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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Feb 14, 2025 | Student News
To prepare for the Career & Majors Fair on March 6, NMC students are encouraged to attend the upcoming prep workshops and put your best foot forward for the event! Each workshop will include lunch or dinner, so please RSVP where applicable.
What’s Your Type?: A Skills Workshop For Undecided Students
Thursday, Feb. 27
12 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 123
Identify your personality type to help explore soft skills & career paths that may be a good fit for you. Students are expected to complete a Myers Briggs assessment before the event. Lunch provided. RSVP required.
Resume & Branding Workshop
Monday, March 3
1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 123
NMC’s Employment Readiness Specialist, Lisa Baldyga, will help students update resumes and gain unique ideas for being a memorable candidate with employers. Lunch provided. RSVP & current resume submission recommended.
Speed Prepping Workshop
Tuesday, March 4
5:30 p.m.
Osterlin Building
This fast-paced workshop will help students gain tips for success from experts, covering everything from how to dress, to being confident at the fair, to how to follow up with employers after the fair. Food & prizes!
Feb 12, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Mark your calendar!
- Wednesday, March 12, Noon–1:30 p.m., Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center 106/107
The next pitch date is just around the corner and the OOPs team is looking for pitches from faculty, staff, and students that are focused on educational initiatives, including new programs, increasing enrollment in existing programs, accelerating college strategies, and implementing the campus master plan.
Pitches are open to NMC students, faculty and staff, so if you have a great idea or project that needs resources to reach its full potential, the Office of Possibilities wants to hear from you! Fill out this application to connect with an OOPs team member who will assist in planning your pitch. If you have any questions about the application or the process, please email oops@nmc.edu and someone will get back to you promptly. Meeting with an OOPs team member is required before entering a pitch so please plan accordingly.
The Office of Possibilities is grateful for the generous support from the NMC Foundation that provides funding for innovative projects across campus!
The OOPs team looks forward to seeing you there!
Feb 11, 2025 | Student News
NMC’s Ski & Snowboard Club will hold two meetings from 4–7 p.m. on February 13 and February 27 in room 104/105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Attendees can bring their skis and snowboards to get waxed while learning how to properly maintain their equipment.
Waxing fees are $5 for students and employees; $10 for the general public.
Both meetings will be held the day before the group’s trips to Boyne Mountain on February 14 and February 28.
For more information, contact Dylan Raser at raserd@mail.nmc.edu.
Feb 11, 2025 | Student News
NMC’s Ski & Snowboard Club is planning two trips to Boyne Mountain on February 14 and February 28.
The group will meet at the east entrance of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center at 3:45 p.m. Attendees will depart from NMC’s campus at 4 p.m. and will return to Traverse City at midnight. Everyone who joins is responsible for purchasing their lift ticket, which costs around $45-$60 (cheaper if purchased in advance). Drivers will get $25 for fuel if they would like to carpool others.
This event is valid for all season pass holders as well as those who purchase open-to-close and night lift tickets.
For more information, contact Dylan Raser at raserd@mail.nmc.edu.
Feb 7, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Are you interested in finding out more about GVSU’s Physician Assistant program? Come to the PA program preview event in Traverse City on Friday, February 21, from 11a.m.-1 p.m.. During the preview day, you can meet with the PA program director, the chair of admissions for the PA program, the College of Health Professions Student Service office representative, and current GVSU PA students. GVSU will answer any of your admission and/or program-related questions and provide a tour of the facilities used by the PA program. This event is open to anyone interested in the PA program.
Please RSVP for this event at: gvsu.edu/traverse/pa
Feb 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The NMC Music Appreciation and Creation (MAC) student group will hold a spring benefit concert from 6-10 p.m. Friday, February 28 at the Dennos Museum. Admission will be by donation, with a suggested amount of $10.
Previously known as the Audio Tech student group, MAC will use all earnings from the show to fund their annual studio tour field trip this spring. The concert will also provide Audio Tech students with practical experience setting up, staging, and running sound during a live music event.
The concert will feature two student acts: One Cent Mafia, a newl- formed rap collective, and Closed for the Season, a budding rock and metal band.
With this event, MAC hopes to bring attention to alternative music scenes that are often overlooked in the Traverse City area, such as punk rock, hip hop, and rap, as well as create new experiential learning opportunities for Audio Tech students.
Feb 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Wandering the world on a walkabout or exploring the unreal, let us journey through your memories, reveries, and aspirations. Traverse outside Traverse City this spring, sharing snapshots, journaling memories, painting picturesque vistas, and scrapbooking souvenirs. Or is the outside not your thing? Has it been awhile since you touched grass? Leeroy Jenkins requests to join your party in your fictional, fantastical worlds. NMC students, faculty, staff, and NMC community-affiliated members may send creative submissions in all forms by March 15.
Email digital works to nmcmag@mail.nmc.edu. Hard copies can be delivered to Fine Arts (attn: Caroline Schaefer-Hills) or Scholars Hall 214 (attn: Tricia Lincoln).
Fiction/Nonfiction: 1500 word limit
Poetry/Lyrics: 30 line limit
Comics: 30 panels/4 pages limit
Visit nmc.edu/nmcmagazine for more information and to complete a submission form for each entry.
Feb 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The Dennos will be offering two design workshops in connection to our exhibition, “The Art of Regeneration” from Central Michigan University. Both workshops are set for Feb. 22 and intended for high school juniors and seniors up to NMC students. Students get a discounted rate of $10 to cover workshop materials.
Fashion Creations: Designing Your Own Modular Cushions!
Saturday, February 22nd | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
In this dynamic workshop where STEAM principles come to life, participants will explore the artistic modular designs from “The Art of Regeneration” exhibition on view at the museum. Get inspired by science, and blend creativity with functionality to create your own unique cushion designs. You’ll learn how to regenerate ideas into stylish, customizable pieces using sustainable materials and innovative techniques. Led by Professors Dr. Su Kyoung An and Dr. Pimpawan Kumphai from the Fashion, Interior Design, & Merchandising Department at Central Michigan University.
Interior Innovation: Create an Infinity Light Fixture and Explore Material Choices for a Virtual Home
Saturday, February 22nd | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
This hands-on interior design workshop is inspired by the axolotl salamander’s incredible regenerative abilities! You’ll create an infinity mirror light fixture that symbolizes renewal, and explore how light, depth, and innovative materials can transform a space. Then, experiment with patterns and textures to design a virtual home, learning how material choices shape the atmosphere and create harmony in interior design. Led by Professor Julie Qun Zuo from the Fashion, Interior Design, & Merchandising Department at Central Michigan University and her student instructors Tyler Cook, Mia Pringle, and Coleton Taylor.
