Sep 21, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College joined nearly 350 community colleges around the country last week by signing the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
President Nick Nissley signing the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge (download high-resolution photo)By signing the pledge, NMC President Nick Nissley committed the college to undertake entrepreneurial practices that boost economic vitality in their communities. The pledge includes five action steps to advance entrepreneurship, including:
- Form teams to focus on entrepreneurship
- Connect with entrepreneurs in the community
- Collaborate with industry in the local region
- Focus on business and job creation
- Share stories through events and the media
NMC already has established a strong commitment to entrepreneurship through its office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Nissley signed the pledge at the Lakebed 2030 conference, just before the winner of the second Great Lakes BlueTech Challenge was named. Naiad Technologies received $30,000 in seed funding. No. 2 finisher Nucleic Sensing Systems received $20,000 and No. 3 Lacuum AI received $10,000. The 2027 Great Lakes BlueTech Challenge will open in January.
Headquartered in North Carolina, NACCE is the country’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges. The pledge is one of its foremost leadership tools.
In 2023, NMC won $40,000 in an NACCE pitch competition which helped it acquire a 3D concrete printer and the curriculum to add the revolutionary building technology to its construction curriculum.
Release date: September 21, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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-discrimination
Sep 21, 2026 | Student News
Learn how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. This is a non-certification training that will provide attendees with hands-on learning opportunities.
Thursday, November 5
4–5 p.m.
Osterlin Building, room 205 (upstairs)
Register
For questions, contact Garrett Croon at gcroon@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1747.
Sep 16, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — More than 400 area middle and high school students will have a chance to “try a trade” when NMC hosts its annual Building Tomorrow event Thursday Oct. 1 and Friday, Oct. 2 at the Aero Park Laboratories building.
Set for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. both days, the event is a hands-on experience that allows students to explore multiple skilled trades careers. Students will rotate through stations including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, automotive, welding and excavation site work.
“It’s very, very hands on,” said Carolyn Andrews, coordinator of NMC’s Construction Technology program. Students will take off tires, drive a mini excavator, build benches and picnic tables and wire a light, with the goal of exposing them to career paths they may not have considered.
“We want to change the stigma, change the culture. A lot of these are great careers,” Andrews said.
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. Construction laborers and managers, automotive service technicians and mechanics, electricians, HVAC mechanics and installers and plumbers are all among Michigan’s 2026 Hot 50 jobs outlook with the highest projected growth, openings and wages.
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: SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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-discrimination
Sep 15, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — High school students beginning their college search can visit more than 30 colleges and universities at NMC’s annual College Night, from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on the Front Street campus.
The event offers northern Michigan high school students a one-stop shop to evaluate their post-graduation options, including military service. Students can also learn about dual enrollment and Early College, which allow them to begin earning college credit in high school.
Both NMC Financial Aid and Michigan Student Aid representatives will be available to provide financial aid and scholarship information.
Registration is required. Go to strivescan.com or use the button on the event page, www.nmc.edu/collegenight.
If students are unable to attend College Night, they can visit the same schools at the Transfer Fair held earlier in the day, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the TJNIC.
Release date: SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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-discrimination
Sep 14, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College Extended Education & Training invites community members, business partners, and lifelong learners to an Open House celebrating the grand opening of its new office location on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 2–4 p.m.
The event will take place in the Parsons-Stulen Building on NMC’s Aero Park Campus, with the main reception inRoom 114. Highlighted by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony with Traverse Connect at 3 p.m., the afternoon offers guests the opportunity to explore the building, tour the office suite and adjoining classroom, and greet the team.
Light refreshments will be served, and staff will be available throughout the event to provide information of upcoming personal enrichment and professional development offerings.
Event Details:
What: NMC Extended Education & Training Open House & Ribbon Cutting
When: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2–4 p.m. (ribbon cutting at 3 p.m.)
Where: Parsons-Stulen Building, room 114, NMC Aero Park Campus, 2600 Aero Park Drive Traverse City, MI 49686
Cost: Free and open to the public
RSVP: Advance registration requested via the online RSVP Form.
To learn more about Extended Education & Training programs, visit nmc.edu/eet or call (231) 995-1700.
Release date: September 10, 2026
For more information:
Shannah Vergote, Marketing & Promotion Coordinator
NMC Extended Education & Training
(231) 995-1702
svergote@nmc.edu
nmc.edu/eet
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-discrimination
Sep 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
An NMC student prepares to deploy a remotely-operated vehicle aboard the research vessel Northwestern
September 9, 2026
Mapping the Great Lakes has taken a Grand Canyon-sized leap since the last Lakebed 2030 conference, and NMC students are a part of it.
When the effort to map all five Great Lakes at high resolution started five years ago, such data existed for less than 15 percent of the lakes. Next week, when 175 professionals from science, research, policy, government and industry gather again at the Hagerty Center, 17 percent of the U.S. waters will be mapped. The increase of 1,885 square miles roughly equals Grand Canyon National Park.
