New Books at the Library
The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
Invasive Species Documentary Showing and Panel Dec. 5
A documentary showing and panel discussion about invasive species, sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, will be held on December 5 from 7-9 p.m. in the Milliken Auditorium. Excerpts from the documentary “Making Waves– Battle for the Great Lakes” will be shown, and four local experts on the issue will come together to share their stories and answer questions from community members. The event is free for everyone.
Transfer to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan
Are you interested in studying the natural sciences, humanities, or social sciences at the University of Michigan? The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts os coming to talk with you about transferring. Tuesday, December 3 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Health & Science Building Lobby. If you can’t make it during this time, please email Michael Hartman at mrhartma@umich.edu to schedule another time to learn more about transferring to LSA.
E-waste & Battery Recycling
The NMC Green Team will be collecting e-waste and any type of battery at the end of each semester. Drop-off sites will be in North Hall, East Hall, and Student Life in the library. Any and all electronic, computer, or digital devices may go in the boxes and thus not in our landfills! Thank you for your help!
Michigan Blood Drive on campus Dec. 11
December 11, between 1- 6 pm, the Michigan Blood Drive bus will be taking blood donations in the parking lot. The bus will be located in between the power house and the library. Everyone who signs in to donate receives a coupon for a FREE pizza!
Coming Soon! Getting more from Contacts hovercards!
Coming Soon! Learn more about Google Groups with Contacts hovercards
Contacts hovercards allow you to see more information on a person such as what groups they are a part of, plus you can email, chat, etc. from the contact you hover over in your inbox. Check ’em out!
Contacts hovercards provide lots of useful information about the people within your organization. We’ve heard from you that you’d like better visibility into Google Groups across G Suite, so we’re adding more information to these hovercards when the contact itself is a group.
When you mouse over the name of a group in Gmail, you’ll now be able to see essential information, like group members, as well as take some actions, such as:
- Schedule an event with the group
- Email the group
- See more members
You can also select “More info,” which will take you to the Groups membership details page on groups.google.com. The group members will only appear on the hovercard if the user has permission to view them. This functionality will be added to other G Suite apps in the future.
Success Story: Technology brings the world to campus
November 27, 2018
On Tuesday afternoon, Alex Bernier toured the length and breadth of Africa, from Egypt’s pyramids to the east-central Serengeti renowned for wildlife to South Africa’s Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison. And he did it all within his two-hour World Cultures class, inside NMC’s Beckett Building, simply by putting on a virtual reality headset.
“It’s fantastic,” Bernier said of the technology, marveling at the improvement from elementary school, when his teachers rolled in TVs on carts.
Students download Google Expeditions, a free app, to their phones, and place the phones into the headsets, which offer a three-dimensional perspective — standing on the edge of Zambia’s Victoria Falls, for instance, or in the sightlines of a gorilla in Serengeti National Park. Instructor Jim Bensley serves as the guide, choosing where students will explore. This week’s whirlwind African tour also showed them the Namibian desert and slave monuments in Senegal.
“We’re trying to stay on the cutting edge of content delivery by using technology to enhance the subject matter,” Bensley said. “We use it to enhance that learning, to immerse the students into a landscape where those cultures exist.”
Students were unanimously enthusiastic.
“It’s pretty neat to see the places we’re learning about,” said Kaylee Annis.
“It gives you more of the experience you would get if you went to that place,” said Sam Wilkinson.
At $15 per headset, virtual reality is also a cost-effective way to achieve NMC’s strategic goal of ensuring that NMC learners are prepared for success in a global society and economy. Bensley has also used them to “take” World Cultures students to the Islamic world and Latin America. In his Introduction to Humanities class, he’s showed students the Baroque art and architecture of Europe.
Debuting this semester, it’s too soon to say if the headsets are improving academic performance. But Bensley said student engagement is high.
“It’s a great active learning tool. They enjoy looking around themselves,” Bensley said. While he guides the tours, students have a 360-degree field of vision and can zoom in to particular things that interest them.
“It gives you the freedom to look around,” agreed student Lucy Teubner.
For at least one student, it was also a preview. NMC is offering a study abroad trip to South Africa next spring, which will include World Cultures student Sunny Charpentier. It’s one of seven experiences scheduled for 2019.
Four holiday concerts featuring NMC ensembles
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s performance ensembles will present the following holiday-themed concerts.
- Friday, November 30 NMC Chamber Singers and NMC Canticum Novum present “Sounds of the Season.” 7:30 p.m., Central United Methodist Church. Suggested donations of $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors will be taken at the door. (231) 995-1338.
- Saturday, December 1 Winter Jazz Ensemble Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, available from MyNorthTickets.com and at the door. (800) 836-0717
- Saturday, December 15, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday December 16, 3 p.m. NMC’s Grand Traverse Chorale and Children’s Choirs join the Traverse Symphony Orchestra for “Home for the Holidays.” Corson Auditorium, Interlochen. MyNorthTickets.com. (231) 947-7120
- Tuesday, December 18 Holiday music for band featuring the NMC Concert Band. 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, available from MyNorthTickets.com and at the door. (800) 836-0717
Release date: november 23, 2018
For more information:
Jeff Cobb
NMC Director of Music Programs
jecobb@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1338
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationSpring Financial Aid
Spring financial aid will be available to use at the bookstore December 10-January 23.
Fall Book Buyback
Looking for some extra cash for Christmas? Sell back your textbooks at the bookstore December 10-14.
Fall Rentals Due
Fall book rentals are due back to the bookstore on Friday, December 14.
