Success Story: Younger adults now eligible as state seeks a better-educated workforce

Oct 4, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

October 4, 2023

Current Reconnect students David Hipolito, Computer Information Technology, and Hannah Ramsby, Culinary

This week, Michiganders ages 21–24 who don’t already have a college degree got a limited time opportunity to increase their lifetime earning power at potentially no cost to them.

For just over a year, Michigan Reconnect, which began offering free in-district tuition to adults 25 and older without a degree in 2021, is being extended to 21- to 24-year-olds. The only other eligibility requirements are a minimum of one year’s residency in Michigan, and a high school diploma or equivalent. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2024 and students must start classes by the fall 2024 semester.

NMC estimates between 400–450 current students will be eligible, and the expansion could also draw in new students.

“NMC is so excited that the opportunity Michigan Reconnect presents is now available to younger adults,” said NMC President Nick Nissley. “We know from decades of data that education beyond high school is the surest way people can improve their future incomes. Michigan Reconnect now makes that education much more affordable for many more people.”

A 2021 study by Traverse Connect, the region’s economic development agency, showed that the largest chunk of northwest Michigan’s jobs, 43 percent, require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree. 2021 Georgetown University research shows that over an earning lifetime, associate degree graduates earn an average of $400,000 more than high school or GED graduates.

At NMC, Grand Traverse County residents are considered in-district. Those who live elsewhere still receive significant discounts, paying only the difference between the in district and out of district rates. Other aid can also offset some of those costs.

This fall, NMC saw a 20 percent jump in Reconnector enrollment by the original 25+ population. Some 278 students are receiving the Reconnect scholarship, with an average award of $1,561. Nearly 80 percent of those students have tuition and fees covered in full between Reconnect and Pell grants.

Students have used Reconnect to enroll in virtually all of NMC’s 60 programs.

David Hipolito, 25, is enrolled in Computer Information Technology. Many of the courses he takes in the CIT program are online and he appreciates that format because it allows him to balance school and a full-time job. Hipolito also endorses NMC’s instructors, substantial student support services, and campus vibe. “NMC is a small community; you feel like you’re at home,” he said.

Hannah Ramsby, 28, is enrolled in Culinary Arts. Reconnect is a huge relief because it means she doesn’t have to take out loans. She encourages others to take advantage of it: “I often struggle asking for help. The money is there to help. I love that it is helping those who may think that they’re too old to go to school or don’t deserve it.”

The Reconnect expansion to 21–24 is funded by a $70 million appropriation from the Michigan Legislature.

In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established Michigan’s 60 by 30 goal of having 60 percent of adults have a college degree or skills certificate by 2030. It’s now 50.5 percent.

NMC hosts Building Tomorrow Oct. 5, 6

Oct 3, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

Event gets students hands-on with skilled trades career opportunities

TRAVERSE CITY –Some 450 area middle and high school students will have a chance to “try a trade” when NMC hosts the annual Building Tomorrow event Thursday Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 6 at the Aero Park Laboratories building.

Set for 9 a.m.–2 p.m. both days, the event is a hands-on experience for students to explore a career in the skilled trades. Students will rotate through several stations including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, automotive, welding and excavation site work.

Aero Park Laboratories is located at 2525 Aero Park Dr. on NMC’s Aero Park campus.

There is strong employer demand for skilled trades workers. A 2021 regional skills gap study found that it faced the greatest hiring challenges of any labor segment, with a third of northwest Michigan employers reporting difficulty hiring people with necessary skills.

NMC offers both degrees and certificates in automotive technology, construction technology, engineering technology, manufacturing technology, renewable energy technology, surveying and welding technology. In all technical programs, enrollments are limited to maximize students’ access to the most current technology and industry-knowledgeable instructors. Technical curriculum is reviewed and approved by local advisory committees.

Release Date: October 3, 2023

For more information:

Carolyn Andrews
NMC Technical Division
(231) 995-2803
candrews@nmc.edu

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

NMC Jazz Bands join the Jeff Haas Trio at The Alluvion

Oct 2, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

The NMC Jazz Bands will join the Jeff Haas Trio for two upcoming shows at The Alluvion this month as part of the “Jazz For All” series. 

• • October 19: Jazz Big Band
  • October 26: NMC Jazz Lab Band

The Jazz Big Band members includes players from multiple local groups who come together to form one of the best big bands in the area. The Jazz Lab Band is a mixture of experienced community members and NMC students who come together to play a variety of traditional jazz ensemble staples that define the genre.

$1-20 honor cover at the door (no presale). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The Jeff Haas Trio starts at 6 p.m. and the big bands go on at 7:15pm. 

The Alluvion is located at 414 East 8th Street, second floor, Traverse City, MI, 49686.

New books at the NMC library

Oct 2, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.

(more…)

College Night for high school students, Transfer Fair for NMC students

Sep 28, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — College-bound students can explore their options at more than 45 colleges and universities at two free events set for Oct. 11 in Northwestern Michigan College’s Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on main campus.

