Mar 19, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Due to the recent snow days, the deadline for submissions to the Office of Possibilities for Education’s 2026 Request for Proposals for funding grants has been extended to Tuesday, March 24. Submit your innovative ideas that promote lifelong learning, advance educational offerings, facilitate student or employee success, create organizational efficiencies, or improve campus. Current NMC students, faculty, staff, or departments can apply for funding, which typically ranges from $500 to $10,000.
Read more about the RFP here and submit an application here.
Mar 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Menu
Monday, March 16
Traditional Beef Lasagna served with garlic crostini & green beans
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna (V) served with garlic crostini & green beans
Tuesday, March 17
Beef Tacos with lettuce, cheese and chipotle ranch served with refried beans, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Tofu Tacos (V) with lettuce, cheese and chipotle ranch served with refried beans, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Wednesday, March 18
Chicken Tikka Masala with onions and red peppers served with yellow rice & grilled naan bread
Tofu Tikka Masala (V) with onions and red peppers served with yellow rice & grilled naan bread
Thursday, March 19
Country Fried Steak served with mashed potatoes and gravy & green beans
Roasted Cauliflower Steak (V) with chimichurri sauce served with mashed potatoes & green beans
Friday, March 20
Hawk Owl Café Sliders with bacon, cheese and onion straws served with asparagus & sweet potato fries
Impossible Burger on Brioche (V) with cheese and onion straws served with asparagus & sweet potato fries
Mar 12, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Check out NMC’s new course this fall: CIT115 – Intro to Generative AI! Learn to work with AI in your field of study. No tech background required. Use real-world applications to work smarter, think critically and stay competitive. Learn your way; CIT115 is offered online, livestream or face-to-face.
Fall registration is now open. Talk to your advisor today!
Mar 12, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
On Friday, March 6, over 50 NMC faculty, staff, and students gathered at the Traverse City Curling Club for a fun night of learning a new sport, curling!
Participants were divided among the five curling sheets, and volunteers from the club led the instruction on the basics of curling and friendly competition.
Shout out to the 20 GLMA Cadets that showed up for the event! Way to represent the Academy!
Thanks to Marcus Bennett, Lynne Moritz and Terri Gustafson for organizing this event.
Mar 9, 2026 | Student News
Summer textbooks will be available April 1. Stop by the Campus Bookstore in the Health & Science Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus or check them out online at bookstore.nmc.edu.
Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Stop by the Campus Bookstore on Tuesday, March 17 and get 10% off all regularly priced green items.
Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
NMC will host a mobile food pantry on Monday, March 16 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. The menu includes potatoes, onions, cottage cheese, applesauce, pinto beans, juice, cereal, venison and pasta.
While our program is designed for NMC college students and their families, it is open to all in the community who are in need of food.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Mar 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
(more…)
Mar 4, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
March 4, 2026
The NMC Commitment Scholarship is vastly expanding the ranks of eligible first-generation college students this spring, increasing the impact of a unique college access opportunity that began more than thirty years ago.
Starting with the high school class of 2028 (current high school sophomores), prospective first-generation college students in the six-county area can self-nominate for a Commitment Scholarship.
Previously students had to be nominated by their high school counselor as freshmen. Eligibility was limited to 18 regional public high schools, each of which could nominate only three students. Charter, private and homeschooled students are also now eligible.
In addition to the financial help (up to $2,000/year for up to three years) Commitment helps students gain confidence and focus. At a Michigan Tech recruiting fair last fall, seeking a summer internship among throngs of other students, sophomore Kai Collins (right) believes lessons he learned years earlier as an NMC Commitment Scholar helped him stand out.
“Being a Commitment scholar felt like I was being treated as an adult. I had to learn management skills,” said Collins, a 2024 Mancelona High School graduate. “It’s made me a lot more confident in my college journey. I know I can use opportunities I’m given to their fullest.”
Collins landed an internship, with Milwaukee Tool, and is headed to Wisconsin this summer.
The scholarship can be combined with other aid, including the Michigan Community College Guarantee. First-generation is defined as neither parent having earned an associate degree or higher.
The goal is to expand access and have more students take advantage of the scholarship, which was established by NMC donors in 1993. Students must also participate in two preparatory events prior to starting at NMC and maintain a 2.0 GPA in high school.
Gillian Lovett, a 2023 Bellaire High School graduate, is a Commitment scholar currently enrolled at NMC. She will graduate this May. She said the scholarship helped make college a realistic prospect for her.
“I was definitely pretty surprised. College wasn’t on my radar yet. I felt pretty lucky to be nominated, and I felt grateful that I did have an opportunity ahead of me to go to school and not worry about the money,” Lovett said.
Lovett is studying psychology and plans to transfer to Western Michigan University to complete her bachelor’s degree. She’s considering a career in the correctional field, as a rehabilitation counselor.
Collins expects to graduate from Michigan Tech in 2028 with a degree in mechanical engineering. While at NMC he also earned a certificate in Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS).
Apply online.
Mar 2, 2026 | Student News
Have you had instructors this semester who you feel really excelled? NMC has a way for you to recognize those instructors: Nominate them for a Faculty Excellence Award!