Changes to the Google sign-in interface coming soon
Starting November 27, we’ll make some small changes to the appearance of the Google sign-in page. These follow changes made earlier this year, which updated the sign-in page to match the Material Design principles used in other Google products.
Specifically, you might notice outlines around some entry fields, and changes to the spacing and styling of other text on both the web and mobile screens. The changes will start to take effect on November 27 and may take up to two weeks to reach all users.
The image to the right depicts the sign-in page that will start rolling out on November 27.
For further questions, please contact the NMC Technology Help Desk at 231-995-3020 or nmc.edu/help.
A Diversity & Inclusivity Symposium
Dani Woods, the LGBTQ Liaison of the Detroit PD, and Taylor Comiskey, the LGBTQ Liaison of the Traverse City PD, will lead a presentation on inclusivity, awareness, and sensitivity at Northwestern Michigan College on Wednesday November 28, 2018 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. in Scholars Hall Room 217.
TC Sings! will begin the event with a lively and inviting performance to celebrate diversity within our community.
On-Campus Jobs
Student jobs can be found on the Student MyNMC page under “Jobs On Campus.” Apply now for Fall 2018. (more…)
Self Defense Class December 4
NMC EES Tae Kwon Do Instructor Tania Arens will be teaching self-defense techniques and providing an opportunity to practice on Tuesday, December 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the P.E. Building.
Tania has been studying Tae Kwon Do at NMC since 2007 and obtained the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt in 2015. She has taught under the guidance of Tae Kwon Do instructors Robert Odette and Dough Mehl and is currently the Youth Tae Kwon Do instructor for NMC Extended Education.
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. This event is FREE to all NMC Students.
Success Story: Making a semi-truck size dent in food insecurity
November 13, 2018
The spirit of Thanksgiving and the holidays is extending out from campus to the community, with several charitable projects now underway. There’s still time to pay it forward with a donation of food or a warm jacket, and mark your calendar to enjoy a free family day at the Dennos Museum Center Nov. 23.
Student Blake Bandrowski, marketing director for NMC Professional Communications students’ sixth annual Food for Thought food drive, said students will take a wallet full of $5,500 in donations on a mega grocery shopping trip this weekend, aiming to fill up a semi-truck before Monday’s distribution.
“On Sunday we will be spending all the money we got through donations,” Bandrowski said.
Since mid-October, students have also collected food on campus and at special events. This year’s drive benefits four pantries that help students and their families. A 2016 Northwest Food Coalition survey revealed more than 2,000 children in the region are food insecure, which can be a barrier to learning.
The food drive is an experiential learning project that enables students to help the community by practicing professional communications skills — like soliciting donations.
“That’s the great thing about the class. Not only are you helping people, but you’re learning the skills by actually using it,” Bandrowski said. “It is legitimate work experience.”
Through Monday, community members can donate non-perishable food and personal hygiene items at red collection bins in the Tanis Building and Osterlin Library on main campus; University Center; Hagerty Conference Center and Parsons-Stulen on Aero Park campus. More info »
In addition to the food drive:
NMC’s Bookstore is leading the third annual Hoodies for the Homeless through November 21. Donate new or gently used outerwear — hoodies, coats, snow pants all welcome — at the bookstore, now located in the Health & Science Building, and get a coupon for 30 percent off one regular priced apparel item. All items donated will go to the Goodwill Street Outreach program for distribution to people in need.- NMC Student Life and Learning Services are teaming up with student leaders to offer Stocking Stuffers to students, a successor to the former Giving Tree program, which offered holiday gifts to students for seven years. In the new program, students will fill out a short application requesting extra assistance to shop for their children/dependents this holiday season. Approved students may choose gift cards from Meijer, Target, Kohl’s or Books-a-Million. Donations to the program are sought by Dec. 3 and can be made online.
- The Dennos Museum will open its doors to the community with free admission on Friday, Nov. 23. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
NASA L’SPACE Academy
NASA’s L’SPACE Academy is an intensive, project based, STEM training program geared towards preparing undergraduate students for a career in the space industry. Please contact Johnny Jones at Jones95@mail.nmc.edu (Attn: L’SPACE Questions) for more information.
View the flier here »
Students to distribute semi-load of food
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC business students will host Distribution Day, the culmination of the sixth annual Food for Thought food drive, at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at the Aero Park Laboratories parking lot, on NMC’s Aero Park campus, 2525 Aero Park Drive.
During the month-long food drive, the professional communications class collected a semi-truckload of food and hygiene products to benefit four local pantries serving students. At the distribution event, students will form a human chain to unload the truck and equally distribute the donations among the four pantries.
- TLD Prayer Fyre
- Step Up Northern Michigan
- TBAISD Spirit Pantry
- NMC’s Food Pantry
The NMC Food for Thought “Fill the Pantries: Food Drive Challenge” has been a semester-long experiential learning project that pairs NMC students and the Northwest Michigan Food Coalition. Following the food distribution, students will move to a new, second part of the giving-back project: Thanksgiving dinner distribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters families. NMC students sought complete traditional meal donations, led by donations of turkeys from Family Video. Meals will be distributed to 50 families at Traverse Heights Elementary School at 5 p.m.
The holidays are a time for gratitude, not only is the class grateful to be working on such an important project but we have all been overwhelmed by how gracious and giving our community really is.” said Kristy McDonald, NMC instructor.
Release date: November 13, 2018
For more information:
Blake Bandrowski
Marketing Director
bandro3@mail.nmc.edu
(231) 633-8813
Kristy McDonald
NMC Instructor
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1059