U.S. Senator Gary Peters speaks via video at a Lakebed 2030 event in 2022.That data is critical to keeping the lakes drinkable, fishable and swimmable. It’s also vital to creating new jobs and industries based around water resources — the essence of the blue economy that NMC is advancing in multiple ways. From seed funding for new entrepreneurs to collaborating with community and academic partners to experiential learning opportunities for NMC students, Lakebed will showcase all of it Sept. 15–17. Highlights include:
- Naming the 2026 Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge winner. The starting field of 48 early-stage companies has been narrowed to three finalists: Lacuum, Naiad Technologies and NS2, who will compete Sept. 17 in a pitch competition for $55,000. All three are developing innovative products that use autonomous technology to monitor, preserve and improve water quality.
“All three are examples of the kinds of tenants – and employers – NMC wants to see for the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center,” said Jason Slade, vice president for Strategic Initiatives at NMC. “Their work dovetails with NMC programs like Marine Technology and uncrewed aerial systems, where students learn proficiency in autonomous technology.”
- Tour of the under-construction, 40,000 square foot FRIC facility on West Grand Traverse Bay Sept. 16. Scheduled for completion in spring 2027, marking another milestone for the blue economy, the Center will unite education, research and economic development under one roof, making it a collaborative hub for freshwater unique in the Great Lakes region.
- NMC Marine Technology students have mapped the Lake Michigan lakebed off the tip of the Leelanau peninsula since 2023, using industry-standard multibeam sonar and hydrographic survey techniques aboard NMC’s research vessel, the Northwestern. NMC Great Lakes Water Studies Institute director John Lutchko, recently named the Early Career Ocean Professional by the Marine Technology Society, who teaches the capstone course, will moderate an industry panel discussion Sept. 16.
- NMC President Nick Nissley will sign the Presidents for Entrepreneur Pledge Sept. 17. A project of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, NMC has actively worked to advance entrepreneurship among students for several years, from offering a maker’s space to funding for innovative student projects and ideas. The pledge is a natural next step.
- In another collaboration, the University of Michigan has approved NMC’s application to join the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research. This consortium is now seeking grant funding for research and workforce training.
“NMC is committed to future-focused learning and to being a community cornerstone,” Nissley said. “Both the entrepreneurship pledge and joining CIGLR illustrate those commitments, and how they benefit our students and region.”
Sep 9, 2026 | Cyber Minute, Student News
Scammers send texts pretending to be UPS, your bank, the college, or even a classmate. If you get a text out of nowhere with a link — especially one that creates urgency — don’t tap it. Go directly to the official website or app instead. Legitimate organizations rarely ask you to act through a random text link.
Sep 8, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
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Sep 4, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
NMC offers open recreation in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building (#16 on the Front Street campus map) on Mondays and Thursdays from 7–10 p.m. as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 6–9 p.m. Join us for basketball, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, badminton, pickleball, ping pong and more!
All NMC students and employees are welcome. Please bring your NMC ID and clean shoes.
For any questions, please contact mbennett@nmc.edu.
Sep 2, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
The Northwestern Michigan College Nursing Department wishes to announce that it will host a site visit for continuing accreditation of its Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
You are invited to meet with the site visit team and share your comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in Room 106 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Building located at 1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686.
Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted to the ACEN via email at publiccomments@acenursing.org or to the ACEN office: Attn: Accreditation Services Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta GA, 30326 You must identify the full name of the program in your comments.
All written comments should be received by the ACEN by September 21, 2026
Aug 31, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
As part of NMC’s committment to a safe college community, we notify students, faculty and staff of emergencies, including campus delays or closures due to weather, via multiple methods including texts and phone calls. The next test of emergency communications is set for Sept. 8, so now is a great time to check NMC Self-Service to see that your personal information is entered correctly. Click Personal Details under Personal Info menu.
Thanks for helping us keep NMC safe!
Aug 28, 2026 | Student News
Are you looking to make some extra cash this semester? If so, you should check out our jobs on campus. Working on campus is a fantastic way to build real life, transferable skills that employers are looking for after graduation. You’ll build communication skills, organization, time-management, customer service, teamwork and so much more. Plus student jobs are flexible around your class schedule! Questions? Call Human Resources at (231) 995-2612.
Aug 28, 2026 | Student News
Let your student voice be heard! Join the Student Government Association. SGA acts as a conduit between NMC students, administration and the greater community, helping offer a better education for all and ensure quality and integrity in academia. Get involved and be the connection students need!
Applications are due by September 18.
For questions, contact sga@mail.nmc.edu.
Aug 27, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Due to underground utility work taking longer than anticipated, the main entrance to NMC will be closed through 9 a.m. today, Aug. 27. Detours are in place.
The intersection will be closed again for paving starting at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Aug. 27. Anticipated reopening is 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
Thank you.
Aug 26, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
August 26, 2026
Adults 21 to 24 are jumping at the chance to earn a college degree from NMC, submitting more than half of total applications to Michigan Reconnect last week, when it opened to their age group.
