more of the college strategies and/or the college mission.
Faculty Sabbatical Leave Requests – Faculty must submit endorsed requests electronically to the Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE) by January 31, 2023. Endorsements required: three peers and the appropriate academic chair. The application form can be found here.
By February 15, CIE forwards the applications to the Vice President for Educational Services for prioritization by ESIMT. The Vice President of Educational Services will then make a recommendation to the President no later than March 1, 2023.
Staff Sabbatical Leave – Salaried staff must submit endorsed requests to Hollie DeWalt, Interim Associate Vice President of Human Resources, by January 31, 2023. Endorsement required: appropriate executive staff officer.
The Interim Associate Vice President of Human Resources will review staff applications in consultation with executive staff by March 1, 2023, and make a recommendation to the President.
For more information regarding sabbatical and professional development policies and procedures see Staff HR Policies D-753.00, D-753.01, and D-753.02, and Faculty Chair and Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreements..
Any additional questions can be addressed to Human Resources (ext. 5-2612) or the Center for Instructional Excellence (ext. 5-1046).
Additional Resources:
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Nov 3, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Dear NMC Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you are having a successful fall semester! As we welcome November, I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family over a meal this Thanksgiving. To make sure we can all share in this important tradition I am asking for your help.
Recently, instructor, Kristy McDonald, invited me to a business communications class to see their experiential learning project in action. These students are improving their professional communication skills, while making a real difference in the lives of others in our community – literally, helping feed the hungry (and, affording a bit of Thanksgiving joy).
They believe everyone should get to experience Thanksgiving, and with our help, we can help make this come true. They are asking us – the NMC family – to join in the efforts and fill the red bins by November 14. You can donate as an individual, or join together with your classmates or co-workers to share in the spirit of gratitude! Red collection bins are located at the lobby of the following buildings: Osterlin Building, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Parsons-Stulen, and the Great Lakes Campus. The class aims to collect:
- Mini Marshmallows (10 oz. bags)
- Granola Bars (boxes)
Community members can help by donating $10 or more to win a variety of prizes; including Red Wings tickets, a one-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge with water park passes, a one-night stay at the Delamar Resort, passes to Bay Meadows family golf course (including cart fees), and other local prizes.
Donations can be made online at nmc.edu/give (Choose the amount, select “designate my gift to others,” and type in “Food For Thought.”) In addition, a private donor has pledged to match monetary contributions up to $5,000. Any additional local companies interested in becoming sponsors of this project are encouraged to contact the students. Employees can also help a student apply for a free meal by completing this Google Form (NMC Food for Thought Form).
Having experienced homelessness and food insecurity in my life, I know first hand what a difference your donation can make for a family in need. I admire these students’ desire to help others this Thanksgiving. Please join me in supporting this effort. For more information, or if you have any questions, please email Michael Wittman at wittmam@mail.nmc.edu.
Thank you for your help. Together we can ensure all Hawk Owls have a memorable Thanksgiving!
Nick Nissley, President
Oct 17, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
The NMC Board of Trustees Fellows Selection Committee is seeking nominations for the 2023 Northwestern Michigan College “Fellow” award. The Fellow is NMC’s highest honor and the following criteria are taken into consideration during the selection process.
- Demonstrated influential networking on behalf of the College – Exercising helpful influence among their resource networks in public life, academe or business and industry with those who can positively affect the mission of the College.
- Financial contribution – Demonstration of pattern of outstanding contributions over time to NMC.
- Time devoted in the interest of NMC – Exemplifying dedicated and loyal volunteer service over a period of years.
- Retirees – In addition to service deemed extraordinary during their active careers as members of the faculty and staff, retirees who continue to contribute to their academic or professional fields and provide exemplary service back to NMC as volunteers, mentors or advisors shall be considered.
Exceptional contributions in one or more of these areas may justify nomination. No staff, faculty, or trustee shall be named a Fellow while still employed or in office. A list of previously selected Fellows is here for your reference.
Please use the nomination form here to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominations may be submitted to the President’s Office and via e-mail to nmcpresident@nmc.edu by Thursday, December 1, 2022.
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Oct 7, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
Dear Colleagues,
On Tuesday, October 11, the Center for Instructional Excellence and the Professional Development Institute will host the seventh NMC October Conference. This is a college-wide professional development event for all regular faculty and staff, as well as adjunct faculty.
