Jan 15, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County is partnering with Northwestern Michigan College to launch a vaccination clinic for COVID-19 beginning Monday, January 18 at NMC’s Hagerty Center through at least April. Vaccines will be given by appointment only and are currently available for individuals in Phase 1A and Phase 1B of the priority groups endorsed by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PHASE 1A includes:
- EMS, medical first responders, healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities.
PHASE 1B includes:
- Persons age 65 and older
- Some frontline essential workers including:
- Police officers
- First responders
- Frontline state and federal workers
- Jail and prison staff
- Pre-K-12 teachers and childcare providers
- Adult and child protective services, and
- Homeless shelter staff
For next week, appointments will be available Monday, January 18 through Friday, January 22. To schedule an appointment, please visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/ We are expecting these appointments to fill up very quickly and it is likely that you will experience difficulty scheduling an appointment early on. Additional appointments will be added weekly as the county receives more vaccine. We encourage you to visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/ frequently to check if additional appointments are available. If you have already signed up for notice on how to schedule an appointment, you will be receiving an email with the link to this website. You must schedule your appointments through this website.
This partnership with NMC will allow for the rapid expansion of the vaccination efforts in our community. “We are excited to expand the availability for more people to get this life-saving vaccine. This is a highly complex and rapidly evolving process that takes incredible logistical coordination and patience from our communities. But any challenges are far outweighed by the promise of a return to normal when we have made it through and are safe from COVID-19,” said Health Officer, Wendy Hirschenberger.
“COVID-19 is a community-wide challenge that will require a community-wide response. We at NMC feel it is both our responsibility and our privilege to support this effort and keep our residents safe,” said Dr. Nick Nissley, president of Northwestern Michigan College. “I have been pleased to see the people and organizations of Grand Traverse County step up during this time. The finish line is in sight and I know we can get there by continuing to work together.”
“Since March 13, 2020 Grand Traverse County and the entire community have worked together to minimize the impact of the Coronavirus on our community. This partnership with NMC highlights the type of commitment our community has to ridding ourselves of the impacts of COVID-19,” said County Administrator Nate Alger. “We are continuing to expand our efforts in vaccination planning to vaccinate as many people as quickly and safely as possible. That said, in the early stages of the mass vaccination efforts we are expecting that you will experience difficulty finding an open appointment until the vaccine becomes widely available to us.”
The NMC Hagerty Center site will be used as an off-site vaccination clinic through at least April. Munson Healthcare is coordinating vaccine distribution through its system.
So far, the Grand Traverse County Health Department has vaccinated more than 2,000 individuals in Phase 1A which includes EMS, medical first responders, healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities.
Decisions on moving to the next phase are made at the state level, but distribution depends on vaccine availability at the county level and may vary by community. The entire vaccination process statewide is projected to take 9 to 12 months. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging all residents to develop a plan to get vaccinated. Residents should know which phase they belong to and to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Michigan vaccinations phases are as follows:
- Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Persons 65 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
- Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.
- Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
These prioritizations may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available. Grand Traverse County residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/
Release date: January 15, 2021
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
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
Jan 15, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Good afternoon NMC community,
The COVID-19 vaccine is now being distributed throughout our region. Reaching a 70% vaccination rate of our population is the fastest way for our society to return to normal, but this vaccination process is a highly complex and rapidly evolving undertaking for public health leaders.
Right now only health departments and hospitals are distributing the vaccine. So far, the Grand Traverse County Health Department (GTCHD) has vaccinated more than 2,000 individuals in Phase 1A which includes EMS, medical first responders, healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities. Starting Monday, January 18 the GTCHD is planning to begin giving vaccinations at off-site clinics including a temporary clinic NMC’s Hagerty Center through at least April. Please note this information is not yet public. (More details below.)
Decisions on moving to the next phase are made at the state level, but distribution depends on vaccine availability at the county level and may vary by community. The entire vaccination process statewide may take 9-12 months. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging all residents to develop a plan to get vaccinated. Residents should know which phase they belong to and continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Michigan vaccinations phases are as follows:
- Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Persons 65 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
- Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.
- Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
These prioritizations may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available. Right now higher education employees are included in Phase 2. Unless an individual qualifies for an earlier phase, the majority of NMC employees and students will likely not qualify for the vaccine until after the spring semester.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. Locally, go to www.grandtraverse.org/2394.
Great Lakes campus building access during vaccination clinics:
The schedule for next week is:
- Monday & Tuesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Wednesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Right now the vaccines will be given by appointment only. Patients are being instructed to use the main entrance to the Great Lakes campus with county employees managing the process on site. Clinic hours may vary week to week. We will keep you informed of the impact on the Great Lakes campus.
Please avoid visiting this campus during clinic times, if possible. Culinary and Maritime employees and students should use the side entrances and avoid the main entrance. The side entrances will be unlocked during the class scheduled times so students and employees can avoid using the entrance that the general public will use. We have worked to reschedule NMC classes and events at the Hagerty Center.
Jan 15, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County is partnering with Northwestern Michigan College to launch a vaccination clinic for COVID-19 beginning Monday, January 18 at NMC’s Hagerty Center through at least April. Vaccines will be given by appointment only and are currently available for individuals in Phase 1A and Phase 1B of the priority groups endorsed by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PHASE 1A includes:
- EMS, medical first responders, healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities.
PHASE 1B includes:
- Persons age 65 and older
- Some frontline essential workers including:
- Police officers
- First responders
- Frontline state and federal workers
- Jail and prison staff
- Pre-K-12 teachers and childcare providers
- Adult and child protective services, and
- Homeless shelter staff
For next week, appointments will be available Monday, January 18 through Friday, January 22. To schedule an appointment, please visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/ We are expecting these appointments to fill up very quickly and it is likely that you will experience difficulty scheduling an appointment early on. Additional appointments will be added weekly as the county receives more vaccine. We encourage you to visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/ frequently to check if additional appointments are available. If you have already signed up for notice on how to schedule an appointment, you will be receiving an email with the link to this website. You must schedule your appointments through this website.
This partnership with NMC will allow for the rapid expansion of the vaccination efforts in our community. “We are excited to expand the availability for more people to get this life-saving vaccine. This is a highly complex and rapidly evolving process that takes incredible logistical coordination and patience from our communities. But any challenges are far outweighed by the promise of a return to normal when we have made it through and are safe from COVID-19,” said Health Officer, Wendy Hirschenberger.
“COVID-19 is a community-wide challenge that will require a community-wide response. We at NMC feel it is both our responsibility and our privilege to support this effort and keep our residents safe,” said Dr. Nick Nissley, president of Northwestern Michigan College. “I have been pleased to see the people and organizations of Grand Traverse County step up during this time. The finish line is in sight and I know we can get there by continuing to work together.”
“Since March 13, 2020 Grand Traverse County and the entire community have worked together to minimize the impact of the Coronavirus on our community. This partnership with NMC highlights the type of commitment our community has to ridding ourselves of the impacts of COVID-19,” said County Administrator Nate Alger. “We are continuing to expand our efforts in vaccination planning to vaccinate as many people as quickly and safely as possible. That said, in the early stages of the mass vaccination efforts we are expecting that you will experience difficulty finding an open appointment until the vaccine becomes widely available to us.”
The NMC Hagerty Center site will be used as an off-site vaccination clinic through at least April. Munson Healthcare is coordinating vaccine distribution through its system.
So far, the Grand Traverse County Health Department has vaccinated more than 2,000 individuals in Phase 1A which includes EMS, medical first responders, healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities.
Decisions on moving to the next phase are made at the state level, but distribution depends on vaccine availability at the county level and may vary by community. The entire vaccination process statewide is projected to take 9 to 12 months. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging all residents to develop a plan to get vaccinated. Residents should know which phase they belong to and to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Michigan vaccinations phases are as follows:
- Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Persons 65 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
- Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.
- Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
These prioritizations may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available. Grand Traverse County residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit gtcountycovid19.com/vaccine/
Release date: January 15, 2021
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
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
Jan 13, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Good afternoon NMC students,
Welcome to the start of the Spring 2020 semester! President Nick Nissley has a special message for you as we begin the new semester and a new year together. While this is an unusual time, we are still so excited and proud to have you as members of our NMC community. We look forward to helping you keep reaching your goals.
