Mar 18, 2025 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Good afternoon NMC community,
By now, many of you have likely heard about the significant reductions at the U.S. Department of Education, where nearly 1,300 employees — almost half the department — were affected by a workforce reduction announced last week. Since the news broke, we have been working to understand the full scope of these changes and what they mean for our students, faculty and staff.
Let me be clear: there are no immediate changes to federal student aid. The Department has confirmed that FAFSA processing, Pell Grants and student loan servicing remain fully operational. Our Financial Aid Office continues to monitor the situation, and if anything changes, students will be notified directly.
At NMC, we are committed to staying ahead of changes that may impact our students. Some federal offices responsible for program oversight and compliance are being restructured, and we are keeping a close eye on any potential long-term effects. Our priority remains the same: ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed.
We recognize that change — even at the federal level — can bring uncertainty. But as always, NMC will continue to adapt, innovate and put students first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Financial Aid team at SFS@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1035.
Thank you for being part of NMC. Together, we will navigate these changes with the same commitment to excellence and student success that has always defined our college.
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Mar 18, 2025 | Student News
Are you planning to live on campus in one of NMC’s dorms next year? If so, consider becoming a Resident Assistant!
Resident Assistants act as a liaison between other students living in the residence halls and the Residence Life Office. They are responsible for approximately 39-45 residents and works to create of a living/learning center community through the use of educational and social programs. In exchange for your service, your room and board (meal plan) will be waived.
To be considered for an RA position, students should:
- Apply online by April 8 at 4 p.m.
- On students.nmc.edu, go to the Careers section and select Jobs on Campus
- Find and click on the job posting titled Student – Resident Assistant Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
- Read the full job description and click Apply in the top righthand corner to submit your application
- Attend a job shadowing session
- April 10–12 at 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m. or 1 a.m.
- Meet in the lobby of East Hall or North Hall
- Attend RA group process
- Sunday, April 13 from 5-7 p.m.
- East Hall basement
- Interviews will be conducted during April 14-18.
For more information, contact Brooklynn Golnick at (231) 995-1411, Corbin Thompson at (231) 995-1408 or Marcus Bennett at (231) 995-1401.
All Resident Assistants must be enrolled half time, have completed one semester of college (12 NMC credits) and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible.
Mar 17, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC’s Library will be open for special hours during March 23-30.
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- Sunday, March 23 CLOSED
- Monday, March 24 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 25 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thursday, March 27 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Friday, March 28 CLOSED
- Saturday, March 29 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 30 CLOSED
Normal operating hours will resume on Monday, March 31.
Mar 13, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (TJNIC) will close at 7 p.m. each evening on Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 30. Normal operating hours will resume on Monday, March 31.
If you need access after hours, call Campus Security at (231) 995-1111.
Mar 12, 2025 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Dear NMC faculty, staff and students,
Support a great cause while having fun at this year’s Big Little Hero Race, an experiential learning project led by students in NMC’s BUS 231 class. This event helps students develop real-world professional communication skills while raising funds for scholarships that allow children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to attend NMC’s College for Kids.
10th Annual Big Little Hero Race Saturday, April 19
9:00 AM – Kickoff @ Northwestern Michigan College
FREE Costumed Fun Run (featuring Captain Hawk Owl!)
5K & 10K Run/Walk – Prizes for best costume and speed
Carnival Games
Hero Egg Hunt (1,000 eggs!)
Award Ceremony
Special Discounts for Educators & Students
This year’s Local Hero Award will honor educators in our community! Teachers and students can register for just $15 using the following discount codes at checkout:
- 5K Student: 5kstudent25
- 10K Student: 10kstudent25
- 5K Teacher: 5kteach25
- 10K Teacher: 10kteach25
Click here to register
Even if you can’t attend, you can still support the cause by entering our prize giveaway for a chance to win: A two-night stay at the Grand Hotel, breakfast for two and two rounds of golf at The Jewel!
To enter:
- Visit Give: NMC Foundation at Northwestern Michigan College.
- Select “designate my gift to other” and enter your donation amount ($20 minimum).
- Type “Big Little Hero Race” in the designation field.
One entry per person. The drawing will take place after the race.
Grab your capes, have fun, and make a difference in a child’s life. I am signed up, and looking forward to the event. I hope to see you there!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Mar 11, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC’s Fitness Center will be open for special hours during March 21-30.
