NMC employees and students were sent a survey on Thursday to gather their perspective for a comprehensive brand assessment and strategy development project. This important work builds upon the strategic plan and facilities master plan.
Please complete this survey if you have not done so already. Your unique perspective is important as we work to shape the future of the NMC brand with students, counselors, high schools, and the Grand Traverse community. Your responses will remain confidential—none of your responses will be associated with your email, name, or other identifying information. Please check your email for more information and to access the survey.
Even though there’s 60 years between them, this commencement season NMC faculty member Steve Drake and alumna Aliyah Nowlin are both celebrating firsts.
Math and science instructor Drake, 81, will embark on retirement as NMC’s longest-serving instructor. He’s wrapping up a career after more than 15,000 students, 53 years and almost as many math-themed neckties. Nowlin, 21, (right) is the first graduate of NMC’s BSN partnership with Davenport University. She earned her associate degree in nursing from NMC in 2023 and her bachelor’s from Davenport this spring.
While Drake looks back and Nowlin looks forward, they both are all smiles when they talk about NMC.
“I really enjoyed teaching. I still do,” said Drake (left), who first stepped foot in an NMC classroom in 1971. He won NMC’s Faculty Excellence Award twice and taught at least six students who became faculty colleagues. He’s the recipient of multiple National Science Foundation grants and helped build NMC’s strong reputation for transfer preparation with four-year universities. But his own accomplishments are of secondary importance.
“My greatest pride and joy has been having my former students tell me about their successes,” said Drake.
While he never taught Nowlin, she fits the bill of a successful student. She started at NMC in 2020 as a dual-enrolled Manton High School student. With her associate and bachelor’s degrees finished, this fall she’ll move right on to her master’s degree in nursing, while also working on the stroke/telemetry unit at Munson Medical Center. She estimates that the partnership, which includes concurrent NMC-Davenport classes, saved her more than $3,000.
“I wouldn’t be starting my master’s this fall without that partnership program,” said Nowlin, who also took advantage of tuition reimbursement offered to employees by Munson. “I’m 21 years old and have a lifetime of nursing ahead of me.”
Through the partnership, NMC students get Davenport credit for passing the NCLEX state licensing exam, which comes at the end of the associate degree program.
“With the way the program is set up, they gave me a chunk of credits for just having my license,” Nowlin said. “That’s a third of your BSN, right there. That was really empowering for me.”
Among the 641 students in NMC’s Class of 2024, about half will put their degree or certificate to work. The other half will transfer to a four-year school.
Whether they are planning for future education or not, Drake, one of four faculty retirees this year, encourages graduates to still maintain a learner mindset, as he has.
“Be willing to change with the times,” said Drake, who’s navigated a monumental shift in technology during his career
“When I first came to NMC, I was using slide rules and tables books,” Drake said. Now, his trusty TI-84 Plus CE calculator can do in a minute what used to take hours. But it’s a mistake to think a computer or calculators can replace the human brain.
“You’re handling difficult, challenging problems,” he said. “You have to be able to set it up for the calculator to do the grunt work.”
COVID-19 was a change both Drake and Nowlin navigated. Drake had only taught face-to-face, but found livestreaming wasn’t all that different. For Nowlin, who was dual-enrolled at NMC and Manton High School during her senior year, all classes were already online. She thinks the way she adapted to online learning helped with the nursing program.
“I kind of got my foot in the door at NMC and thought that was really helpful,” she said.
The ability to adapt to changes and learn new skills is one she now embraces.
“I can do anything with a nursing license,” she said.
NMC expects five more graduates of the BSN program in August.
TRAVERSE CITY — Commencement ceremonies for Northwestern Michigan College’s Class of 2024 will be held Saturday, May 4 in Milliken Auditorium on main campus. Three ceremonies will be held, with graduates grouped by degree or credential earned.
Each ceremony will feature faculty and student speakers. Ceremonies will be streamed live at nmc.edu/video and NMC’s YouTube channel.
