NMC names first class of Experiential Learning fellowship recipients

Nov 27, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

Lisa Blackford
(click for high-resolution photo) Tamara Coleman
(click for high-resolution photo) Sarah Montgomery-Richards
(click for high-resolution photo) Caroline Schaefer-Hills
(click for high-resolution photo) Brian Sweeney
(click for high-resolution photo) John Velis
(click for high-resolution photo) TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College has selected six faculty members as the first recipients of an Experiential Learning fellowship intended to accelerate the prevalence of the high-impact instructional style across disciplines.

Each recipient will substantially convert or create a course based on EL principles, which include students working in teams, immersive experiences, project-based assignments and online. The recipients and courses are:

• Lisa Blackford and Tamara Coleman: The Science of Stress (new course)
• Sarah Montgomery-Richards: Western Religions
• Caroline Schaefer-Hills: Art Appreciation (online course)
• Brian Sweeney: Basic Metallurgy
• John Velis: Systems Analysis and Design

“It is exciting to see such a diverse group of faculty focused on innovation, collaboration and high impact teaching practices, as we uniquely prepare our students to live and work in the world of the 21st century,” said Kristy McDonald, director of NMC’s Experiential Learning Institute.

Montgomery-Richards said she hopes to overhaul Western Religions in order to boost enrollment. Currently the course draws half the enrollment of her Eastern Religions class.

“I think students feel like they know western religions,” she said. She hopes a new design will challenge that assumption and increase the relevance of the philosophy course, which most students take as an elective.

“How is an understanding of religion in general, and diverse religious perspectives, going to help them in the future?” Montgomery-Richards said.

Social work and psychology instructor Blackford and biology instructor Coleman are combining their disciplines into a new course, the Science of Stress. Slated to be offered in the fall 2020 semester, students will explore current research on stress and its impacts on body systems. It will meet in an anatomy and physiology lab, as well as in a simulation lab, and is intended to have practical applications, too, as students gain an experiential understanding of stress on learning, anxiety and depression and tools for resilience.

“The whole campus, we talk about how students’ stress has gone up,” Blackford said.

“We saw it as an epidemic,” Coleman added.

Each recipient will receive a $1,500 stipend. The fellowship, is one of the first initiatives of NMC’s Experiential Learning Institute, which launched in 2019 as a way to formalize efforts to expand experiential learning college-wide, which date to 2016. It will collaborate with both on-campus and community stakeholders to engage students and the community, locally, nationally and globally. The Institute will connect the community and NMC by seeking creative partnerships, serving ongoing community needs, and preparing learners for future employment.

Release date: FEBRUARY 3, 2020

For more information:

Kristy McDonald
Director, Experiential Learning Institute and Business Instructor
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1059

Celebrating short stories at the NMC Library

Nov 21, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

Notice the Libby tag next to a title? This means the book is available as an eBook and can be found on the Libby app. All audiobooks can be accessed through Libby. Haven’t set up your Libby account yet? Follow these easy instructions!

books available to request from MeLCat!

(more…)

Museum Store Sunday at the Dennos

Nov 17, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

Do some holiday shopping and support your local art museum during Museum Store Sunday on November 27.

You’ll find an assortment of unique, art-inspired gifts for the holidays like fair trade felted ornaments and accessories, hand-crafted jewelry, puzzles, books, and children’s toys.

Staff and students normally receive 10% off in the store, but all regular priced merchandise will be 25% off that day only.

Can’t stop by The Dennos Museum that day? Visit the Dennos’ online store and apply the coupon MUSEUMSTORESUNDAY at checkout for 25% off regular merchandise.

Students to distribute 150 Thanksgiving meals

Nov 16, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Business students at Northwestern Michigan College will distribute 150 Thanksgiving meals to fellow students and community families on Monday, Nov 21. This is the result of the ninth annual Food For Thought project, which teaches students to communicate professionally through experiential learning. Each student was taught how to write a professional letter to businesses and organizations, requesting an item donation or monetary donation to help meet the goal of feeding 150 families.

Distribution will take place at two locations:

• 2–4 p.m. at NMC’s Physical Education Building/Maple Parking Lot, 1701 E. Front St, Traverse City. This location is for the distribution of 100 meals to NMC students.
• 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Bill Marsh, 1621 S Garfield Ave., Traverse City. This location is for the distribution of 50 meals to local families identified by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan.

Release date: NOVEMBER 16, 2022

For more information:

Michael Wittman
Marketing Team Leader
(231) 866-1386
wittmam@mail.nmc.edu

Kristy McDonald
Business Instructor
(231) 995-1059
kmcdonald@nmc.edu 

Success story: Award-winning student success services grow at NMC

Nov 10, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

November 10, 2022

NMC’s first full-time student success coach won a statewide award for her work Wednesday, while the college continues to beef up its ranks so more students can benefit from a coach’s services as a campus point person, problem solver and resource.