2023 College Night: 6–8 p.m. This event is aimed at current high school students making post-graduation educational plans. Information on NMC dual enrollment and Early College, which allow high school students to earn both high school and college credit at no cost while still attending high school, will be available, plus scholarship and financial aid information.
New this year, students are required to preregister. Visit nmc.edu/collegenight or www.strivefair.com

See participating schools.

2023 Transfer Fair: Held from noon–2 p.m., this event is aimed primarily at current NMC students who plan to transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelor’s degree. See participating schools.

Release date: SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

For more information:

Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)

Coffee & Career Chats

Sep 21, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

Amy Burns-Bailey, Experiential Learning Coordinator, and Lisa Baldyga, Employment Readiness Specialist, are hosting Coffee & Career Chats on the last Wednesday of each month this fall from 9–10 a.m. at the Experiential Learning Institute located in room 103 of the Timothy J Nelson Innovation Center.

Coffee & Careers Chats will be held on these dates:

• September 27
• October 25
• November 29

Join them for a cup of coffee and donuts while discussing topics involving career readiness. They can answer questions about resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, networking, internships, apprenticeships and more!

Success story: Police officers, pilots and more

Sep 20, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

September 20, 2023

Progress towards graduating more police officers and pilots. Faster class completion, degree achievement, and employment for students. More high impact experiential learning that engages students in their education.

Those are among the highlights of the second year of NMC Next, the college’s strategic plan. More than 1,000 stakeholders provided input during the plan’s development in 2021, creating five strategic areas and dozens of objectives for our community, our college and our collective future.

“This is an important time in our strategic plan work. Any organization runs the risk of losing momentum or focus with a strategic plan when the new wears off, but that’s not what we’re seeing at NMC,” said Jason Slade, NMC vice president for strategic initiatives. “We’ve made some impressive progress and teams across the college remain committed to the plan’s success to the benefit of our students.”

Some of Year 2’s highlights:

Future-focused education: Accelerated course delivery, which means covering the same amount of content in about half the time, now is available for 26 courses. In addition, the entire Police Academy program has been consolidated to a single semester instead of two. The 17 students who enrolled this fall equals fall 2022 enrollment. But this year’s class will graduate in December, making way for a brand-new class in January. That also meets the needs of law enforcement agencies eager to hire graduates.

“They are desperately in need of law enforcement personnel,” Police Academy director Gail Kurowski said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to increase enrollment.”

Accelerated courses have also been successful at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, where some were offered in 2022. Students were better able to manage the shorter sessions with their jobs and family commitments. That in turn means they’re less likely to drop out, and more likely to finish.

“It’s an easier way to stay on track for graduation,” Culinary Executive Director Les Eckert said.

Also in the area of future focused education, two-thirds of students have had an experiential learning opportunity, on track to meet the goal of 100 percent by Sept. 2024. This objective will empower learners for the future.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Led by Marcus Bennett in his new role as special assistant to the president for DEI, NMC Human Resources is incorporating new employee training on implicit bias and creating a culture of belonging. Members of NMC’s President Council are also taking the training. The creation of Bennett’s position was a strategic objective fulfilled in 2022.

Community Partnerships: Within NMC’s Extended Educational Services division, a new workforce development team reaches out to area employers, listens to their needs and design training. This summer, the team developed custom training for Sara Lee.

Distinctive Programs: NMC’s highly-regarded Aviation program is shifting into the execution phase of a planned expansion after securing funding. The larger hangar and additional planes will allow the program, which currently has a two-year wait list, to begin accepting more students. Aviation graduates have 100 percent employment.

The Great Lakes Water Studies Institute has become a key partner in the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center in Greilickville.

NMC to host Applying to College 101 workshop

Sep 20, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

NMC will host Applying to College 101, a new event for students beginning their college search, from 6–7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9.

Admissions representatives will guide participants through the college application process, focusing on what to expect and time frames to be aware of. Co-sponsored with Northern Michigan University, the event will be held in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 106/107 on NMC’s main campus. Food is provided. Students should RSVP here if they plan to attend.

Event takeaways:

• Understanding application basics: Types of applications, fees, and other requirements like essays and letters of recommendation
• Understanding application decisions: Early, regular and rolling
• How transfer agreements and the Michigan Transfer Association can help you
• How to find scholarships
• What questions to ask a college representative
• What to look for in a college
• Student panel: Hear students’ personal experiences

Applying to College 101 precedes and prepares students for the annual College Night, set for Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 6–8 p.m., also in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. More than 45 colleges, universities and military branches will be represented at College Night, offering northern Michigan high school students a one-stop shop to evaluate their post graduation options. 

For more information:

Katie Sommer-Ford
Learning Services
ksommer@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1369

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

Office of Possibilities pitch proposals

Sep 15, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

Do you have an idea or project that needs resources to reach its full potential? If so, the Office of Possibilities wants to hear from you! OOPS seeks to provide resources for education-related projects as well as projects related to community partnerships with NMC.

Upcoming pitch dates will be held on December 1, 2023 and March 15, 2024 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105.

Those interested in presenting a pitch are encouraged to participate in one of the two upcoming Design Thinking workshops.

New books at the NMC library

Sep 15, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.

(more…)

Open gym hours

Sep 12, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

The Rajkovich Physical Education Building is open to all NMC students, staff and faculty members on Mondays and Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. 