Find more information on nmc.edu, including a registration checklist, updates on how the college is working to limit the disruption to learning during the pandemic and resources to help you including virtual and online tools. You can also find important information on how we can all continue working together to keep safe on campus at nmc.edu/keep-safe.
If you have any questions, please let us know and our student services experts will work to get back with you in less than 24 hours.
Welcome again to the spring semester and we look forward to seeing you soon, whether virtually or in person!
Jan 13, 2021 | Student News
The preschool is run by Munson Healthcare and children of NMC students are welcome. Call (231) 342-7861 or email kkogge@mhc.net to enroll.
MORE DETAILS:
Head Start is a federally-funded preschool program. Its success is based on compassionate partnerships between Head Start program staff and parents. In Michigan, local Head Start programs work with families to remove barriers to success and to deepen parents’ ability to support their children. Head Start services at NMC run from 8A-1:15 Monday- Thursday year-round with before and after care, as well as all day Friday care available for $4.25 per hour. DHS funding is accepted. Head Start is available to 3- and 4-year-old children.
Visit the Michigan Head Start Association website to learn more.
GSRP: the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is a state-funded preschool program with aims that are similar to those of Head Start. While fewer children qualify for Head Start than GSRP, Great Start Readiness Program also serves families whose circumstances indicate a need for free early childhood education. GSRP at NMC runs from 8:30-3:30 Monday – Thursday during the school year. Before and after care is accepted, as well as all day Friday for $4.25 per hour, and DHS funding is also accepted. GSRP is available 4 yr. old children who turn 4 by Dec 1.
STRONG BEGINNINGS: Our 3 yr. old funded program is beginning January 11. Children must have turned 3 by Dec 1, 2020.
Visit the Michigan Department of Education website to learn about GSRP.
Jan 12, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
January 6, 2021
An NMC nursing alumna is among the northern Michigan healthcare leaders guiding the region’s response to COVID-19 as the pandemic enters the hopeful stage of vaccination.
Last August, Tami Putney, a 2002 graduate of NMC’s associate degree in nursing program, became Chief Nursing Officer and vice president of patient care services at Munson Medical Center. She also serves as chief of operations for the hospital’s Incident Command team responding to COVID-19. Working through a pandemic has been a life-changing, humbling experience, she said.
“What I’ve seen is this (Munson) team come together like you can’t even imagine,” she said. The Traverse City hospital, the largest in northern Michigan, has had to adjust its model of care and become flexible and nimble in order to fulfill its duty to the community amid a pandemic.
“It’s so important for us to get it right. It’s so important for us to help each other,” Putney said. It was at NMC where lessons like respect for others, self-discipline and the value of diversity were instilled.
“Their expectations were very high. They do a great job of helping students realize their potential,” Putney said of NMC’s nursing instructors.
In addition, NMC taught a holistic approach to health care that includes patient families. That’s been important during COVID, which has changed normal visiting procedures.
“The family structure is stressed,” Putney said. “(We are) nursing patients back to health, but never forgetting about the families along the way.”
The circle of care then widens from families to the broader community, who may still need surgery or cancer treatment or labor and delivery services.
“We still want to serve the community,” Putney said. “We want to continue all normal operations, but we have this whole other unexpected population we have to care for.”
That has led to the creation of multidisciplinary teams and staff working in areas outside their usual assignments, like obstetric nurses serving as PPE buddies, ensuring that personal protective equipment is donned and discarded correctly.
After NMC Putney earned both a BSN and an MSN from Ferris State University in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and then her nurse executive certification in 2018. She worked as a bedside nurse for several years before transferring to clinical informatics at Munson from 2011 to 2014.
“That’s bridging the gap between the technology world and bedside care delivery,” she said, including transitioning the hospital from paper to electronic health records. “That was kind of groundbreaking work for the time.”
At Munson Putney said the vaccine rollout has been smooth. As of Tuesday, 5,371 staff, physicians and contract workers had received their first shot of the two-shot series. That’s 50 percent of those eligible at Munson in the tier that the state of Michigan has designated as first priority: health care workers and long-term care facility residents.