Coaches function as an all-around go-to person for students, connecting them to campus services that they might not otherwise be aware of, such as study skills, time management and stress reduction. NMC coach Erica Whiting (pictured above) was named a winner of the 2022 Ombudsman award at Michigan’s College Access Impact Awards. The award goes to someone who has a passion for college access and success, has persevered over challenges and made an impact in the lives of Michigan students.

Whiting’s AmeriCorps-funded position allowed NMC to hire her as the first full-time student success coach in December 2020, after beginning coaching as a pilot project in 2015. Pilot results showed coached students received passing grades more and failing grades less. They also had lower rates of withdrawing from classes, which is key to retention and completing a degree. Increasing the number of students using coach services is an objective in NMC Next, NMC’s strategic plan, slated for completion by 2025.

Results from Whiting’s assigned cohort of East Hall residents –first-year students who are mostly first generation, Pell grant recipients or minority students– showed that students benefit from coach communications, even if they never meet together.

“Consistent communication, even without reciprocation, allowed students to know who their person is on campus,” said Student Success Coordinator Sally Smarsty, who wrote the grant that brought Whiting to NMC through the Michigan College Access Network. “They know who to reach out to should they need something.”

Whiting spoke the students’ language, Smarsty said. Her texts or emails asking them to check in with her via an emoji, for instance, would garner 90 percent response rates.

“The students love her. She’s absolutely wonderful,” Smarsty said.

“Having my efforts recognized in this way is not only an incredible honor, but a reassurance that the work we do is meaningful,” Whiting said.

Whiting joined a team of a half-dozen part time coaches. The coaching team now numbers eight including a second full-time coach. There is one vacancy, for a Native American student cohort coach, and the department is also recruiting to replace Whiting, whose two-year Americorps term will be up at the end of the month. Smarsty is eager to fill both. A full-time person like Whiting, who has the opportunity to focus on coaching, also benefits the rest of the part-time staff.

“Having this person full time who can focus and be there consistently has been really helpful,” Smarsty said. “What (Whiting) has shown us, is that using that consistent communication, students know who their support is.

“That’s been really good for our team.”

Success story: Award-winning student success services grow at NMC

Nov 10, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

November 10, 2022

NMC’s first full-time student success coach won a statewide award for her work Wednesday, while the college continues to beef up its ranks so more students can benefit from a coach’s services as a campus point person, problem solver and resource.

Coaches function as an all-around go-to person for students, connecting them to campus services that they might not otherwise be aware of, such as study skills, time management and stress reduction. NMC coach Erica Whiting (pictured above) was named a winner of the 2022 Ombudsman award at Michigan’s College Access Impact Awards. The award goes to someone who has a passion for college access and success, has persevered over challenges and made an impact in the lives of Michigan students.

Whiting’s AmeriCorps-funded position allowed NMC to hire her as the first full-time student success coach in December 2020, after beginning coaching as a pilot project in 2015. Pilot results showed coached students received passing grades more and failing grades less. They also had lower rates of withdrawing from classes, which is key to retention and completing a degree. Increasing the number of students using coach services is an objective in NMC Next, NMC’s strategic plan, slated for completion by 2025.

Results from Whiting’s assigned cohort of East Hall residents –first-year students who are mostly first generation, Pell grant recipients or minority students– showed that students benefit from coach communications, even if they never meet together.

“Consistent communication, even without reciprocation, allowed students to know who their person is on campus,” said Student Success Coordinator Sally Smarsty, who wrote the grant that brought Whiting to NMC through the Michigan College Access Network. “They know who to reach out to should they need something.”

Whiting spoke the students’ language, Smarsty said. Her texts or emails asking them to check in with her via an emoji, for instance, would garner 90 percent response rates.

“The students love her. She’s absolutely wonderful,” Smarsty said.

“Having my efforts recognized in this way is not only an incredible honor, but a reassurance that the work we do is meaningful,” Whiting said.

Whiting joined a team of a half-dozen part time coaches. The coaching team now numbers eight including a second full-time coach. There is one vacancy, for a Native American student cohort coach, and the department is also recruiting to replace Whiting, whose two-year Americorps term will be up at the end of the month. Smarsty is eager to fill both. A full-time person like Whiting, who has the opportunity to focus on coaching, also benefits the rest of the part-time staff.

“Having this person full time who can focus and be there consistently has been really helpful,” Smarsty said. “What (Whiting) has shown us, is that using that consistent communication, students know who their support is.

“That’s been really good for our team.”

Veterans Day ceremonies

Nov 7, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College invites the campus and community to attend its annual Veterans Day ceremonies beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The ceremony will include:

• 8-9: a.m.- Free breakfast for NMC veterans in the Nelson Innovation Center
• 9:05- Faculty, staff, students and community members line sidewalks between Innovation Center and Tanis building for Walk of Honor
• 9:10 – Veterans Walk of Honor to flagpoles
• Welcome remarks
• Flag raising ceremony presented by the VFW, Post 2780 Honor Guard
  * Star Spangled Banner performed by the Traverse City Central Marching Band
  * Three Volleys/Taps and a rifle salute in honor of the fallen will be performed
• Remarks & closing comments from Major General Michael Lehnert, USMC (ret.).

