NMC names leaders for Dennos, nursing, Police Academy, library

Sep 16, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Four new directors have taken the helm at key divisions of Northwestern Michigan College continuing the college’s regional leadership in arts and culture, workforce development, and information/media technology.

All will facilitate the college’s shift to experiential learning and continue to forge connections between campus and community. They are:

Craig Hadley, Dennos Museum Center: Hadley comes to NMC from DePauw University in Indiana where he was director/curator with rank of assistant professor. He oversaw the recently accredited University Galleries & Collections, which serves as a hub for undergraduate teaching and research. Hadley also regularly taught independent studies and capstone courses, introductory museum workshops, and reading topics in the program’s museum studies minor. The NMC search committee highlighted Hadley’s understanding of the higher education landscape, passion for the mission of museums and desire for interconnected learning and building bridges as some of his strengths. Hadley succeeds Gene Jenneman, who retired. Read more and download a high-resolution photo of Hadley »

Amy Jones, Nursing and Allied Health: With a lifelong commitment to education and nursing, Jones served at Mercy Hospital-Springfield (Missouri) in a variety of roles, from bedside nurse to risk management, over 18 years. Mercy held one of the few remaining hospital-based nursing programs in the United States, and Jones led the associate degree nursing program there for several years. An RN since 2000, Jones says her passion is patient-centered care. Her plans at NMC include maintaining the amazing work that has been laid as a foundation and continuing to seek opportunities for the nursing program to grow and serve the needs of the community. She succeeds Laura Schmidt, who retired. Read more and download a high-resolution photo of Jones »

Gail Kurowski, Police Academy: Kurowski now leads the department she graduated from in 1983. She spent 20 years with the Michigan State Police, serving as a field training officer, as a legislative liaison in the executive division and in the recruiting and selection unit. The first woman to lead NMC’s Academy, Kurowski aspires to make it a destination program for anyone interested in the law enforcement profession. She succeeds Brian Heffner, who is now director of NMC’s Business Academic Area. Read more about Kurowski (photo not available) »

Kerrey Woughter, NMC Library: Woughter comes from Traverse City Central High School, where she was the teacher-librarian since 2004. During her tenure with TCAPS, Woughter was instrumental in developing the Front Street Writers Program, in partnership with the National Writers Series. An educator of more than 20 years, Woughter has high school library and classroom experience, served as adjunct-Communications faculty for Spring Arbor University and provided supplemental reference library services at NMC from 2009-13. One of Woughter’s first tasks will be planning the library’s move from the Osterlin Building to the West Hall Innovation Center, set for early 2020. Woughter succeeds Tina Ulrich, who retired. Read more and download a high-resolution photo of Woughter »

Release date: September 17, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu

Success story: Hawk Owls soaring

Sep 11, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

September 11, 2019

One-third of the region’s 40 under 40 winners have something in common beyond being young professionals who positively influence their community — they’ve attended classes at NMC.

Thirteen of the region’s 40 most influential leaders under age 40, as named by the Traverse City Business News this month, attended or graduated from NMC.

Illustrating the breadth of programs NMC offers, they work in a wide range of fields including banking and financial services, restaurants and hospitality, nonprofits, real estate, education, health care, government, and tourism. They are:

• Max Anderson, assistant vice president, Honor Bank;
• Andrea Deibler, co-owner, Raduno;
• Lindsey Dickinson, director of academic and career advising, NMC;
• Ashley Halladay-Schmandt, clinical manager, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency;
• Brandon Hunt, president, Mid-American Title;
• Nicholus Kopacki, site director, GVSU Physician Assistant Studies program;
• Courtney Lorenz, founder, Cultured Kombucha;
• Ben Marentette, city clerk, City of Traverse Clerk;
• Katy McCain, manager, Traverse City Tourism;
• Julie Moore, Physician Assistant, Addiction Treatment Services;
• Christopher Radu, partner, Elemint Wealth Management;
• Amy Shamroe, Jenkins Group and elected city commissioner;
• Nicole VanNess, parking director, Traverse City DDA.

Their resumes point to the value of NMC in the community. Through NMC’s University Center, Traverse City city clerk Ben Marentette earned both his bachelor’s and MBA degrees.

“You get a lot for your money. NMC allowed me to build a career without having to leave the city,” Marentette said.

Other list highlights:

• Seven of NMC-connected are also repeat winners: Anderson, Halladay, Hunt, Lorenz, Marentette, McCain and Shamroe.
• The eight women and five men among the NMC-connected is similar to the gender balance among the entire 40 over 40 list (22 women and 18 men.) NMC’s enrollment, however, is nearly 50-50 male-female.