Putney has received the first shot herself, but only did so after she made sure all the bedside nurses and staff had an opportunity to schedule theirs.
“We can’t run the hospital and serve the community without those folks at the hospital,” she said.
When it comes time for the general public to be vaccinated, Putney said Munson expects to announce partnerships with area pharmacies to distribute the vaccine. Munson, NMC and the Grand Traverse County Health Department are all part of Grand Traverse County’s Joint Operations Center coordinating a community-wide response.
Current NMC nursing students may also join the COVID front lines to help with vaccination. Nursing Director Amy Jones said the department is working with the Grand Traverse County Health Department to allow students to participate in administration of the vaccine.
“It will be a benefit for both the community and our students,” Jones said.
Jan 12, 2021 | Student News
The NMC Esports Club would like to invite existing and new NMC students to join the group. Come engage with other gamers in casual scrimmages, pick-up games, NMC tournaments, and external tournaments. New for the spring semester will be tryouts in late January for official Hawk owl teams. Three informational meetings will be taking place the week of January 11th via Zoom.
If you are interested in joining the club or attending one of the meetings, please contact Dr. Terri Gustafson (tgustafson@nmc.edu) or join the NMC Esports Discord server: discord.gg/69DSzHTZPR.
Jan 11, 2021 | Announcements & News, Intercom, Student News
The Traverse City Parking Patrol will begin issuing citations for parking violations at NMC on Monday, January 18. All NMC students and employees must have their 2020-2021 permits displayed by that date. If you haven’t received your permit, they’re available at the Campus Safety & Security office in the West Hall Innovation Center (#9 on the Main Campus Map).
The Traverse City Police Department has provided the following information on how to avoid parking tickets on campus by properly displaying your parking permit:
- Place your permit in the bottom left-hand corner of your windshield.
- Place your permit right side up. An upside-down permit will be considered invalid.
- Hang tags must be on the rear view mirror.
- Be sure that the expiration date on your permit can be seen from the outside of your vehicle. (Some vehicles have a tint on the edges of their windshield, so be sure your permit is not behind a tint, as it will make it difficult to see from the outside.) When it doubt, get out of your vehicle and be sure you can see the entire permit from the outside.
If you do get a ticket, payment can be made at the red drop-off payment box at the east end of the Cedar lot in front of the Health & Science Building on main campus. You can also mail the fine in to the city, or pay at the parking services office in the public parking garage at 303 E. State St. Payment information is also on each ticket.
If you have any questions about parking enforcement on campus, please call Campus Safety & Security at (231) 995-1111.
Jan 8, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is pleased to announce its Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 semester.
Published at the end of each semester, the Dean’s List recognizes outstanding academic achievement based upon a student’s semester grade point average. To be eligible, students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or above out of a possible 4.0 while taking five or more credits in a semester.
RELEASE DATE: January 8, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Jan 8, 2021 | Student News
The NMC Student Success Center offers Free College Prep Courses to help students prepare for their college journey.
These non-credit Math, English & Tech courses are for students who would like to build their foundational math, reading, writing & tech skills. You’ll meet with instructors who you’ll be seeing in the classroom and also support resources that will be available throughout your journey.
These short courses are delivered tuition free and are available for current, new and prospective students. Learn more and register here.
Jan 8, 2021 | Student News, Tech Tips
Free Intro To College Tech Workshops
Can technology make you a better student? Join Alison Thornton from Technology Support Services as she covers all of the FREE time-saving and life-hacking technology that NMC offers to its students! Download a new set of skills by learning about the technology and features available to you through NMC, how to level-up in your tech skills, and where you can get support for all things tech-related.
Sign up at the link below to receive your Zoom link to the course(s) you are signing up for. Your signup will ensure you receive the Zoom link prior to the course.
Course List
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Course
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Dates
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Getting Started with Zoom and more….
Come join an overview of how to use Zoom at NMC, covering polls, rooms, reactions and more.
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- Thursday, January 7, 7–7:30 p.m.
- Friday, January 8, 1–1:30pm
- Monday, January 11, 9–9:30 a.m.
- Monday, January 11, 7–7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 12, 11–11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, January 13, 9–9:30 a.m.
- Thursday, January 14, 9–9:30 a.m.