The three-volley salute will commence shortly after the flag is raised, between 9 and 10 a.m. The Three-Volley Salute, accompanied by the playing of Taps, is performed in honor of veterans/soldiers who are no longer with us. This is an important ceremony for veterans as they honor all those who came before them, served alongside them, and gave their lives in the line of duty. These are blank rounds (gun powder in a copper casing) with no actual bullet being fired.

Serving those who have served is a year-round priority for NMC. About 5 percent of students are either veterans or active-duty military. NMC has many services specifically designed for veteran student success, including veteran-specific scholarships and opportunities to convert military service to academic credit. Find out more at nmc.edu/veterans.

Release date: November 7, 2022

For more information:

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

Public invited to 7th annual Walk for Health & Housing

Nov 4, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to join NMC students and Goodwill Northern Michigan on the 7th annual Walk for Health and Housing, a guided tour of downtown Traverse City from the perspective of people experiencing homelessness and the providers who serve them, departing from NMC’s Great Lakes campus parking lot at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The walk is a part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, happening Nov. 12-20, and brings together students and community partners to raise awareness about the increasing affordability crisis in Northwest Michigan. Lasting about two hours, the guided walk through downtown Traverse City illuminates the problems of food insecurity and homelessness. Along the route, participants will stop to hear stories from service providers about their efforts to mitigate these problems in region.

The walk is an example of Experiential Learning at NMC. EL actively engages the learner through relevant and ongoing experiences, critical problem solving and reflective practices. Community partners include the organization National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Goodwill NM, Northern Michigan Supportive Housing, Jubilee House, Central United Methodist Breakfast program, Food Rescue of Northern Michigan, Traverse City Police Department, Safe Harbor, and the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness.

NMC’s Great Lakes campus is located at 715 E. Front St., Traverse City.

Release date: November 4, 2022

For more information:

Brandon Everest
Faculty, Social Sciences Area
Director, Experiential Learning Institute
beverest@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1985

New Michigan Achievement scholarship now open

Nov 4, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northern Michigan 2023 high school graduates can lower their bill at NMC by thousands of dollars by applying for the newly-created Michigan Achievement Scholarship online.

NMC’s Office of Financial Aid estimates that up to 200 area high school graduates could qualify for Michigan Achievement, and NMC could award between $300,000–$400,000.

“We are thrilled to offer high school graduates this opportunity, on top of the more than $1 million in donor-created scholarships NMC already offers,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.

Created by bipartisan legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month, the Achievement Scholarship makes 2023 graduates eligible for annual scholarships at Michigan colleges and universities in amounts up to: 

• $2,750 at a community college (renewable for up to three years)
• 4,000 at a private college or university (renewable for up to five years)
• $5,500 at a public university (renewable for up to five years)

Savings is dependent upon demonstrated financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) Proportionate to actual tuition cost, students taking advantage of the scholarship to attend community colleges will receive the most value. At NMC, for instance, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship would more than cover half a year’s tuition for Grand Traverse County residents.

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is expected to cover 94 percent of students attending community college, 79 percent of students attending a private college or university, and 76 percent of students attending a public university.  

Besides making college more affordable for families, the scholarship was created to grow Michigan’s talent pool, and get the state closer to achieving its Sixty by 30 goal of 60% of adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. NMC also participates in the Michigan Reconnect scholarship, a state program that offers free in-district tuition (Grand Traverse County residents) to adults 25 and over who do not already have a college degree or certificate.

Release date: November 3, 2022

For more information:

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

New Michigan Achievement scholarship now open

Nov 3, 2022 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northern Michigan 2023 high school graduates can lower their bill at NMC by thousands of dollars by applying for the newly-created Michigan Achievement Scholarship online.

NMC’s Office of Financial Aid estimates that up to 200 area high school graduates could qualify for Michigan Achievement, and NMC could award between $300,000–$400,000.

“We are thrilled to offer high school graduates this opportunity, on top of the more than $1 million in donor-created scholarships NMC already offers,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.

Created by bipartisan legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month, the Achievement Scholarship makes 2023 graduates eligible for annual scholarships at Michigan colleges and universities in amounts up to: 

• $2,750 at a community college (renewable for up to three years)
• 4,000 at a private college or university (renewable for up to five years)
• $5,500 at a public university (renewable for up to five years)

Savings is dependent upon demonstrated financial need on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.) Proportionate to actual tuition cost, students taking advantage of the scholarship to attend community colleges will receive the most value. At NMC, for instance, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship would more than cover half a year’s tuition for Grand Traverse County residents.

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is expected to cover 94 percent of students attending community college, 79 percent of students attending a private college or university, and 76 percent of students attending a public university.  

Besides making college more affordable for families, the scholarship was created to grow Michigan’s talent pool, and get the state closer to achieving its Sixty by 30 goal of 60% of adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030. NMC also participates in the Michigan Reconnect scholarship, a state program that offers free in-district tuition (Grand Traverse County residents) to adults 25 and over who do not already have a college degree or certificate.

Release date: November 3, 2022

For more information:

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