Free screening of Poverty, Inc. at the Milliken Nov. 18

Nov 2, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

In recognition of International Education Week, NMC Office of International Services and Service Learning  and the Utopia Foundation are sponsoring a free screening of the award-winning film Poverty, Inc. on Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. in the Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center.

A special guest, Director Michael Matheson Miller, will be on hand for an audience Q& A following the screening.

Poverty, Inc. asks the question, who profits the most from fighting poverty around the globe, big business, or the average citizen? One of the most sought after films world wide and a top selection at this year’s TCFF, Poverty, INC will open your mind to what works and what often causes increased dependency under the banner of “helping the needy.”

Drawing from over 200 interviews filmed in 20 countries, Poverty, Inc. unearths an uncomfortable side of charity we can no longer ignore. From TOMs Shoes to international adoptions, from solar panels to U.S. agricultural subsidies, the film challenges each of us to ask the tough question: Could I be part of the problem?

“A powerful and uncompromising film that strikes at the core of the traditional understanding of development and international assistance.”

Learn more at www.povertyinc.org.

For more information, contact NMC International Services and Service Learning at  (231) 995-2524.

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Events

Nov 2, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

Join students from NMC’s communications, social work and sociology programs who are taking part in a series of events to increase hunger and homelessness awareness in November, as part of a service learning project. The events include:

NMCAA Sleep Out
Wednesday, November 4th

DTE Energy is hosting an all night sleep out to raise awareness about utility shutoffs.

Fundraising will take place to support NMCAA (Northern Michigan Community Action Agency) in helping those with a low income cover utility bills in our region.

Located at the Traverse City Civic Center. Set up begins at 4:30pm.

Duration: all night.

Walk for Health and Housing
Monday,November 16th

Join Ryan Hannon, Goodwill Street Outreach Coordinator, for  a guided tour of the challenges of those experiencing homelessness in Traverse City.

The walk will begin and end at the Maritime Academy on November 16th at 5:30pm.

Gain a new understanding of how difficult it can be to find a safe place to sleep without a home.

The SNAP Challenge
Food Research and Action Council(SNAP)

Can you survive one week on a food stamp budget? Learn how difficult it is to avoid hunger, afford nutritious foods, and stay healthy for millions of low-income Americans.

For more information, contact John Peterson at peters88@mail.nmc.edu.

Also check out our facebook page: www.facebook.com/nmcnhhaw

Download the flier to learn more »

Paying for college

Oct 31, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College financial aid staff will hold several information sessions around the region this fall to help high school juniors, seniors and their parents prepare for the cost of college.

“Paying for college: Grow your understanding of the options and opportunities” will be held on the following dates:

• November 12 – 6 p.m., Leelanau County Government Center meeting room, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay
• November 18 – 6 p.m., Kalkaska Kaliseum Multi-purpose Room (upstairs), 1900 Fairgrounds Rd., Kalkaska
• November 19 – 6 p.m., Benzie Central High School Auditorium, 9300 Homestead Rd. Benzonia
• December 1 – 7 p.m. Traverse City Central High School (for Central and West students only)
• December 3 – 6 p.m., Elk Rapids High School Auditorium, 308 Meguzee Point Rd., Elk Rapids
• December 17 – 6 p.m., Milliken Auditorium, NMC main campus, Traverse City

Release date: November 2, 2015

For more information:

NMC Financial Aid office
(231) 995-1035
sfs@nmc.edu

We Hit 100,000!

Oct 30, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

We hit 100,000 water bottle fills in the Biederman Building water fountain!

To celebrate, the NMC Bookstore is featuring 20% off water bottles through Friday, Nov. 6.

By using this machine NMC is contributing to saving the environment by:

• Reducing Air Pollution by 20%
• Reducing Water Pollution by 50%
• Protecting Wildlife from Marine Debris

Source: conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php

^{Helping Keep ICHIGAN PURE!}

Student Veterans of America Silent Auction Fundraiser

Oct 29, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

NMC’s Student Veterans of America group is holding a Veterans Day Silent Auction Fundraiser benefiting the NMC chapter Wednesday, November 11 at Right Brain Brewery. The auction runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bid on items  from these local businesses, and many more!

• Right Brain Brewery
• Cherry Republic
• State Theatre
• Yen Yoga & Fitness
• The Little Fleet
• Fit for You

Success Story: Textbook heroes save students six figures in a single semester

Oct 28, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

October 28, 2015

NMC students pocketed an extra $137,000 this semester thanks to instructors using free and low-cost textbooks.

Led by Osterlin Library director Tina Ulrich, NMC is piloting an experiment in Open Educational Resources this semester. Ten instructors were selected to receive a stipend of either $500 or an iPad — provided by an NMC Foundation innovation grant — as an incentive to redesign their courses using free textbooks and other resources, often found online.

In the process, Ulrich discovered other instructors already using OERs or low-cost textbooks. In total, NMC has 17 instructors she calls “textbook heroes” teaching 880 students in subjects ranging from math to English to history to social work.

The hero label is no exaggeration for students in Brian Sweeney’s physics class, who each saved $198 thanks to his choice of an OER.

“I wouldn’t have bought it,” physics student Eli Seal, 31, said of the $198 textbook.

Pre-med student Alyson Bunker of Gaylord calls textbook prices “ridiculous.” One online book cost her $110, she said.

“It’s extortion,” said student Tripp Coleman, 25, of Traverse City. He’s attending school on the GI Bill^® and has a book allowance of only $509 per semester. That’s barely two-thirds of the $750 NMC recommends students budget, which amounts to 15 percent of tuition costs, Ulrich said.

