Career Fair – Students and community welcome

Feb 23, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Current students, alumni, and the community are invited to attend Northwestern Michigan College’s 17th annual Career Fair on Thursday, March 2 at the Hagerty Center on the Great Lakes Campus.

Held in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works and Networks Northwest, the Career Fair runs from 3–6 p.m. (Veterans are invited to arrive at 2:30 p.m.) Nearly 70 participating employers will be recruiting for career-track, seasonal and entry-level positions as well as internships and service learning. See the list at nmc.edu/career-fair.

In preparation for the event, NMC has planned two free “Navigating the Career Fair” workshops. These will be held Feb. 27 and 28 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center lobby on main campus. These sessions will offer assistance with resume preparation, an elevator pitch and projecting confidence at the fair.

Following the Career Fair, NMC will also host two sessions on using the LinkedIn social network in a job search. These will be held March 16.

• LinkedIn 101: 10–11 a.m. For beginning users.
• Maximized LinkedIn: 1–2 p.m. For advanced users.

Both sessions will be held on main campus in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 106/107. Shapiro is the director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College in New York, a freelance writer, public speaker, LinkedIn consultant and a board-certified coach specializing in career coaching. Call (231) 995-1170 or email twelch@nmc.edu or aburns@nmc.edu.

Release date: FEBRUARY 23, 2023

For more information:

Katie Sommer-Ford
NMC Advising Center
ksommer@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1040

A Taste of Success to go – tickets on sale now

Feb 22, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Tickets are now on sale for A Taste of Success to go on April 28, the premier annual fundraiser for students at NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute.

Patrons will take home a delicious around-the-world cuisine tour from charcuterie through dessert. Each to-go package, prepared by Great Lakes Culinary Institute students, generously serves two and includes:

• Charcuterie box
• Soup
• Global tour box with samplings of cuisines from around the world
• Dessert box

Packages are $250 and available for pick up between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday, April 28 at NMC’s Great Lakes campus, 715 E. Front St., Traverse City. The 2022 event raised more than $130,000 for student scholarships. The event was first held at the Park Place Hotel in 1994.

The Great Lakes Culinary Institute at Northwestern Michigan College offers both degree and certificates. Its newest Culinary-Maritime certificate will debut this fall. It is accredited by the American Culinary Federation, one of fewer than 200 U.S. colleges to receive that distinction. Students are eligible to become ACF Certified Culinarians upon graduation.

Boxes are $250 each. Call (231) 995-1021 or buy online. More information is available at nmc.edu/taste-of-success.

Release date: February 22, 2023

For more information:

Chef Les Eckert
Director, Great Lakes Culinary Institute

Success story: Traditional and returning students find opportunity at NMC

Feb 22, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

February 22, 2023

Students Gabe Parrish and Jim Schiffer are both growing their careers in NMC’s Surveying Technology program, even with four decades in between them.

Gabe ParrishParrish, 19, will graduate with his associate degree next year. Schiffer, 59, a professional engineer for the Grand Traverse County Road Commission, will complete the credentials to become a licensed surveyor this summer.

The surveying industry could use a lot more like them. An aging workforce, lack of awareness of the career opportunities, and demand for surveying skills have created the shortage. Launching a Surveying Technology associate degree in 2019 was NMC’s first response. Now, Ryan Deering, hired this month as a dedicated recruiter for the Surveying Technology program, is tackling the awareness problem head on.

Jim Schiffer“It’s limitless, what you can do with a surveying degree,” said Deering. He said NMC’s program is unique in that it offers instruction for land, marine, and air applications.

“Everything is combined. It’s woven together nicely,” he said.

In fact, the workforce need is so dire that an industry donor gave NMC the funds to hire Deering.

“There is a real need and a shortage of survey technicians. Industry has recognized that need,” said Ed Bailey, director of NMC’s Marine Center.

Surveying instructor Carl Shangraw said most of his students are sponsored by their employers. He’s looking forward to Deering filling his classroom.