Awards bestowed on retiring Nelson

Sep 5, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC President Timothy J. Nelson has been honored with a host of awards for his leadership and accomplishments during his tenure. Nelson, who will retire Dec. 31, 2019, after 19 years as president has recently received the following:

• Central Regional CEO Award, Association of Community College Trustees, to be presented at the ACCT Leadership Congress in San Francisco in October. As the regional recipient, Nelson is also a nominee for the national Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer Award.
• The Alliance for Innovation & Transformation (AFIT) Legacy Award, honoring an individual who has made exceptional and long-lasting contributions to AFIT and his or her organization, and has been a leading exemplar of transformative leadership in higher education nationwide. The recipient’s legacy is one that is not only extraordinary, but is rarely found. Only three Legacy awards have been granted by AFIT since the award was established in 2010.
• Michigan Community College Association legislative leadership — Nelson has held many roles within the organization representing all 28 Michigan colleges. He was recognized this summer for his longest-serving role, eight years as chair of the MCCA legislative committee, since 2011. Under Nelson’s leadership of the committee, the Michigan Legislature approved community college baccalaureate degrees, a signature achievement.
• National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award — Presented in May, the award recognizes Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level and whose efforts have made a positive impact in the community. Nelson has been an Eagle Scout since 1968.

In his nearly two decades as president, Nelson has guided NMC through a transition from the traditional time-based, place-based and knowledge transfer system to a community college that is focused on competency based, content based knowledge application in pursuit of social, economic and talent development.

In addition to MCCA, his visionary leadership is sought at the local, state and national levels. He has served on many boards and associations, including four gubernatorial appointments by two different Michigan governors.

He and his wife, Nancy Johnson, plan to remain in Traverse City upon retirement.

Release date: Sept. 5, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

Dining Service Hours for Fall 2019

Sep 3, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

NMC Dining Services include the Hawk Owl Café and Northwest Grind / Starbucks in Osterlin Library and the Hawks Nest in East Hall. Hours may vary around holidays and dining services are closed during semester breaks and over the summer.

Hawk Owl Café

• Monday–Thursday: 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Friday: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

Northwest Grind / Starbucks

• Monday–Thursday: 7:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
• Friday: 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

The Hawks Nest

• Monday–Friday: 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Meals on the Move will be in East Hall every Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and  every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.

NMC Board of Trustees identifies Nick Nissley as first choice in presidential search

Sep 3, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — The Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to advance Dr. Nick Nissley as the first choice of five finalists to become the next president of NMC at a special board meeting Tuesday, September 3. The Board then unanimously voted to support Dr. Nissley in his role as president, if he accepts the position.

The Board will now extend an offer and begin discussions on a contract with Dr. Nissley. The contract will be submitted to and voted on by the Board. A formal announcement on the new president is expected within the month, with an expected start date of January 1, 2020.

NMC Board Chair Chris Bott said, “The Board is pleased to move forward with Dr. Nissley. He brings strong communication skills and proven experience in leadership and innovation. This process to identify the next leader of NMC has been competitive, thorough and transparent as the board’s most important job. We appreciate the dedication of the presidential search committee, employees and community members who participated in this process to identify the next leader of our community’s college.”

Nick Nissley, Ed. D. is an education executive with more than 25 years of experience including K-12, community college and university settings. He is currently Executive Director at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Nissley has leadership experience in fundraising, professional development, human resources, teaching and the arts. His areas of focus include helping build individual and organization capabilities that support organizational effectiveness and innovation cultures in support of educational excellence. Dr. Nissley describes himself as a collaborative servant leader and “possibilitarian.”

A total of 67 people applied for the position. Presidential search firm The Pauly Group reviewed the applicants to ensure all met the minimum criteria for the job. The Pauly group recommended 20 candidates to the presidential search committee. That committee narrowed the list to eight candidates for video interviews. The committee recommended five finalists for in-person interviews which included campus and community forums open to the public.

This is the culmination of work since Nov. 1, 2018, when president Timothy J. Nelson announced his intention to retire on Dec. 31, 2019.

“The board, this college and this community will be forever grateful for the service of Tim Nelson during his nearly 19 year tenure. We were not seeking to, nor could we replicate president Nelson who did incredible work to build this college into what it is today,“ said Chairman Bott. “We are now looking for the person who would be the right fit to lead this institution into the future. Each candidate has their own unique strengths. Ultimately the decision came down to who was the best fit at this time.”

Release Date: September 3, 2019

For More Information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu(231) 995-1019

NMC accreditation renewed, commended for continuous quality improvement

Sep 3, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s accreditation process—a key benchmark of the college’s overall quality—has been reaffirmed for the next 10 years by the Higher Learning Commission.

The reaffirmation process is the culmination of a comprehensive, eight-year cycle following a March 2019 site visit by HLC peer reviewers. Accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources.

In its report, the peer review committee cited NMC’s “strong, clear, and well-presented evidence” on all five criteria for accreditation. It also praised NMC for its ongoing dedication to continuous quality improvement.

“Continuous quality improvement appears to be embedded within the culture of the college,” the report concludes.

NMC Executive Director of Research, Planning and Effectiveness Joy Evans said the clear-cut reaffirmation is “significant” for NMC and places it at the forefront among other Michigan community colleges.

“We not only met all criteria of accreditation but we are not on any form of interim monitoring, a rare finding for Michigan community colleges over the past several years,” Evans said.