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File Management – Network Drives and Google Drive
Come join a demonstration of how to save your files (word processing, presentations, and more) to various locations at NMC, so that you make sure they are backed-up and easily accessible to Moodle.
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- Wednesday, January 13, 7–8 p.m.
- Friday, January 15, 3–4 p.m.
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Google Docs
Google Docs is a word processing software that is easy to use and allows convenient access. It is a great resource for your academic and vocational course work.
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- Friday, January 8, 3–4 p.m.
- Monday, January 18, 7–8 p.m.
- Thursday, January 28, 3–4 p.m.
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Google Slides
Google Slides is a free and easy to use presentation software. Come watch an overview of how to use this software.
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- Wednesday, January 20, 3–4 p.m.
- Monday, January 25, 7–8 p.m.
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Jan 7, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College today announced that it has canceled the spring opening of Lobdell’s: A Teaching Restaurant due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Great Lakes Culinary Institute Executive Director Les Eckert said the cancellation is due to current statewide restaurant restrictions and ongoing concerns for the safety of students, faculty, staff and guests as cases in northwest Michigan continue to climb.
“We are saddened to lose this semester at Lobdell’s, but know that this is the right decision, consistent with NMC’s overarching goal of keeping students and employees safe,” Eckert said. “I am so proud of the way the college community has found new ways to meet the needs of our learners during the pandemic. We remain dedicated to their success, even if we need to make adjustments along the way to keep everyone safe.”
By order of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, restaurants in the state have been closed for indoor service since Nov. 18, 2020. That closure has been extended twice, on Dec. 7 and again on Dec. 18. The uncertainty of future extensions and the fact that Lobdell’s operates as a class made it impractical to open.
Located on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus just east of downtown Traverse City, Lobdell’s offers culinary students a comprehensive, hands-on experience in running a restaurant, from menu planning to preparation to service. It typically offers lunch service three days per week in the fall and spring semesters. In the summer it functions as a bakery cafe, serving coffee and pastries three mornings per week.
“As of now, we look forward to being fully operational for Cafe Lobdell’s in the summer and Lobdell’s lunches in the fall,” Eckert said. “We can’t wait to bring our student chefs and community together again over a shared love of great food!”
Release date: January 7, 2021
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Jan 7, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College today announced that it has canceled the spring opening of Lobdell’s: A Teaching Restaurant due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Great Lakes Culinary Institute Executive Director Les Eckert said the cancellation is due to current statewide restaurant restrictions and ongoing concerns for the safety of students, faculty, staff and guests as cases in northwest Michigan continue to climb.
“We are saddened to lose this semester at Lobdell’s, but know that this is the right decision, consistent with NMC’s overarching goal of keeping students and employees safe,” Eckert said. “I am so proud of the way the college community has found new ways to meet the needs of our learners during the pandemic. We remain dedicated to their success, even if we need to make adjustments along the way to keep everyone safe.”
By order of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, restaurants in the state have been closed for indoor service since Nov. 18, 2020. That closure has been extended twice, on Dec. 7 and again on Dec. 18. The uncertainty of future extensions and the fact that Lobdell’s operates as a class made it impractical to open.
Located on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus just east of downtown Traverse City, Lobdell’s offers culinary students a comprehensive, hands-on experience in running a restaurant, from menu planning to preparation to service. It typically offers lunch service three days per week in the fall and spring semesters. In the summer it functions as a bakery cafe, serving coffee and pastries three mornings per week.
“As of now, we look forward to being fully operational for Cafe Lobdell’s in the summer and Lobdell’s lunches in the fall,” Eckert said. “We can’t wait to bring our student chefs and community together again over a shared love of great food!”
Release date: January 7, 2021
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Jan 6, 2021 | Student News
Good afternoon NMC students,
We look forward to having you join us for spring semester! Classes begin as planned January 11. Courses will be delivered as scheduled. Student Services such as advising, financial aid, registration and more are available virtually. Buildings will be open one hour prior to classes starting and one hour after they are finished. West Hall will be open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. and by calling the phone number on the door outside of those hours.