Award criteria includes teaching excellence, supportive relationship with students, innovation in the classroom, sense of class community and dedication to the students/NMC.
Tell us what makes your instructors so great using this nomination form.
Submit your nomination by April 10.
Feb 24, 2026 | Student News
Class of 2026—have you applied to graduate?
If this is your last semester of classes, now is the time to apply to graduate if you haven’t already! All students are required to submit this application to receive their credential. The graduation application is available in NMC Self-Service. Select “Apply to Graduate” under the “Student Records” tab to submit your application. Submit your application before April 15 to ensure your name will be listed in the Commencement program.
Those who have already applied to graduate should check their NMC student email to RSVP for Commencement. The deadline to RSVP for Commencement is April 20. Don’t forget to purchase your cap and gown from the Campus Bookstore!
If you have any questions, email records@nmc.edu or call (231) 995-1049.
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab (MVE-Lab) is a free entrepreneurial accelerator program tailored for military-connected individuals in Michigan. This program is developed and led by the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
Participants will cover relevant topics each week and will leave with actionable takeaways. Topic examples include:
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- Knowing your customer
- Marketing and messaging
- Financial modeling
- “Ask the Lawyer”
- Planning for growth
- Funding streams
The MVE-Lab cohort 17 will run in Traverse City from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays from April 7 through June 9 at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center located in the James Beckett Buildng on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Participants can join in-person of via Zoom. Dinner is provided. The program will conclude with a Final Pitch and Showcase event on Monday, June 15 to celebrate the end of the cohort with an opportunity to pitch for $15,000 in cash prizes.
To apply, visit gvsu.edu/mve. Applications will close on April 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Feb 23, 2026 | Student News
Want a place to work on homework from your STEM classes with peers? Join STEM Study Nights! STEM Study Nights are open to all students who want to work on STEM homework and collaborate with others. Meetings are held weekly from 7-9 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 14. Snacks will be provided!
Questions? Email zalews6@mail.nmc.edu
Feb 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Campus Safety and Security has completed multiple CPR training sessions at NMC with more to follow.
Kindly watch this important video on providing hands only CPR.
Keep in mind:
- The most likely emergency you will encounter on a college campus is a medical emergency.
- Good Samaritan laws protect bystanders from civil liability when providing voluntary and reasonable emergency assistance to injured or ill individuals.
Feb 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
February 18, 2026
More area high school students are getting a head start on degrees and careers through record enrollment at NMC this spring.
Combined, 613 high school students were dual enrolled or in Early College at NMC this spring, up from the previous record of 544 set just last fall. High school students now constitute 19.3%, or nearly one in five, of the 3,188 students enrolled.
The increase comes despite the fact that overall spring semester enrollment is lower than fall’s, as is typical. Spring-to-spring overall enrollment is up 1.2% from spring 2025.
“More students continued on, and we were able to get more students interested and enrolled,” said NMC Admissions director Lisa vonReichbauer.
Offering opportunities for high school students is one of the top two priorities of local residents, according to NMC’s latest Community Attitudes & Awareness survey.
Hence NMC put an all-out effort on financial, communication and programming fronts into affording residents those opportunities, including a special tuition rate. Tuition for both dual enrollment and early college is paid by local school districts, but until two years ago, the tuition rate for students outside Grand Traverse County left a difference that families paid out of pocket. In January 2024, NMC trustees approved a rate for out-of-district dual enrolled students that eliminates that out of pocket expense.
Equipped with that new rate, vonReichbauer said NMC has improved outreach to both high schools and families, including home school families.
“We’ve communicated better about the opportunities, so we’re seeing more people taking advantage of that,” she said.
Beyond saving money and a head start, research shows that students who dual-enroll in a college class or Early College students, who earn an associate degree in just one year, are more likely to get to the finish line – graduation.
“It increases college going skills, college success and college completion,” vonReichbauer said.
Most students can dual enroll as early as their sophomore year, take up to 10 classes and choose from more than 100 courses. However, each high school handles dual enrollment differently and NMC defers to each individual high school’s requirements.
Fall enrollment for all students, including dual enrolled, starts March 11. Find out more about opportunities for high school students.
Feb 16, 2026 | Student News
Students looking for connection, support and practical tools for managing stress are invited to take part in the upcoming mental fitness meetups hosted by NAMI Grand Traverse, part of the broader mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness to promote mental wellness and reduce stigma.
These welcoming, student-focused gatherings encourage participants to prioritize themselves during stressful times while learning about helpful strategies and local support. Sessions are held bi-weekly at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Fireplace Room at the NMC Library. Snacks are provided and attendees will also have the chance to hang with therapy dogs.
Spring Meet Up Topics
Avoiding Burnout
February 17
Community Resources
March 3
Self-Care and Support
March 17
Stress Management
April 7
Wellness at Work/School
April 21
All students are welcome to attend. For more information, visit namigt.org or call (231)944-8448.
Feb 16, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Campus Life is exploring the possibility of hosting a Curling Night on March 6 in partnership with the Traverse City Curling Club. To help make it happen, please complete the interest survey by Wednesday, February 18. Your input will directly shape event planning and scheduling.
Curling survey
Keep an eye out for updates — and get ready to sweep your way into a memorable winter experience!
Feb 13, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is proud to launch a new partnership with the Central Michigan University Hart-Milliken Speaker Series to bring a nationally recognized voice on democracy, the civil-military relationship, and executive power to northern Michigan. The collaboration highlights IAF’s 32nd season of programs addressing global issues and fostering vital public dialogue in the region.
“This partnership builds upon a strong relationship between NMC & CMU,” said Alexander Tank, Director of the International Affairs Forum at NMC. “We share a commitment to open dialogue based on rigorous research, practice, and expertise. We will engage in an important civic exercise with this discussion, a continuing investment in public discourse on the difficult issues we face as Americans and global citizens.”
About the event & speaker
February 19 | Long Arm or Strong Arm: Executive Power in Foreign Policy & At Home with Kori Schake, Ph.D., Senior Fellow & Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute. Schake is author of The State and the Soldier: A History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States (Polity Press 2025). She is also the author of Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony, and a contributing writer at the Atlantic, War on the Rocks, and Bloomberg. Event presented in partnership with Central Michigan University Hart-Milliken Speaker Series. Book sales provided by Bay Books.
Before joining AEI, Dr. Kori Schake was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She has had a distinguished career in government, working at the US State Department, the US Department of Defense, and the National Security Council at the White House. She was also a senior policy advisor on the 2008 McCain campaign. She has taught at Stanford, West Point, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and the University of Maryland, and is currently the Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress.
Dr. Schake is the author of five books: “The State and the Soldier: a History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States” (Polity Books, 2025); “America vs the West: Can the Liberal World Order Be Preserved?” (Penguin Random House Australia, Lowy Institute, 2018); “Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony” (Harvard University Press, 2017); “State of Disrepair: Fixing the Culture and Practices of the State Department” (Hoover Institution Press, 2012); and “Managing American Hegemony: Essays on Power in a Time of Dominance” (Hoover Institution Press, 2009).
Event Details
IAF hybrid events, including February 19, are ticketed and open to the public. Students, educators, and active-duty military members attend at no cost thanks to community support. Most programs start at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Dennos Museum Center Milliken Auditorium, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City with a welcome reception at 6 p.m. Secure tickets at tciaf.com.
Events are presented in hybrid format; in-person events are available to livestream online. Programming continues throughout the academic year through June 2026. All IAF events on campus at NMC are free for students and educators, including all NMC employees and employees of all local schools. Find more information at tciaf.com.
IAF’s educational programming at NMC is free for students and educators, and open to the public thanks to its supporting members, regional partners, business sponsors, and Northwestern Michigan College. Learn more about membership, event sponsorship, and opportunities to support here: tciaf.com/support
About the International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
The mission of the International Affairs Forum is to advance the understanding of critical global issues through education and public dialogue. IAF is a community-supported program of Northwestern Michigan College and an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America.
All regular season events are open to the public. Tickets are required. Presentations begin at 7 p.m. & receptions begin at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Visit tciaf.com for advance in-person tickets and online livestream access: $15 per person purchased in advance, $20 per person at the door, or $10 for online livestream access. For in-person tickets on event days, purchase at the door while seats remain. Current students, educators, and active-duty military members receive free admission with required check in. For in-person tickets, online livestream tickets, and all event details, visit tciaf.com.
About the Central Michigan University Hart-Milliken Speaker Series
Central Michigan University established the Philip A. Hart and William G. Milliken Endowed Speaker Series for Integrity in Politics to encourage a civil approach to politics, by hosting individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to encouraging positive change in American politics and policy-making.
This endowed speaker series is named in memory of former U.S. Senator Philip A. Hart and former Michigan Governor William G. Milliken. A legendary trait of the careers of Senator Hart, a Democrat, and Governor Milliken, a Republican, was their ability to work together with members of opposing political parties.
This speaker series challenges interested parties — students in particular — to approach politics in a way that embraces America’s diversity of ideas and perspectives and to strive to replace negativity and partisanship with creativity and innovation in shaping public policy.
“For over two decades, the Hart-Milliken series has shown our students and our community members how our common beliefs about complex policy challenges are stronger than our political differences, “ said Thomas Greitens, Chairperson of the CMU School of Politics, Society, Justice, and Public Service. “By showcasing the power of bipartisanship, the series helps maintain the foundations of our country’s political ideals.
Sponsors & Supporters
International Affairs Forum programming at Northwestern Michigan College is supported by gifts from community members and sponsors. IAF thanks the following for their support of its 32nd season:
Central Michigan University | IAF Gold Sponsor
Grand Traverse Pie Company | IAF Gold Sponsor
Thompson Retractor | IAF Gold Sponsor
IAF Members | Across northern Michigan & across the country
Learn more about event sponsorship and opportunities to support here: tciaf.com/support
Release date: February 13, 2026
For more information:
Alexander Tank
Director
International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1844 | atank@nmc.edu
Sarah Buckley
Communications Coordinator & Web Developer
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Anspach 114A | Central Michigan University
989-774-1788 | Sarah.J.Buckley@cmich.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