Northwestern Michigan College has been accredited by HLC since 1961. The HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a gatekeeper agency within the accreditation process. The next reaffirmation of accreditation is scheduled for 2028-29.

In addition to college-wide accreditation, many NMC programs maintain individual accreditations. Nursing programs in June received re-accreditation for the next eight years. In October, the Marine Technology program will host a site visit as part of its accreditation process. Learn more here.

Release date: Sept. 3, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

Librarian Office Hours in Scholars Hall

Aug 29, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

New this semester – your NMC librarians are holding office hours in Scholars Hall!

Stuck on a research assignment, or want to enlist the help of a personal research collaborator? Curious to pick up some tips on how to avoid misinformation online? Or just looking for a homework break and someone to talk to? Stop by Scholars Hall 213 on Wednesdays between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.!

Success story: Hawk Owl heads to Harvard

Aug 28, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

August 28, 2019

Add up an NMC associate degree, a thin credit history, a stint in the Navy and a love of travel and you get Harvard University sophomore Alex Walsh (NMC 2012), who will start classes in Cambridge, Mass. next week.

He’s one of just a dozen transfer students admitted among 1,600 applicants to the most venerable of the Ivy League institutions. But long odds didn’t daunt Walsh, preternaturally disposed to optimism.

“Shoot for the stars, see what happens. The worst they could say is no,” said Walsh, 27, who was also admitted to the University of Michigan and Michigan State. “Being able to find ways to push myself at NMC, challenge myself, helped put me on this path.”

“This path” started with participating in a wide range of activities and clubs at NMC, including NMC magazine, the White Pine Press, Anime Club, International Club and the NMC Policy Council. (NMC yesterday hosted Pine Palooza, an annual fair that introduces students to dozens of campus groups and organizations.) Walsh was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society. He credits PTK adviser Kari Kahler and instructors Jim Bensley, Amjad Khan and John Zachman as among his NMC mentors.

Yet when he graduated, Walsh didn’t have enough credit history to get the student loans he needed to continue his education. So he joined the military, both for the GI benefits down the road and the opportunity to travel in the short term, a love kindled in the NMC International Club. He chose the Navy specifically because it offered more opportunity to travel than other branches, and lived in Spain for more than three years and visited 25 different countries.

In 2017 he took the SAT and scored higher than he expected. Though Ivy League schools are notoriously picky about transfer students, he decided to add Harvard, Princeton and Yale to his list when his Navy contract was up. A veteran transition program, Service to School, also matched him with a mentor whom Walsh said was vital in the decision process.

He’ll enter Harvard as a sophomore and plans to major in economics and minor in government, likely international relations. An MBA or law school could follow. Walsh hopes to work in a capacity that grows the global economy, staying in touch with his love of international relations.

“I would like to be on some kind of a career path where I can provide opportunities to those who would not otherwise have opportunities,” he said. Options he wants to explore through internships include working with infrastructure and business development in central America or Asia, working with refugees of war or conflict, and serving in the Foreign Service as an economic or political adviser.

Between the GI Bill^®, Harvard scholarships and grants, Walsh said his entire tuition bill will be covered.

“That’s pretty exciting too,” he said.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Mike McIntosh Memorial Car & Truck Show

Aug 27, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — See cool cars and trucks and support students at NMC’s 14th annual Mike McIntosh Memorial Car and Truck Show Saturday, September 7.

Car enthusiasts will display their classic cars, 4X4s, dragsters, sports cars, modified late models, motorcycles and more from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at NMC’s Automotive Services Building, 2510 Aero Park Drive.

Admission is free for spectators. There is a $10 entry fee per vehicle for contestants. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Trophies are awarded for best of show in each class. Enjoy food, music, prizes and a silent auction. Student projects and vehicles will also be on display. Proceeds benefit NMC’s Automotive Program and scholarships.

The show is named for the late NMC Automotive instructor Mike McIntosh, who retired in 2004 after 34 years of service. McIntosh organized the first car show for the Automotive Program in 2004. Learn more here »

Release date: Aug. 27, 2019

For more information:

Wayne Moody
NMC Automotive Chair
(231) 995-1316
wmoody@nmc.edu

NMC Reviewing Fact Finder’s Report Recommendations In Faculty Contract Negotiations

Aug 26, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is reviewing the recommendations of the Fact Finder’s Report from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) in the ongoing contract negotiations between the college and the Faculty Association affiliates of the Michigan Education Association.

The report was released late Thursday, August 22. The college filed a petition for Fact Finding January 17, 2019 in an effort to advance negotiations following several bargaining sessions including a State of Michigan mediator. The contracts expired December 31, 2018.

Fact Finding allows a neutral, state-appointed representative to create a non-binding report on the remaining disputes.

Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communication, Diana Fairbanks said, “The college is now reviewing and evaluating the recommendations as a whole. The next step in this process is that both sides have an additional 60 days to negotiate a contract that serves the college and our communities well today and into the future.”

Release date: August 23, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019