Michigan Reconnect, the state scholarship that last year awarded $1.3 million to 513 adult NMC students who didn’t previously have a degree or certificate, is again open to students 21 and older. Application activity last week indicated that there’s a strong demand for the opportunity.
Students 21 to 24 submitted 32 applications, more than half of NMC’s 57 total Reconnect applicants last week, when the online application was updated.The state introduced Michigan Reconnect in 2021, as part of its goal to increase economic competitiveness. Until this fall, age eligibility for the free, in-district tuition scholarship had been 25 for all but 15 months.
Reconnect graduates and current students strongly recommend the program.
“I was looking for a new career path and was ready to start something new. Michigan Reconnect has helped me pay for my entire degree, so it has been a huge help,” said Jacob Holcomb (above), a Reconnect recipient currently enrolled in Water Quality & Environmental Technology.
“I often struggle asking for help,” said Hannah Ramsby (right), a Reconnect recipient and 2024 culinary graduate. “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.”
A study by the American Educational Research Association published in 2025 found that Michigan Reconnect increased adult enrollment at Michigan’s 31 community and tribal colleges by about 38 percent. That puts NMC’s first week applications ahead of pace.
In-district tuition is the rate charged to Grand Traverse County residents, who also pay a property tax to support NMC. Out-of-district residents’ tuition is discounted by that amount, currently $136/contact hour for general academic programs.
The change was funded by a $25 million appropriation in the 2026-27 Michigan state budget, adopted in July. Learn more about the scholarship and eligibility.
Aug 25, 2026 | Student News
It’s not too late to order your fall books! Head over to nmc.ecampus.com to check out what you need for this semester!
The bookstore is partnering with eCampus to provide cheaper prices, more rental options and speedy book delivery for you. When shopping, you can log in with your NMC email and password for a personalized list of what you need.
eCampus offers free shipping in 2-3 business days to the Campus Bookstore or free shipping to your home for orders of $59 or more. The Campus Bookstore does not have books in store, so be sure to order your books today.
Want to use your financial aid for books? Any scholarships/grants/loans that are left after tuition and fees can be used to purchase your textbooks. These funds are available between August 3 – September 9; you’ll be able to see how much money is available at checkout and decide how you want to use it.
All lab kits, uniforms, school supplies, and Hawk Owl merch will continue to be available at the NMC Campus store in the Health & Science building at the Front Street campus.
Questions? Contact the bookstore at bookstore@nmc.edu.
Aug 25, 2026 | Cyber Minute, Student News
Starting fresh this fall? Make sure your college password isn’t the same one you use everywhere else. A breach on one site shouldn’t open the door to your student account.
Aug 24, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Advocates for a drinkable, fishable, swimmable Great Lakes will meet Sept. 15-17 at NMC’s Hagerty Center for the Lakebed 2030 conference, an update on collaborative efforts to map the world’s largest available freshwater body.
Lakebed 2030 is a consortium of researchers, policy, governmental and industry partners who seek to fully map the 94,250 square miles of the Great Lakes in high resolution by 2030. Presently, about 17 percent of the U.S. waters are mapped, a 2 percent increase since Lakebed 2030 was formed in 2019. That increase represents about 1,885 square miles.
This lack of information is vital to keeping the Great Lakes drinkable, fishable and swimmable, as well as to the region’s growing blue economy. It also hinders effective management, research and innovation, which are critical given threats like climate change, invasive species, water pollution and more. The conference will bring together Great Lakes experts and stakeholders from around the U.S. and Canada to:
- Focus on high-resolution mapping and bathymetry (shape and depth) data in the Great Lakes.
- Develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lake bed information for shared use, including crowdsourced data from recreational boaters.
- Select the winner of the Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge, an NMC-led competition to inspire, support, and fast-track early-stage businesses that are developing technologies and solutions for issues impacting the Great Lakes basin. Three early-stage companies will win $55,000 in seed funding.
NMC Marine Technology bachelor’s degree students contribute directly to the Lakebed 2030 initiative through annual capstone hydrographic mapping projects conducted in partnership with NOAA. Using industry-standard multibeam sonar and hydrographic survey techniques aboard the R/V Northwestern, students collect high-resolution bathymetric data north of the tip of the Leelanau peninsula, a previously unmapped or inadequately mapped area of Lake Michigan.
These graduates are highly sought after by employers working in the global marine space. NMC also offers professional development courses through the Marine Center and is a lead partner in the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center, set to open next year on West Bay. This collaborative hub will protect freshwater for future generations by uniting education, research and innovation.
The Great Lakes contain more than 80 percent of North America’s surface freshwater and 20 percent of Earth’s surface freshwater. Mapping it completely at high density is estimated to cost $200 million.
Lakebed 2030 registration is $275 for in-person attendance and $155 for virtual attendance. See the full schedule here.
Release date: August 20, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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-discrimination
President Nick Nissley signing the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge (download high-resolution photo)By signing the pledge, NMC President Nick Nissley committed the college to undertake entrepreneurial practices that boost economic vitality in their communities. The pledge includes five action steps to advance entrepreneurship, including: