NMC to host nautical archaeology field school in July

Feb 27, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY —  Underwater archaeology enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to train with instructors and students from around the world July 12-26, when NMC hosts the Nautical Archaeology Society’s 2015 International Field School.

Nautical archaeology is the specialized study of maritime technology (e.g., ships, boats and other craft). Based at NMC’s Great Lakes Campus on West Grand Traverse Bay, the NAS Field School will consist of taught courses and the supervised archaeological survey of a historic shipwreck in Northport, Grand Traverse Bay and an earlyArchaic site on the shore of an inland lake.

This is the fifth consecutive year NMC has been selected to host the field school. Based in the United Kingdom, the Nautical Archaeology Society is a non-government organization formed to further interest in underwater cultural heritage. The field school is open to anyone interested and no previous experience is necessary. Although scuba experience is not required, certified divers may dive as part of their field research.

The program is structured as follows:

Week One: Introduction to foreshore and underwater archaeology and the supervised survey of either a dry-land or underwater archaeological site

Week Two: A series of day-long specialty courses covering topics such as: archaeological surveying, artifact typology, ship and boat construction, flint knapping, Native American settlement in northwest Michigan, documentary research, underwater archaeological surveying and archaeological illustration.

For more details, visit www.nasnmc.com. A variety of tuition packages are available, and on-campus housing is available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mark W. Holley, Ph.D
(989) 307-9651
mholley@nmc.edu

Writing workshops for veterans and formerly or currently homeless

Feb 26, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC faculty will continue to host on-campus writing workshops aimed at both veterans and those who have experience with homelessness through the spring semester. Participation is open to the general public as well as NMC students.

Veterans writing workshop

Monthly meetings held from 10 a.m. to noon the third Friday of the month  in Scholars Hall room 101. Future meetings will be held March 20 and April 17.

In addition, open office hours will be offered to veterans weekly, from 3 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday in Scholars Hall room 102. Veterans can get writing support for academic writing assignments or other writing projects.

For more information contact Teresa Scollon (231) 383-2958 or tscollon@nmc.edu

Homelessness writing workshop

Tuesday evenings from 7 – 9 p.m. in Scholars Hall 209. Writers will hold a public reading on April 19 from 2-4 p.m. at the InsideOut Gallery. 

For more information contact Susan Odgers at (231) 392-6843, cell/text or sodgers@nmc.edu.

Release date: february 26, 2015

Success Story: UAS Alumni Lead Industry Forward

Feb 25, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

February 25, 2015

Back in 2012, as one of NMC’s pioneer students in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Brad Kent found himself with a job offer before he’d even finished his training, and headed overseas for six-figure work as a civilian contractor. Now, as approvals for domestic use of UAS rise by the week, Kent and fellow former NMC students are poised to help guide the industry’s development into its second, commercial phase.

NMC was on the forefront of unmanned aircraft training, offering its first classes in the fall of 2010. Students like Kent (front row, second from right) and Darrell Trueblood (back row, far right) found getting in on the ground floor paid off, literally

“Before I even finished my degree I had placement in industry,” said Kent, 24, of Traverse City. He and Trueblood, 35, are among four NMC pilots now deployed in Afghanistan as civilian contractors with an Arizona-based manufacturer of UAS.

They provide force protection services to military, a job both see as worthy and important. Lengthy deployments and life on a military installation create a trade-off, however. “Balancing the benefits of income vs. the moments you miss with your friends and family becomes the tough part,” said Trueblood, who is married and a father to three. His wife and three children live in Tennessee.

“It puts a strain on relationships, it puts a strain on a social life,” said Kent, who still says it’s an “amazing experience” to work overseas.

UAS industry gets go-ahead to expand

Now, however, the strains and trade-offs are easing as the UAS industry gets the go-ahead to expand domestically.

Until 2014, the FAA strictly limited use of UAS vehicles in U.S. airspace. The first commercial exemption was granted in June 2014, allowing surveillance of oil fields in Alaska. Since December 2014, the FAA has approved more than 20 other exemptions for uses ranging from photography to agriculture.

Kent anticipates returning stateside later this year, to corporate headquarters in Tucson, Ariz. He’ll work on UAS research and development and train other pilots to fill the vast number of openings the industry expects as commercial permissions expand. “With pending FAA regulations for Unmanned Aerial Systems on the very near horizon, growth in this industry will be immense. Activities like movie production, agriculture monitoring, and infrastructure inspection will become an everyday occurrence, requiring trained professionals,” said Tony Sauerbrey, UAS program manager.

“This career field will grow exponentially in the coming years, both with pilots and support staff,” Trueblood agreed. His advice to prospective students is to be open to change.

“What you know today may be different from what you learn tomorrow. Be willing to continuously learn and continue your education,” he said.

It was that kind of attitude that led Kent to enroll in the first UAS classes.

“At the time it was a couple classes that you could add on if you were going through the manned aviation program,” Kent said. “NMC was very cool in the fact that they were willing to offer classes like that, new technologies.”

Sauerbrey said NMC will continue to grow with the industry and plans to offer full UAS pilot certification once the FAA finalizes regulations. NMC will also continue to work with leading UAS companies to provide a conduit for students seeking to enter the industry.