COVID-19
Covid Safety Protocols:
Thank you for your work to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fall semester, there were relatively few cases on campus and only minimal exposure. With your continued commitment to safety, we hope to see similar success this semester. If you gathered in groups over the holidays, please self-monitor for symptoms. Everyone coming to campus should also continue to use this screening checklist before coming on to campus. NMC remains in stage 2 of its re-opening plan. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our community. We hope not to need to return to online-only courses this spring, but if we do, we remain committed to working to limit the disruption to learning as much as possible.
Covid Communication:
As COVID-19 cases have surged in our area in the last few months, the Grand Traverse County Health Department has had to change its approach to contact tracing. As a result, we will also change how we report possible exposures to you. Last semester, we confirmed every positive COVID-19 on campus with the health department. Now, to make sure we are getting information to you as quickly as possible, we will report presumed positive cases so those who might be impacted can take action as quickly as possible to stay safe and limit further spread. This information will continue to be updated on NMC’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The college is working with the local health department to coordinate vaccine distribution when it is available and permitted. We will continue to communicate with you as more details become available.
Spring Break
Last fall, NMC communicated the decision to cancel Spring Break in 2021 to limit the spread of COVID-19 and its potential disruption to learning at NMC. As a result, classes will end a week early with the last day scheduled for April 26.
Commencement
The Commencement committee is also hard at work looking for new ways to hold this ceremony safely in spring 2021. We will communicate with you as soon as a decision is made so you can plan for this important event with your families.
New Dining Service
NMC’s Hagerty Center team will now also be running the Hawk Owl Cafe and all dining services at the college.
Some of the highlights of the change include:
- Daily themed menu specials: Mediterranean Monday, Taco Tuesday, Italian Wednesday, World Fusion Thursday and Backyard BBQ Friday.
- A focus on student engagement to enhance the overall dining experience. Staff will seek menu and promotional input from student groups as well as address any concerns.
- Re-hiring 5-8 Hagerty Center employees who were furloughed in the spring due to pandemic shutdowns.
- Consolidate all campus food service under one kitchen, creating efficiencies in everything from purchasing to staffing
In November, NMC ended its contract with Sodexo in order to make food service on campus more cost-effective and enable the college to rehire employees.
Parking
Parking Enforcement will begin January 18. Permits are available in the following locations on main campus:
- West Hall
- main entrance by the security desk
- Tanis Building
- main atrium entrance
- outside the Enrollment Services Office
- Osterlin Building
- Student Success Center desk
Thank you for being an important part of our NMC community. We wish you a safe and successful spring semester!
Jan 6, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
January 6, 2021
An NMC nursing alumna is among the northern Michigan healthcare leaders guiding the region’s response to COVID-19 as the pandemic enters the hopeful stage of vaccination.
Last August, Tami Putney, a 2002 graduate of NMC’s associate degree in nursing program, became Chief Nursing Officer and vice president of patient care services at Munson Medical Center. She also serves as chief of operations for the hospital’s Incident Command team responding to COVID-19. Working through a pandemic has been a life-changing, humbling experience, she said.
“What I’ve seen is this (Munson) team come together like you can’t even imagine,” she said. The Traverse City hospital, the largest in northern Michigan, has had to adjust its model of care and become flexible and nimble in order to fulfill its duty to the community amid a pandemic.
“It’s so important for us to get it right. It’s so important for us to help each other,” Putney said. It was at NMC where lessons like respect for others, self-discipline and the value of diversity were instilled.
“Their expectations were very high. They do a great job of helping students realize their potential,” Putney said of NMC’s nursing instructors.
In addition, NMC taught a holistic approach to health care that includes patient families. That’s been important during COVID, which has changed normal visiting procedures.
“The family structure is stressed,” Putney said. “(We are) nursing patients back to health, but never forgetting about the families along the way.”
The circle of care then widens from families to the broader community, who may still need surgery or cancer treatment or labor and delivery services.
“We still want to serve the community,” Putney said. “We want to continue all normal operations, but we have this whole other unexpected population we have to care for.”
That has led to the creation of multidisciplinary teams and staff working in areas outside their usual assignments, like obstetric nurses serving as PPE buddies, ensuring that personal protective equipment is donned and discarded correctly.