“I’m very optimistic. It’s a world-class program by any measure,” said Shangraw, who taught for 23 years at the university level before joining NMC’s faculty three years ago.

Land surveying classes, underwater ROV classes and drone classes are all taught at the Parsons-Stulen Building on NMC’s Aero Park campus. For marine applications, NMC has a campus harbor and vessel on West Grand Traverse Bay for real-world practice. For air, the college has access to an airfield in Yuba.

“It’s the integration part that really sets us apart. Nobody can touch our facilities,” said Shangraw.

Industry leader Leica also supplies NMC with $1 million in donated surveying equipment each year.

“I like the change of environment every day, (and) the great equipment they give us,” Parrish said.

NMC’s small classes mean that students get plenty of time with that top-notch equipment, which is important to employers, Deering said.

“You really get a lot of hands-on with the equipment,” he said. “Employers are really looking at that.”

As an engineer already, returning students like Schiffer can earn the surveyor credential with 30 credit hours, or about two semesters. In addition to the Road Commission, Schiffer will use the skills in his own business. 

“If you love anything technical, and you love solving problems, and you love being outside, it’s all there,” he said.

Besides the staff and facilities, NMC’s student support is “second to none,” Shangraw said.

“Every school says they’re student-centered. (NMC) means it.”

Find out more: nmc.edu/surveying

LinkedIn workshops with Chaim Shapiro

Feb 21, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

Chaim Shapiro will host two workshops on Thursday, March 16* that will cover how to use LinkedIn to enhance your job search. Shapiro is the director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College in New York, a freelance writer, public speaker, LinkedIn consultant and a board-certified coach specializing in career coaching. 

• LinkedIn 101, 10 – 11 a.m., Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 106/107 (Beginner)
  Create a winning profile, find the right people for your search, and create your personal brand.

• Maximized LinkedIn, 1 -2 p.m, Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 106/107 (Advanced)
  Explore new features in LinkedIn, professional postings for your audience, and optimized settings

For questions, email twelch@nmc.edu or call (231) 995-1170.

*The workshops were originally scheduled for February 23 but were postponed due to weather.

Curiosities: Touring the Senses

Feb 17, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

March 2–March 23, Thursdays, 4–5 p.m. @ Various NMC locations

Curiosities, the library’s ongoing “un-book club” takes on the wondrous world of the senses! Special guest hosts will help us explore our tools of perception through the lenses of visual arts, culinary arts, audio tech, adaptation and neurodiversity. Each discussion session will feature an interactive sensory experience at different locations across NMC.

• Explore how our eyes and brain work together to make meaning of art at the Dennos Museum Center with featured co-host Craig Hadley, Museum Director
• Experience taste, smell and flavor at Lobdell’s with Jim Morse, Culinary Instructor
• Learn about neurodiverse sensory experience and tools for adaption with Leanne Baumeler, Director of Disability Services
• See, hear and play with sound waves with Maria Ulrich, Audio Tech Instructor

Registrants will receive the full syllabus of materials, which includes an hour or less of reading, watching or listening time for each week. Register now to participate in this free series! 

Surveying industry invests in NMC to meet workforce needs

Feb 16, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — As the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors convenes for its annual conference at the Grand Traverse Resort next week, industry investment in NMC has led to a dedicated surveying technology program recruiter joining the college’s staff.

Download a high-resolution photo of Ryan Deering hereRyan Deering (right) stepped into the recruiter role Feb. 6. The new position is funded by a surveying industry donor.

“There is a real need and a shortage of survey technicians. Industry has recognized that need,” said Ed Bailey, director of NMC’s Marine Center.

An aging workforce, lack of awareness of the career opportunities, and demand for surveying skills have created the shortage. Launching a Surveying Technology associate degree in 2019 was NMC’s first response. Now, tackling that lack of awareness will be Deering’s job. He’s confident that he can attract students. NMC’s program is unique in that it offers instruction for land, marine, and air applications.