About 210 graduates are expected to participate in the three ceremonies. More than 640 degrees and certificates will be awarded this spring, including the Associate in Nursing, Associate in Science and Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in General Studies and Certificate of Practical Nursing. Bachelor of Science degrees in Maritime Technology and Marine Technology will also be awarded. In addition to the main ceremonies, specific events are also held for Maritime, Nursing and Police Academy graduates.
NMC will also hold its annual Honors Convocation at 4:30 p.m. May 3 at the Dennos Museum Center. The event honors student groups and student leaders, and winners of the annual academic area awards, honors scholarships, and Adult Student of the Year.
Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (mobile – call or text)
TRAVERSE CITY — At the invitation of a group of Benzie County residents, Northwestern Michigan College trustees voted unanimously at their April 22 meeting to place an annexation proposition before Benzie County voters on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot.
If voters approve, Benzie County would join Grand Traverse County as part of NMC’s taxing district, paying a millage (property tax) to support college operations. In turn, residents would receive NMC’s lowest tuition rates. Benzie County is not currently part of a community college district.
NMC’s taxing district has been limited to Grand Traverse County since it was founded in 1951. The possibility of Benzie County joining the district was raised by a group of Benzie County residents in 2019. Since then NMC has held 25 listening sessions throughout the county to determine whether to move forward.
Benzie voters will see two separate ballot questions. The first will ask them to vote yes or no on the annexation. The second will ask them to vote yes or no on the millage in perpetuity. Both must pass for the annexation to take effect and the millage to be collected starting in 2025.
If approved:
NMC’s current in-district millage rate is 2.0574. For the owner of a $200,000 home, annexation would cost $206 per year. For the owner of a $300,000 home, it would cost $309 per year. For the owner of a $400,000 home, it would cost $411 per year.
Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Registration is now open for all NMC Extended Education & Training summer adult classes. Community members are invited to enroll in classes ranging in topics from culinary and creative arts to Northern Naturalist, gardening, wellness, and more. New this summer are “Learn Together” classes, perfect for couples, friends, and even parents and children.
For teachers looking to earn SCECHs, and other professionals looking to upskill over the summer, hundreds of classes are available online. For organizations interested in training for their staff, customized solutions range from leadership, management, and soft skills to teamwork and technical training. To see all options visit nmc.edu/pd, or contact Elizabeth Sonnabend at esonnabend@nmc.edu for more information.
Life enrichment options include over 100 in-person classes from Culinary Date Nights and Masterclasses to the Northern Naturalist Certificate offerings, like Create Your Own Meadow. Additional classes are in fitness, wellness, art, home and hobby, music, and recreation. Field trips and day adventures that explore the local community, culture, and natural aspects of this area are available, such as Glen Lake Discovery Boat Tour.
Visit nmc.edu/ees to see all categories and class options.
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s Native American Student Organization will hold a traditional pow wow honoring 2024 graduates from 1–4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, on NMC’s Front Street campus.
Seven Native American students are graduating this spring. Grand entry is set for 2:30 p.m. Vendors and food will be available 1–4 p.m. The pow wow will take place under the pines on the south side of the Osterlin Building. Attendees can park in the Aspen or Cedar lots. Campus maps are available at nmc.edu/maps.
Nathan Bootz
Native American Student Success coach
(989) 436-2411 (cell)
(231) 995-2135 (office)
nbootz@nmc.edu
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.
The Office of Possibilities is hosting it’s final pitch event for the academic year on Tuesday, May 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in room 104/105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Take advantage of this opportunity to kick-off the next innovative project! The timeline will be very tight and the turnaround quick!
Those interested should submit an application by May 7 to determine their eligibility and to be connected with an OOPs team member to assist in planning the pitch.
The 3rd annual Experiential Learning Institute Learning Symposium will celebrate learning from April 29–May 2. Throughout the event, attendees can browse poster displays and artifacts that showcase the diverse ways students engage in high-impact learning at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (TJNIC) on NMC’s Front Street Campus. The schedule also includes:
Monday, April 29:
Tuesday, April 30:
Wednesday, May 1:
Artwork created by Marcus Johnson, Morgan Reames, and Kane Williams.