An appointment has been sent to your Google calendar. The College will be closed to allow all faculty and staff to attend. We are excited to have everyone together again, face-to-face for this event!
Our morning will begin at 8:00 am at the Milliken Auditorium with light refreshments, followed by a welcome and a keynote address. Our speaker is Dr. Todd Zakrajsek, learning science author and speaker from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Lilly Conferences.
We will have a wide variety of sessions available for all NMC faculty and staff to come together to share ideas and learn new strategies, ultimately giving everyone an opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other.
This year’s theme is: NMC Next: Unlock Your Full Potential, based on NMC’s Vision and Strategic Plan, and provides an opportunity for the College to invest in you, our employees! I can’t stress enough how important each of you is in helping our learners succeed. It takes every person in every position on campus to assure quality experiences and outcomes for our students. This day gives us the opportunity to invest in each other.
Check your calendars for a more detailed agenda with a list of sessions that will allow you to plan your day.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Nick
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Sep 22, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
Good morning NMC community,
I hope you are finding your rhythm this semester and feeling optimistic from the energy and engagement offered by our students and colleagues. It’s easy to feel upbeat when we see more friendly faces in the Hawk Owl Café, but there are also some important points of pride taking place behind the scenes. That’s what I want to lift up for us to celebrate today with our new strategic plan, NMC Next.
Last year, we all created this plan together to focus our efforts on the most important work here at the College and to prepare for a successful future. Now, more than half way through our first year, I want to share some great successes that you and your colleagues are accomplishing.
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Strategy 1: Future-Focused Education
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Strategy 2: Student Engagement and Success
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Thank you everyone who helped with Welcome Week activities! Not only is this a fun way to support our students, it also supports Strategy 2, objective 1. Not only are we forging an important sense of belonging, but we’re also tracking attendance so we can measure the impact on student success.
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Strategy 3: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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We have a passionate and dedicated team advancing this important work and have met some major milestones already. NMC’s first Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Marcus Bennett, started in his role in July. Also this summer, the NMC DEI Core and Employee teams merged to become the NMC DEIB Advisory Council and completed DEIB training through Grand Valley State University.
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Strategy 4: Community Partnerships and Engagement
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Thanks to Elizabeth Sonnabend, Laura Matchett and Ed Bailey for helping the college advance our skilled trades goals. They’ve been busy developing workforce and professional development training across all industry sectors in response to employer needs. With the assistance of MiWorks!, they have secured funding to allow participants to attend these training sessions, sometimes for free, providing the skills necessary to upscale the community’s workforce.
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Strategy 5 – Institutional Distinction and Sustainability
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Chef Les Eckert, the entire GLCI team, and many others across the college have completed the incredibly hard work of reimagining the institute. This effort touched nearly every aspect of the program and resulted in new content, shorter courses, and a renewed optimism for the future success of GLCI.
We also have to give a shout out to the ORPE team of Joy Goodchild and Shelly Grant for developing dashboards that allow us to easily track all of the data related to the objectives. Transparency and accountability are central to the success of our strategic plan.
These are only a few examples of the great work that’s happening all across our College. I am proud of all of you for staying focused and continuing to make progress. It’s important that we remain committed to seeing this work through to completion and just as important to celebrate our success along the way!
Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives Jason Slade, in true engineer fashion, is making sure everything is running smoothly and on schedule. It is a lot to keep track of, but he does a great job of making sure the information is accessible. Attached you will find his fall report on the status of our entire strategic plan. I encourage you to read it and congratulate your teams and colleagues on all your hard work. While we have more work to do, we already have so much to be proud of!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Jun 22, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
Good afternoon NMC community,
I am pleased to announce Jennifer Hricik, currently the NMC Foundation’s Major Gifts Officer, will serve as Interim Associate Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Foundation for the next year.
Jennifer will help lead the Foundation through its strategic planning process that officially launched this month. Upon its anticipated completion in December 2022, we will launch a national search for the permanent position.
Jennifer is a values-grounded servant leader, committed to the NMC mission – delivering lifelong learning opportunities to transform students’ lives and enrich our community. Since she began with the Foundation in 2016 she has worked to connect donors to opportunities at NMC, allowing them to significantly impact students and our community. She was a key contributor to the success of the “Be What’s Possible” Campaign, helping raise more than $40 million.
Jennifer’s passion for learning pre-dates NMC. Her higher education-focused career includes work in the areas of: enrollment, strategic planning, marketing, branding, and development. She has worked as an associate director of college admissions, gaining valuable student-facing experience and deep understanding of student needs. Additionally, she has worked as a consultant and director of client services for an education-focused consulting firm, gaining valuable collaboration and project management skills, serving a broad range of higher education institutions.
Even if you have not had the opportunity to work directly with Jennifer, you likely know her through her infectious positivity and collaborative relationships across our campus and community. Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to her new role.
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Jun 9, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
Good morning NMC community,
It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to share that we will soon be undergoing a leadership transition within the NMC Foundation.
Associate Vice President for Resource Development and Executive Director of the NMC Foundation Rebecca Teahen will be leaving the college July 15. During her more than ten years of leadership, the Foundation has evolved into a model for community college philanthropy. Rebecca overhauled the traditional view of giving and lived the vision for Be What’s Possible with a new style comprehensive campaign which raised a record-setting $40.3 million from 5,200 donors. Today the NMC Foundation is one of the top 20 community college foundations in the United States. The Be What’s Possible campaign is one of the largest and most successful campaigns ever undertaken by a community college foundation. Thanks to her leadership we also have a growing alumni network, with 27,000 graduates and 58,000 former students, and robust participation with the community through the Foundation Board and committee members.
There is never a good time for leadership transitions, but Rebecca’s thoughtfulness to see the campaign through its successful completion is key. We are also just beginning the important work of strategic planning with the NMC Foundation to support the College’s strategic plan, NMC Next. We are currently working with the NMC Foundation Executive Committee and key stakeholders on a transition plan that will help guide the NMC Foundation through this planning process and toward long-term success. We also know that the NMC Foundation is very strong financially and well equipped with talented staff who will continue to serve our students and donors. We will of course keep you updated as the process continues.
Please join me in thanking Rebecca Teahen for her successful career at NMC. As you know, she and her family have a long history with the NMC community and I know she will always be a strong supporter of the valuable work we do.
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Jan 27, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates
It’s an exciting and busy time at NMC! Please join us for a virtual town hall to hear the latest from President Nissley on the work that unites us as a college community, including the official launch of NMC Next our new strategic plan!
The event is planned for this Friday, January 28, 2022, from 8–9 a.m. Topics will include: enrollment, NMC Next Strategic Plan, COVID-19, Q&A, and a little something for each of you!
The session will be recorded for those unable to attend.
To join, please use the Zoom webinar link included below or in the calendar appointment.
When: Jan 28, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Town Hall – Spring 2022
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
US: +16465588656,,92440559833# or +13017158592,,92440559833#
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
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Webinar ID: 924 4055 9833
We look forward to coming together as a college community Friday morning! See you then!
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President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Jan 14, 2022 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Good morning NMC community and welcome to spring semester 2022!
A new year and a new semester always fills me with the sense of possibility that new beginnings bring us! I am excited to be back together working toward our common goals — transforming student lives and enriching our community — even if we’re not physically together right now. Regardless, we are united in our commitment to learning and our shared success. We’ve learned new things about ourselves over the past two years. For instance, I am a ‘people person’ and love the energy I feel from seeing and engaging with our students and employees on campus. But even when I can’t see you as often as I’d like, I have discovered that I can still feel that energy that connects us all as an NMC community. That is what lies at the heart of NMC Next — our new strategic plan that includes a new Mission, Vision, Values and Learner Experience pledge that we drafted together over the past year. That common sense of purpose inspires me everyday I wake up — to serve you and our mission. I can’t wait to share NMC Next with you after the Board of Trustees meets to approve the work later this month. While I am not sure where the pandemic will take us next, I am confident that we will continue to be connected as an NMC community, with a clear purpose, and a plan to help us move forward towards our shared vision of ‘what’s possible’.
Please remember to take care of yourself, your classmates, colleagues, friends, family and neighbors. Know that we are all here to help each other succeed. NMC is a special place and I am so grateful I get to share it with you.
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