“Everything is combined. It’s woven together nicely,” said Deering, who also teaches welding at NMC. “It’s limitless, what you can do with a surveying degree.”

“It’s the integration part that really sets us apart. Nobody can touch our facilities,” agreed surveying instructor Carl Shangraw.

Land surveying classes, underwater ROV classes and drone classes are all taught at the Parsons-Stulen Building on NMC’s Aero Park campus. NMC also has a campus harbor and vessel on West Grand Traverse Bay, and access to an airfield in Yuba where students can gain real-world experience in the marine and air applications.

Industry leader Leica also supplies NMC close to $1 million in surveying equipment each year for use in the program.

“I like the change of environment every day, (and) the great equipment they give us,” said student Gabe Parrish, 19, of Mesick. He plans to graduate next year.

Deering added that NMC’s small classes mean that students get plenty of time with that top-notch equipment, which is important to employers.

“You really get a lot of hands-on with the equipment,” he said. “Employers are really looking at that.”

In addition to students like Parrish just beginning professional careers, NMC and Deering hope to enroll more students like Jim Schiffer, a professional engineer with the Grand Traverse County Road Commission. Engineers can earn a surveyor credential with 30 credit hours, or about two semesters. Schiffer jumped at the opportunity. He will complete his coursework this summer.

“If you love anything technical, and you love solving problems, and you love being outside, it’s all there,” he said.

The Commission currently has no surveyor on staff, said Schiffer. The credential will also complement his consulting business in general civil and structural engineering.

Shangraw said he’s “optimistic” about Deering bringing in more students to the surveying program.

“I’ve seen him work with college kids. He’s phenomenal,” said Shangraw, who started at NMC three years ago after more than two decades of teaching at the university level. Besides the staff and facilities, NMC’s student support is “second to none,” he said.

“Every school says they’re student-centered. (NMC) means it.”

Release date: February 16, 2023

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Associate Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
Media on deadline, call or text (231) 392-6082
Non-deadline inquiries: (231) 995-1020

Support for Students

Feb 14, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

Good morning,

In the wake of the MSU shooting from last night, we wanted to take the time to share some important resources available for any students impacted directly or indirectly by this tragedy.

The NMC Student Life Office on main campus has free personal counseling available for students (zoom or in person) between the hours of 8am -5pm Monday – Friday. Please call 231-995-1118 or email us at studentlife@nmc.edu to schedule a time to talk with us.

In addition, two free after hours resources (available to anyone) include:

• 24/7 crisis phone line – dial 988 to speak directly to a crisis counselor.
• 24/7 crisis text line – text ‘HOME’ to 741741 to communicate with a volunteer crisis counselor.

Please take care of yourselves and each other during times like this.

Thank you,
Lisa Thomas

—
Lisa Thomas
Dean of Students
Northwestern Michigan College
231-995-1043

“And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”
– The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

NMC Concert Band, choral performances scheduled

Feb 9, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Two of NMC’s performance ensembles will present the following midwinter performances:

• February 24: NMC Concert Band & Grand Traverse Chorale. 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium
• February 26: NMC Choral performance, featuring the NMC Chamber Singers, Canticum Novum and the NMC Children’s Choirs. 3 p.m., Lars Hockstad Auditorium

Advance tickets are available at simpletix.com. Adults $13, seniors/students $8. At the door: Adults $15, seniors/students $10.

Release date: February 9, 2023

For more information:

Jeffrey Cobb
Director of Music Programs
(231) 995-1338
jecobb@nmc.edu

Success story: NMC, Davenport University to partner for 3-year nursing program

Feb 8, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

February 8, 2023

Northwestern Michigan College has chosen Davenport University as its exclusive partner in a first-of-its-kind Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that will start in May and aims to increase Michigan’s nursing workforce.

The concurrent program, in which students will be enrolled two years at NMC and a third year at Davenport, gives nursing students a faster, less expensive path to a BSN. Munson Medical Center requires its nurses to earn a BSN within five years of hire.