NMC Voices is sponsoring a sticker design contest for sexual assault awareness month and want you to vote for your favorite design!
This National Community College Month, NMC has news the entire Grand Traverse region can celebrate: higher education here is more affordable to more people than ever before, including high school students.
Thanks to Michigan Reconnect, a state scholarship program intended to encourage degree or certificate completion, for the rest of this year tuition is free to county residents 21 or over who don’t already have a degree or certificate. After Nov. 15, the free tuition offer reverts to those 25 and older.
Michigan Achievement, another state scholarship specific to 2023 and 2024 high school graduates cuts the cost of their full-time tuition nearly in half. In total, NMC more than doubled the amount of state scholarship funds it awarded this year — $3.5 million — compared to $1.7 million in the 2019–20 year, before the COVID pandemic.
“These dollars go directly toward students’ tuition bills, helping them achieve their career goals as well as financial security for them and their families,” NMC President Nick Nissley said. “I am really proud of all of the new ways the state, and NMC, are working to help students make college more affordable.”
A new, lower dual-enrollment rate for high school students who live outside Grand Traverse County, plus NMC scholarships plus a plan to make those dollars more easily accessible all add up to a considerably reduced tuition burden. NMC scholarships are awarded through the generosity of local donors. This year, 1,075 students received $1.3 million in funds.
Starting next year, students will be automatically placed into the scholarship pool upon admission to NMC. Skipping a separate application requirement is expected to increase the number of students who receive scholarships. The most recent National Postsecondary Student Aid Study states that only 6 percent of public 2‐year college students receive institutional aid. NMC’s rate has been as high as 30 percent.
Helping students pay for college helps them complete college, which is the state’s ultimate goal. Reconnect and Achievement are both tactics of Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which seeks to increase the percentage of Michigan adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2030. Currently, 51.1 percent do.
Recent enrollment increases are also indicative of progress toward the goal. NMC’s enrollment headcount ticked up 3.3 percent this spring semester. Summer headcount is also up, while fall semester admissions are up, too.
For students interested in college who are not yet admitted, NMC is hosting Quick Start drop-in events from 4–7 p.m. Monday, April 15, Monday, May 20, and Monday, June 17. All admission tasks can be completed at the event.
For students who are admitted, online and in-person orientations are scheduled throughout spring, starting April 19. Online and in-person information sessions for dual enrollment are scheduled tonight, April 10, at 6 p.m.
“Enabling student success is truly something all NMC faculty and staff take to heart, and there’s never been a better time to be a college student,” Nissley said.
Spring textbook rentals are due back by Tuesday, May 7.
Books that have been purchased can be sold back during April 29 – May 3.
The NMC Bookstore is open Mondays–Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m and buyback is available until 30 minutes before the store closes.
Critt Happens, a new, diverse and engaging student group, emerged this past fall at NMC. Spearheaded by student Eragon Byers, and overseen by Advisor Corbin Thompson, the group made a quiet entrance into the student group arena with just a handful of students. However, the Dungeons and Dragons based ensemble has quickly grown and presently holds an impressive membership number of forty-two. With its unique blend of storytelling, strategy and camaraderie, the group provides an experience that fosters belongingness and community on campus.
Currently, the group is collaborating with the Maker Space to develop a dice creation event for DnD enthusiasts and has recently received a generous supply donation from local business, TC War Room. Their last event, Adventure Palooza Two, achieved a 300% increase in attendees from Adventure Palooza One earlier this year. Byers surmises their focus on inclusivity has contributed to the rapid increase in numbers. “This group strives to include as many as possible into each session, not just based on DnD level, but also ability, gender identity and more.” Byers believes the consistent meeting times and structure have also contributed to its popularity.
Looking ahead, the Dungeons and Dragons group is poised to continue its pivotal role in student engagement at NMC. Their hope is that as students enjoy roleplaying in this fantasy and adventure game, that they also sharpen their critical thinking skills and solidify lasting friendships and memories from their time at NMC. Critt Happens meets twice per week both Saturday and Sunday from 6:30-11:30 p.m. in the basement of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Interested students are welcome to stop by or contact Eragon Byers at byers@mail.nmc.edu.
Do you want to see a specific student group featured? Email cknight@nmc.edu
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy’s “open ship” showcasing the training ship State of Michigan from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The day will include:
Tours will begin at the pier security gate entrance on the north side of NMC’s Great Lakes campus, 715 E. Front St. Low-heel, closed-toe, soft-soled shoes are highly recommended. The event will occur rain or shine.
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
maritime@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
Do you want to finish a bachelor’s after NMC but stay in the area? NMC’s University Center partners will be at the Front Street Campus throughout the spring semester on these dates:
Stop by to meet representatives from Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University and Central Michigan University and gets answers to your questions about transferring after NMC.
TRAVERSE CITY — Engineering students have four more options to complete a bachelor’s degree thanks to new articulation agreements Northwestern Michigan College has signed with Lake Superior State University.
The agreements allow students to complete an associate degree at NMC and guarantee both admission and transferability of the credits to LSSU, in Sault Ste. Marie, toward a bachelor of science degree in four specialty areas: Computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and robotics engineering.
The computer and robotics engineering pathways in particular provide students with new options for majors while beginning their education at NMC. Depending on the degree program chosen, students could spend two years at NMC, saving nearly $20,000, and two at LSSU to earn their bachelor’s. As an added benefit of the robotics engineering pathway, students can typically earn a minor in electrical or mechanical engineering within their final two years at LSSU.
“These new agreements complement our already robust transfer pathways, providing our students with greater options for majors all while enjoying guaranteed admissions and course transferability to an exceptional engineering program” said Jay Smith, engineering instructor. “Like NMC, LSSU has a student-centered approach with small class sizes and a focus on student success, which I am confident our learners will appreciate.”
LSSU engineering graduates have 100-percent job placement with a median salary of $70,000. The campus is also home to a $2 million robotics lab.
Find out more at nmc.edu/engineering.
Jay Smith
NMC Engineering instructor
jsmith@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1270
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Northwestern Michigan College’s International Affairs Forum turns its focus to our freshwater resources in back-to-back events on April 17 and 18. The programs are presented by IAF in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. Both events are supported by a grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Wednesday, April 17, 6–8:30 p.m.
Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center
The International Affairs Forum, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Interlochen Public Radio present Relentless, a documentary narrated by J.K. Simmons on the deadly invasion of sea lampreys into the Great Lakes and the tenacious scientists who were determined to find a solution.
After the screening, stay for a panel discussion including:
This is a free event. Space is limited. Reserve tickets at TCIAF.com.
Thursday, April 18, 5:30–8 p.m. (7 p.m. ET livestream)
Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center
Peter Annin will present a keynote address on Global Water Tension & The Great Lakes Compact. Annin is the director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation and the author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, the definitive work on the Great Lakes water diversion controversy. Before coming to Northland College in 2015, Peter served as a reporter at Newsweek, the associate director of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, and the managing director of the University of Notre Dame’s Environmental Change Initiative. He continues to report on the Great Lakes water diversion issue and published the second edition of The Great Lakes Water Wars in the fall of 2018.
In his latest book, Purified: How Recycled Sewage Is Transforming Our Water, Annin shows that wastewater has become a surprising weapon in America’s war against water scarcity — and a potential global model for innovation.
The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature freshwater-related content from event partners NMC Great Lakes Water Studies Institute & Interlochen Public Radio. GLWSI will brief reception attendees on its new associate degree in water quality environmental technology — a.k.a. the Wet Tech degree. IPR will highlight its Great Lakes reporting via its Points North podcast team. These brief “breakout” presentations will be delivered in a gallery adjacent to the museum’s sculpture court.
The keynote address will follow at 7 p.m.
Admission is $15 per person. Admission is free for all students and educators. For tickets and all event details, visit TCIAF.com.