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- Friday, March 21 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, March 22 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 23 CLOSED
- Monday, March 24 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 25 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday, March 27 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, March 28 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, March 29 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 30 CLOSED
Open recreation in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building will be closed during this time. Regular hours will resume March 31.
For more information contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Mar 10, 2025 | Student News
The NMC Conservatives student group is hosting two upcoming events that students are invited to attend.
On Friday, March 14, a group meeting and a game night will be held in room 104/105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Come for pizza, games and casual discussion. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and the game night begins at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 18, a screening of Sound Of Freedom, a human trafficking awareness movie, will be shown at the Dennos Museum Center. Bring your own snacks, or share ours! Doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited. Sign up to reserve your spot.
Mar 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and more, browse our full collection of Library of Things in the online catalog.
Games & Puzzles
Game – Azul
In the game Azul, players take turns drafting colored tiles from suppliers to their player board. Later in the round, players score points based on how they’ve placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored for specific patterns and completing sets; wasted supplies harm the player’s score. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Game – Monikers
Monikers is a party game based on the public domain game Celebrities, where players take turns attempting to get their teammates to guess names by describing or imitating well-known people. In the first round, clue givers can say anything they want, except for the name itself. For the second round, clue givers can only say one word. And in the final round, clue givers can’t say anything at all: they can only use gestures and charades.
Game – Cascadia
Cascadia is a puzzly tile-laying and token-drafting game featuring the habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Players compete to create the most harmonious ecosystem in Cascadia. Turns are simple – select a tile/token set and place each into your expanding ecosystem. Earn points by fulfilling wildlife goals, and creating the largest habitat corridors.
Game – Fiasco
A game about powerful ambition and poor impulse control, Fiasco is an award-winning, GM-less game for 3-5 players, designed to be played in a few hours with six-sided dice and no preparation. During a game you engineer and play out stupid, disastrous situations, usually at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust. It’s like making your own Coen brothers movie, in about the same amount of time it’d take to watch one!
Game – Tabletop shuffleboard and curling
Bring the shuffleboard and curling courts to the tabletop with this 2-in-1 game design, where you can effortlessly transition from shuffleboard to curling by just flipping the gameboard! The full set includes 8 mini rollers, including 4 red and 4 blue pieces, for both games. The rollers easily glide across the surface just like real shuffleboard and curling courts!
Puzzle – Women in art
This jigsaw puzzle features a diverse array of fifteen accomplished artists, from well-known figures such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe to lesser-known trailblazers including nineteenth-century African American sculptor Mary Edmonia Lewis and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo.
Instruments & Music
Mustang micro guitar headphone amp
Mustang Micro is a complete personal guitar amplifier featuring a wide selection of tones from the wildly popular Mustang series amps. Plug Mustang Micro directly into your guitar, connect a pair of headphones, and choose your amp and effects. This all-in-one personal headphone amplifier with onboard DSP has 12 amp models from Mustang GTX for a wide range of clean and dirty tones. It also offers 13 effect models with parameter modify control. It’s ideal for any player from beginner to pro, making it quick and easy to get great tones when jamming silently at home or on the go. And you can play along to your favorite tracks or instructional videos using the built-in Bluetooth audio connection.
Portable Bluetooth speaker
The JBL GO 3 is a full-featured IP67 waterproof and dustproof wireless Bluetooth speaker with a shockproof Megen case. JBL Pro Sound delivers surprisingly big audio and punchy bass from GO 3’s ultra-compact size, with up to 5 hours of playtime on a single charge.
Art prints
Storytelling by Trevor Grabill
“I grew up in central Michigan, and have spent my life in small cities and villages around the great lakes. My work draws on these places, which represent a combination of incredible natural beauty, rust belt decay, and rural midwestern neglect. These are places (or their inhabitants) that are readily passed by, rendered neutral by force of habit. My work highlights the essential strangeness, both beautiful and terrible, of the everyday. Our world is shaped by very specific forces (often capitalism or resistance to capitalism) and, as such, absolutely nothing is inevitable.”
Tiguaq (Adopted) by Ninginkulu Teevee
Born May 1963, Ninginkulu is one of the most versatile and intelligent graphic artists to emerge from the Kinngait Studios. Since her first prints appeared in the collection in 2004, she has demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of Inuit legends and a fine sense of design and composition. Ninginkulu has had numerous solo shows of her bold and resplendent drawings and some of her work has been featured in exhibitions in major public galleries and museums.