Haven Hall (right) will be one of the first students. She will graduate from NMC’s associate degree program in May and plans to enroll immediately in the BSN program. NMC’s faculty and staff have encouraged her, she said.

“They challenge you to further your education,” said Hall, 20, who already works as a nurse technician in the emergency department at Munson Medical Center.

“Being able to work while I was in college helped so much,” said Hall, who also earned two nursing scholarships and a study abroad scholarship while at NMC. “I did not want to have to pull out a bunch of loans and be in a ton of debt.”

She plans to remain in Traverse City, working at Munson, while completing her BSN. Offering convenience to students like her who are already in the workforce was a goal of state legislation passed last summer that allows the partnerships.

“Munson Healthcare has long supported all strategies that promote the availability of highly trained nurses in our region,” said Ed Ness, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare. “This includes partnering with Northwestern Michigan College to provide clinical instruction support to promote nursing graduates in our region. We appreciate the legislature for making this investment that will help to remove barriers for degree and career advancement and provides us with a new tool to support replenishing our healthcare talent pipeline.”

NMC will be among the first of Michigan’s 28 community colleges to roll out a BSN program under the 2022 legislation. NMC issued a request for BSN proposals in mid-October. Nine universities submitted proposals seeking to partner with NMC.

“Meeting changing employer needs is a critical part of our work as a community college,” said Northwestern Michigan College President Dr. Nick Nissley. “I am proud of NMC’s fast response to this opportunity from the state and the high level of interest we received from potential university partners. It speaks volumes about the quality of our college, our nursing program and our graduates.”

“We have a decade-long partnership with NMC and Munson Healthcare to grow the talent needed to support the communities we serve,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University. “We are grateful to be chosen by NMC to grow our partnership to address the nursing talent shortage and create greater opportunities for our students to achieve academic and career success.”

Davenport has offered a robust and high-quality nursing program since 2006. All graduates are hired within six months of graduation.

NMC Director of Nursing Tamella Livengood (right) said that Grand Rapids-based Davenport was selected due to their commitment to NMC’s strategic plan, as well as to offering an in-person option and local student support in Traverse City.

“One of the big differences will be the level of support we’ll be able to provide students,” Livengood said. “I think retention and completion will improve.”

The BSN cohort that includes Hall will graduate in 2024. NMC has the largest nursing associate degree (ADN) program north of Grand Rapids. In the last two years, NMC has graduated 91 ADN students; 64 of whom are employed at Munson. NMC graduates also have a high success rate on the registered nursing licensure exam, the NCLEX. In 2022, 95 percent of NMC’s associate degree graduates passed it on the first attempt, exceeding both Michigan and national averages. Davenport has offered a BSN program since 2006.

Grand Rapids-based Davenport University is already a partner at NMC’s University Center, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, technology and health. The private, non-profit university serves about 5,500 students at campuses across Michigan and online. With tuition among the lowest private universities in the state, Davenport provides high academic quality, small class sizes, conveniently located campuses, faculty with real-world experience, and more than 60 dynamic undergraduate and graduate programs.

Volunteers needed for MATHCOUNTS on Feb. 10

Feb 6, 2023 | Intercom, Student News

NMC’s Engineering department, in conjunction with the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, will be hosting the Northern Michigan Chapter of the annual MATHCOUNTS competition on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the Beckett building. The event will take place from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. and will consist of several rounds of timed math contests undertaken by middle-school teams. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, scoring, and/or clean-up. Interested parties may reach out to Jay Smith at jsmith@nmc.edu for more information.

NMC Engineering has hosted this event in partnership with MSPE for several years. This year’s competition is the first since 2020 due to the pandemic. 

About MATHCOUNTS: The MATHCOUNTS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that reaches students in grades 6-8 in all US states and territories with 3 extracurricular math programs. Hundreds of thousands of students participate in our programs or use our resources each year. (OUR STORY | MATHCOUNTS Foundation)