Students said prices for online books and book rentals are still inflated and rigged with late fees, and end-of-semester book buy backs don’t offer enough return. Many said they like the online nature of OERs like the one Sweeney chose, which can easily be searched for specific content and linked to supplementary material.

“My course is organized better than ever and the students like the extra videos and interactive supplements for the class,” said math instructor Deb Menchaca.

Students who prefer printed materials can download and print OER materials, Ulrich noted.

Besides the cost savings, instructors said going off-book allowed them to reinvigorate their courses with newer material.

“Our computers are outdated as soon as we buy them. Our textbooks are, too,” said social work instructor Lisa Blackford. Now she’s consciously choosing materials as varied as TED talks and podcasts and believes students are more engaged.

Sociology instructor Brandon Everest agreed. He uses a $30 textbook published through OpenStax College, a nonprofit initiative of Rice University. The book’s content is not as thorough as the one he previously used, but that creates an opportunity to customize the course.

“It is more skeletal, so we were allowed to hang the flesh wherever we saw fit,” he said.

In terms of student performance, most instructors said students did as well or better on tests as they did with traditional textbooks. Sweeney said every test and lab score is better this fall.

The pilot project also aligns NMC with national trends. Earlier this month two U.S. senators introduced the Affordable College Textbook Act, which would expand the use of OERs.

Learn more about the Open Textbooks movement »

Read more from NMC’s textbook heroes »

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.

Delegation travels to China to formalize NMC partnership with technical school

Oct 27, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Four Northwestern Michigan College leaders depart Sunday for a nine-day trip to China to formalize educational exchanges with a Chinese technical college.

NMC’s newest baccalaureate program major, Marine Technology, is the foundation for this partnership with Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute. Located in Kaifeng, China, YRCTI is a three-year technical school that provides academic training in support of large, river-based, hydroelectric facilities in China.

“The work done at YRCTI is a companion pathway to the training we provide at NMC. We are going there to formalize the mechanisms for exchange of students and faculty between NMC and YRCTI as well as to cooperatively build curriculum in support of bachelor’s degree completion for Chinese students who come to NMC to study,” said Hans VanSumeren, director of NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, which offers the Marine Technology major.

Also representing NMC on the trip are Marguerite Cotto, vice president for Lifelong and Professional Learning, Chris Weber, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Services, and Ed Bailey, director of the Technical Division. Weber, who speaks Mandarin, and Cotto previously visited YRCTI in 2014.

NMC officials will also investigate other programming collaborations, such as the new Engineering Technology degree. The group returns Nov. 10.

“NMC has made substantial investments in building our equipment, facilities and hiring the talent necessary to be a global provider of specialized training. We also see opportunity to engage NMC students in expertise developed at YRCTI,” Bailey said.

As part of its strategic goal to ensure that NMC learners are prepared for success in a global society and economy, NMC has been working to forge partnerships with multiple Chinese institutions since October 2012, when it hosted officials from six Chinese colleges as part of the American Association of Community Colleges Vocational Leadership Training.

Release date: October 26, 2015

For more information:

Hans VanSumeren, Director, Great Lakes Water Studies Institute
Northwestern Michigan College
hvansumeren@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1793

Student Life sponsors Sexual Assault Awareness Week Nov. 9-13

Oct 22, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Office of Student Life will host three free events Nov. 9-13 as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week.

The week aims to connect students to resources and help they or their peers may need in the face of sexual assault, as well as provide a safe place for students to learn about sexual assault and become empowered to take action against it.

Nov. 10: Day of Art, Awareness and Action – The Health and Sciences Building lobby will be set up with stations and spaces for students to bring awareness and education around campus sexual assault. In addition to an information booth on campus and community resources, there will be interactive activities including learning-based games and collaborative artworks for creative expression. 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Health & Science Building Lobby

Nov. 11: “The Hunting Ground” film screening – A documentary about sexual assault on U.S. campuses, institutional cover-ups and the brutal social toll on victims and their families. The film focuses on Andrea Pino and Annie E. Clark, two former University of North Carolina students who were raped while enrolled in school and led a campaign to file a Title IX complaint against UNC. Lady Gaga recorded “Til It Happens to You” for the film. Discussion and candlelight vigil to follow the film. 6 p.m., Scholars Hall Auditorium, Room 109. Watch trailer »

Nov. 12: “Climbing PoeTree” – Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman comprise the Climbing PoeTree duo. Their award-winning performance is composed of dual voice spoken word poetry, hip hop, and multimedia theater that dissolves apathy with hope, exposes injustice and helps heal inner trauma. 7 p.m., Hagerty Center

Release date: October 22, 2015

For more information:

Mara Penfil
Office of Student Life
mpenfil@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1118

Choral Invitational

Oct 21, 2015 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY —  More than 250 high school choir students will be at Northwestern Michigan College Thursday, October 29, participating in the fourth annual NMC Choral Invitational.

Nine choirs from area high schools including Benzie Central, Elk Rapids, Kingsley, Leland, Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s, Glen Lake, St. Francis, Gaylord, and Grayling will spend the day on campus. They will rehearse together, tour campus and attend performances of NMC faculty, music majors, and audio tech students. 

The day culminates in a free informal performance, known as an “informance,” open to the public at 6 p.m. in Milliken Auditorium. 

Release date: October 21, 2015

For more information:

Jeffrey Cobb, Director of Music Programs
Northwestern Michigan College
jecobb@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1338