After NMC Putney earned both a BSN and an MSN from Ferris State University in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and then her nurse executive certification in 2018. She worked as a bedside nurse for several years before transferring to clinical informatics at Munson from 2011 to 2014.
“That’s bridging the gap between the technology world and bedside care delivery,” she said, including transitioning the hospital from paper to electronic health records. “That was kind of groundbreaking work for the time.”
At Munson Putney said the vaccine rollout has been smooth. As of Tuesday, 5,371 staff, physicians and contract workers had received their first shot of the two-shot series. That’s 50 percent of those eligible at Munson in the tier that the state of Michigan has designated as first priority: health care workers and long-term care facility residents.
Putney has received the first shot herself, but only did so after she made sure all the bedside nurses and staff had an opportunity to schedule theirs.
“We can’t run the hospital and serve the community without those folks at the hospital,” she said.
When it comes time for the general public to be vaccinated, Putney said Munson expects to announce partnerships with area pharmacies to distribute the vaccine. Munson, NMC and the Grand Traverse County Health Department are all part of Grand Traverse County’s Joint Operations Center coordinating a community-wide response.
Current NMC nursing students may also join the COVID front lines to help with vaccination. Nursing Director Amy Jones said the department is working with the Grand Traverse County Health Department to allow students to participate in administration of the vaccine.
“It will be a benefit for both the community and our students,” Jones said.
Dec 22, 2020 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — We look forward to starting the spring semester with you Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 as scheduled. Recently Governor Whitmer announced some changes to the start date for universities, but that does not apply to community colleges, like NMC. Your courses will be delivered as planned.
New this year, the college will be closed for the holiday break from December 24, 2020–January 3, 2021. During that time, there are many virtual tools available to help you prepare for the upcoming semester like this registration checklist.
Also, as you plan your semester, remember Spring Break has been canceled this year, but classes end a week early with April 26 the last day. We are also working on commencement planning and will keep you updated as this progresses.
We hope you have a safe and restful holiday break. We look forward to having you as part of our NMC community in 2021!
Release date: December 22, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Dec 22, 2020 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — We look forward to starting the spring semester with you Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 as scheduled. Recently Governor Whitmer announced some changes to the start date for universities, but that does not apply to community colleges, like NMC. Your courses will be delivered as planned.
New this year, the college will be closed for the holiday break from December 24, 2020–January 3, 2021. During that time, there are many virtual tools available to help you prepare for the upcoming semester like this registration checklist.
Also, as you plan your semester, remember Spring Break has been canceled this year, but classes end a week early with April 26 the last day. We are also working on commencement planning and will keep you updated as this progresses.
We hope you have a safe and restful holiday break. We look forward to having you as part of our NMC community in 2021!
Release date: December 22, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Dec 18, 2020 | President Updates, Student News
Good afternoon NMC students, and congratulations on your work this semester! I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished toward achieving your goals, especially during such a challenging and uncertain time. Now as we end 2020 and look toward the future there is hope on the horizon. With the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine, we can see a return to fewer restrictions, more in person classes and that much needed social time we’ve all missed in the year ahead.
Since the start of the pandemic, we at NMC have focused on two main goals for you: to keep our students and employees safe, and limit the disruption to learning as much as possible. While it may not have been the year we had planned, we should all applaud the limited number of COVID-19 cases on campus and the new ways of teaching and learning we’ve implemented. I know when you look back at this period in your life, you will be incredibly proud of the perseverance you’ve shown to yourself and your families.
For those of you who will be graduating, a sincere congratulations! I cannot wait to celebrate with you. We are working now to find new ways of having a special commencement ceremony in your honor and will continue to communicate the details with you.
For those of you with more coursework ahead, please stick with it! NMC has amazing advisors, counselors, faculty and many other resources to help you get your needs met and continue on your path to success. While continuing to move forward in pursuit of your goals can be difficult, the research tells us that students who stop out are less likely to return and achieve their goals. So, please don’t stop out. NMC’s staff and faculty are here to help you through this trying time.
2020 has been a challenging and unusual year as my first year as president of NMC, but because of people like you, I am more inspired and more determined than ever to find new ways to help you succeed in 2021 and beyond. It is my privilege to be your president. Thank you for being part of our NMC family!
Happy Holidays!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