Summaries and images adapted from publishers.
Mar 5, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
March 5, 2025
As college choice season looms and initial financial aid offers arrive, NMC has an important message for area families: the Michigan Community College Guarantee could cover up to $11,000 for tuition and fees — but they might not see it on those initial offer letters.
NMC Financial Aid Director Linda Berlin said the CCG, which offers free in-district tuition and fees for high school graduates, can’t be awarded until students register for classes. At NMC, that won’t start until new student orientation in April. Some won’t register until May or June.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the four-year counterpart to the CCG, will appear on financial aid offers arriving now. But the CCG covers more of the cost. Berlin said 94% of the 552 2024-25 recipients at NMC had their costs covered completely with combined grants and scholarships, receiving $1.7 million in CCG aid.
Garnet Mullet, a 2024 St. Francis High School graduate, pictured right, and Ty Atwood, a 2024 Traverse City West High School graduate, are two of them.
“There’s so much I’ve gotten from the Michigan Community College Guarantee. Not only am I given an opportunity to get started on a degree for free, but also, through NMC specifically, I can transfer out and pursue my goal of becoming a pharmacist,” Atwood said.
He hopes to earn his associate degree by 2026 and then transfer to Ferris State University’s pharmacy school.
St. Francis’ Mullet had originally committed to an out-of-state school to play volleyball. The tuition bill was an unpleasant surprise.
“It ended up being a lot higher than we originally thought,” said Mullet. “It was definitely a big hit to us.”
Then, she was injured. She returned to Traverse City for rehab and decided she didn’t want to go back to the New York university, where she had direct entry into a physician assistant master’s degree program. Instead, she met with an NMC advisor and found out about the CCG.
“That was pretty amazing, to come back and not have to worry about the cost of school,” said Mullet, who discovered she liked NMC better. She especially enjoys studying in the lower level of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.
“The community is a thousand times better,” she said. “I came here and I felt like I belonged. The community really just embraced me.”
In order to play volleyball again, Mullet will transfer to Grand Rapids Community College in the fall. But she could be back again. Two weeks ago she attended the Physician Assistant preview day held by Grand Valley State University at the University Center.
“I was really impressed with that,” said Mullet, who works at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center. She also plans to attend tomorrow’s Career Fair.
“The community here is really strong, with all the opportunities outside academics,” she said.
Both Atwood and Mullet are in-district students, living in Grand Traverse County. For out-of-district students, Pell grants, other state aid and NMC scholarships typically cover the higher tuition rate, Berlin said.
The CCG was introduced in July 2024, when many students had already made college plans. This year, Berlin expects “much greater participation.” She’s thrilled to be able to make the awards, pointing out that increased funding correlates with student success.
“Overall, NMC student completion rates are increasing each year, while financial aid has increased each of the past couple of years. In addition, NMC has received grants and substantially increased student success support,” she said.
Learn more about the Community College Guarantee here.
Learn about Michigan Reconnect, which offers free tuition and fees to in-district students 25 and up who don’t already have a degree.
Feb 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Get ready for spring with a new NMC t-shirt! All t-shirts at the bookstore are $5 off during March 3–14.
Feb 26, 2025 | Student News
Congratulations to the graduates of 2025! Caps and gowns are now available at the NMC Bookstore (located in the Health & Science building) or shop online at bookstore.nmc.edu.
Feb 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC will host two mobile food pantries during the month of March on Monday, March 3 and Monday, March 17. The distributions will occur from 3-5 p.m. in the Maple Lot at the Front Street campus.
This program is specifically designed to support NMC students (and their households) by supplementing their diets with fresh, healthy produce while helping to free up financial resources to cover other household expenses. Even if you’ve never come out before, check out our pantry and see how we can help support you!
All food is distributed free of charge, the only paperwork is just a sign in sheet in case of recall. There are no financial requirements or means tests. Our recent distributions have included menu items such as granola bars, pasta, oranges, grapefruit, carrots, and instant mashed potatoes. Each household should expect to receive at least 40 lbs of fresh foods and some shelf-stable products.
Walk-up and drive-thru options are both available. Come over and drive-thru or bring a backpack or reusable bag and take what you and your household can use in the next 7-10 days.