The gym has equipment for a variety of activities such as :

• • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Dodgeball
  • Badminton
  • Pickleball
  • Corn hole
  • Ping pong

Bring your fellow friends and colleagues!

For questions, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu, C.J. Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu or Isaac Dedenbach at idedebanch@nmc.edu.

T/S State of Michigan visits Milwaukee

Sep 7, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s (NMC) Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) training ship, the T/S State of Michigan, will call on Milwaukee for the first time in over a decade on Sept. 15-16 to raise funds for the Wisconsin Navy League’s scholarship at GLMA . 

Media is invited to tour the training ship, a 224-foot former Navy submarine surveillance vessel, from 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Pier Wisconsin Cruise dock, 530 N Harbor Dr., Milwaukee. The T/S State of Michigan is the flagship of NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy, one of only six state maritime academies in the nation and the only one on freshwater. 

The Milwaukee stop is part of a training cruise for the 18 GLMA cadets aboard, as well as two from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. All cadets are required to earn 360 days of sea time while enrolled at the Academy. The ship will arrive in Milwaukee Friday from Traverse City and depart Saturday afternoon for Grand Haven, Mich. Read more about the ship.

The Wisconsin Navy League is seeking to endow the $1,000 annual scholarship, established in 2021 for Maritime cadets from Wisconsin. It honors the life of World War II Merchant Marine veteran Francis Murphy of La Crosse, Wis., who enlisted in 1944 as a newly-minted high school graduate. During his service to the nation from 1944 to 1951, Seaman Murphy made 57 round-trip Atlantic Ocean crossings on eight different ships.

Founded in 1969, NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy educates and trains deck and engineering officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine. Graduates earn a bachelor’s degree, and an unlimited tonnage/horsepower merchant marine license. Read more at nmc.edu/maritime. NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute also offers a culinary-maritime certificate program which trains students to be shipboard cooks, who are in high demand by the shipping industry.

The Navy League of the United States, founded in 1902, is a nonprofit civilian, educational and advocacy organization that supports America’s sea services: the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.

Release date: SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

For more information:

RADM Jerry Achenbach
Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent
(231) 995-1203
gachenbach@nmc.edu

Success story: Culinary maritime certificate, UAS and Wet Tech degrees

Sep 6, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

September 6, 2023

Students embarked on three brand-new credentials this fall, preparing for careers in high-demand fields in which NMC has established leadership, while overall enrollment among the more than 60 programs ticked upward slightly.

Enrollment is up 1.6 percent in terms of headcount, or 48 students. While a small increase, it’s a welcome change from the pandemic-accelerated enrollment declines of recent years. This fall’s study body includes the first Michigan Achievement students, 2023 high school graduates who received up to $2,750 from the state, and the third class of Michigan Reconnect students, which provides free in-district tuition for students 25 and older who don’t have a college degree.

The new programs, all approved by NMC’s Board of Trustees, are:

Culinary maritime certificate: Most of the 11 students enrolled are adding the certificate onto their associate degree. The certificate formalizes what began as an intra-campus partnership between NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute and Great Lakes Maritime Academy. For several years, a small number of culinary students have completed an internship onboard the Academy training ship State of Michigan. Due to the strong demand for shipboard cooks, they were employed immediately upon graduation, at high salaries.

Students in the certificate program, the only one in the U.S., will earn both the culinary and maritime credentials required to sail on U.S. flagged vessels.

“This certificate creates a unique offering that will distinguish the Great Lakes Culinary Institute from other programs. It also gives our students more options and meets the needs of industry,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.

UAS degree: Creating a standalone Uncrewed Aerial Systems degree instead of a specialty within NMC’s Engineering Technology degree creates a clearer path for students, said UAS program coordinator Tony Sauerbrey. So far, seven students have enrolled.

NMC first offered drone classes in 2010, several years before the FAA established a commercial license in 2016. Today drones are used for inspection and monitoring in multiple economic sectors, from agriculture to infrastructure. NMC’s Police Academy also offers drone operator certification to its students, the only one in Michigan to do so.

“The new degree will allow for greater flexibility in meeting the needs of the ever-changing drone industry,” Sauerbrey said. “The UAS industry is continuing to grow with a need for workforce development.”

Wet Tech degree:  The only one of its kind in Michigan, the degree utilizes existing courses from surveying and unmanned aerial systems programs as well  new courses in environmental site assessment, aquifer sampling, and groundwater monitoring. An internship is also required.

Four students have declared it as their program so far.

“This program will focus on training a workforce supporting the direct monitoring and cleanup of waters within the Great Lakes watershed and focusing on the direct impact to the quality of our water resources,” said Great Lakes Water Studies Institute Executive Director Hans Van Sumeren.

Another program, Marine Technology, enrolled its largest class yet this fall, at 14 students.

Besides these three credentials, this summer NMC also began partnering with Davenport University to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Eight students total are now enrolled in the fast-track program.

The new credentials and, for nursing, the accelerated delivery, are part of NMC Next, the college’s strategic plan, specifically offering future-focused education and building on areas of institutional distinction.