These pantries are made possible in partnership with Feeding America.
Feb 25, 2025 | Student News
NMC will be implementing multi-factor authentication for students over the next several weeks (check your email for more information).
Please update your cell phone number in the Personal Information tab in Self-Service so that you can receive a text message to verify your access when you log in to NMC’s protected resources.
Students should update their cell phone number in Self-Service by March 5. Those who do not do so risk being locked out of their account once multi-factor authentication is enabled. For more information, visit https://www.nmc.edu/departments/help-desk/getting-started-mfa.html.
Feb 19, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
FEBRUARY 19, 2025
At Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant, NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute has shortened the concept of farm to table to hallway to table.
The six hydroponic tower gardens that greet guests in the second floor hall on NMC’s Great Lakes campus have 1) saved money, 2) provided fresher produce, 3) improved sustainability practices, 4) offered an experiential learning opportunity and 5) benefited recruitment since they were installed in January 2024 through a donation.
The six-foot-tall towers, from which lettuce, herbs and edible flowers sprout under a purple glow, were installed as a year-round way to supply herbs and greens for use in Lobdell’s and improve sustainability practices.
“”Our instruction emphasizes the importance of minimizing food waste,” said Chef Les Eckert, GLCI director. As part of the culinary program’s recent reimagination, GLCI integrated additional principles of environmental stewardship. The Tower Gardens represent a significant focus area, reflecting current trends and challenges within the industry.
“How can we reduce our waste in general? What if we could literally start growing our more expensive items that have a short shelf life?” said Eckert.
Items like basil, used both fresh and to make popular sauces like pesto, which students make and freeze to use in the restaurant.
“We started doing the math, and came up with a rough estimate that we saved about $1,000,” on basil alone, Eckert said. At about $1,000 each, one tower — which was purchased with donated dollars – has already paid for itself.
Each tower has a 13-gallon reservoir, an automated water pump and lighting system.
“They simulate a long summer day,” Eckert said.
Students enrolled in GLCI lab courses make use of the produce cultivated in the Tower Gardens, which involves learning the correct techniques for trimming, snipping, and harvesting lettuce greens, herbs, and edible flowers. A committed team of students, the “Tower Garden Care Team” is responsible for the maintenance of the tower gardens, which includes tasks such as replenishing the water reservoirs, adjusting pH levels and lighting, as well as seeding, trimming, and harvesting the plants for use in the lab classes throughout the week.
The ultimate unexpected success of the towers lies in their ability to attract prospective students who visit GLCI.
“When the admissions team conducts their tours, it becomes a significant focal point at the entrance into the Institute,” Eckert said
Eventually, Eckert would like to have more towers to further reduce GLCI’s carbon footprint as well as to supply other campus food operations, like the Hagerty Center and Hawk Owl Cafe. For the short term, however, she just wants to get better
“This second year is taking what we learned,” she said. “What did we do right, and improving on our yields and the efficiencies the towers can bring.
“I see it as a great part of the curriculum.”
Feb 17, 2025 | Student News
Pre-nursing students are invited to attend one of the upcoming program informational sessions. Representatives from Admissions will discuss the steps to getting accepted into NMC’s Nursing program. Topics include how to apply to the program, how to register for the HESI exam as well as what courses are included in the program.
Monday, March 10
12:30 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107, Front Street Campus.
Tuesday, March 11
4 p.m.
Virtual
Join meeting
For more information, please contact Melanie Griffith at mgriffith@nmc.edu.
Feb 17, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
JAZZ 4 ALL! The Jeff Haas Trio featuring Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive
February 27, 6 p.m., The Alluvion, 414 E Eighth St., Traverse City
NMC Jazz Big Band with the Jeff Haas Trio, Josh Wagner – Director
Honor cover at the door.
Read more
NMC Chamber Singers – “Music of Solace and Strength” Directed by Jeff Cobb
February 28, 7:30 p.m., The Alluvion, 414 E Eighth St., Traverse City
NMC Chamber Singers, Jeffrey Cobb – Director
Join the NMC Chamber Singers as they share a wonderful evening of choral music.
Purchase tickets
Feb 17, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
If you witness a safety or security concern, NMC wants to hear from you. Call Campus Safety and Security at (231) 995-1111 or reach out to our anonymous tip line at (231)995-1116. nmc.edu/safety
Feb 15, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
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