NMC Intercom for December 23, 2011

Dec 23, 2011 | Intercom

Here are some highlights from the December 23, 2011 issue of the NMC Intercom.

The full  issue is linked below. You’ll need an NMC ID and password to download it.

During the holidays, consider introducing your visiting family and friends to the wonders inside the Dennos Museum Center (closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1), then don your warm apparel to stroll main campus to enjoy the array of outdoor sculptures.

THIS MONTH IN NMC HISTORY FOR DECEMBER

50 Years Ago:

•  Sunday December 3, 1961 was the date of the Dedication Ceremony for the Mark Osterlin Library. Bernard Rink, College Librarian, urged the public to “participate in the dedication of this new cultural asset.” (Right: photo of the architect handing over the library key to Les Biederman and Mr. Rink).

25 Years Ago:

•  The Welding Program began an “open enrollment” policy, enabling students to begin taking the course at a choice of three-week intervals throughout the year.
•  NMC banned smoking in buildings, with the exception of private offices and a designated smoking area in each building.
•  NMC closed for a half-day in remembrance of founder Les Biederman, who died on November 29, 1986.

10 Years Ago:

• In early December, there was no snow and temperatures rose to above 60 degrees, a near-record (See photo).
• White Pine Press ran an article quoting international students concerned that the post-9/11 heightened airport security might impact their getting back into the United States after semester break.

From the NMC Archives at the Osterlin Library

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the NMC Giving Tree program, which helped provide gifts for 49 students and their family members. 183 In all, we helped 49 families totaling 183 people, 139 of whom were children.

**WELLNESS, IT’S A CHOICE**

Wellness can be defined as an active process through which we become aware of and make choices toward a more successful existence. Wellness is a positive approach to living that emphasizes the whole person – the integration of the body, mind and spirit; and the appreciation that everything we do, think, feel and believe has an impact on our state of health.

As a part of embracing a culture of wellness at NMC, your Wellness Committee plans to provide weekly information and tips for healthy living – presented in a lively and engaging format. We’d like to start with a short YouTube presentation by Dr. Mike Evans. Called “23 1/2 Hours;” it addresses one lifestyle change that can enhance the quality of your life the most. Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/user/DocMikeEvans#p/a/u/0/aUaInS6HIGo

NMC INTERCOM – News and information for NMC faculty and staff – Friday, December 23, 2011

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NMC Intercom for December 16, 2011

Dec 16, 2011 | Intercom

Here are some highlights from the December 16, 2011 issue of the NMC Intercom.

The full  issue is linked below. You’ll need an NMC ID and password to download it.

The NMC Board of Trustees meets Monday, December 19, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the Oleson Center. The agenda is available online at: www.nmc.edu/about/board-of-trustees/agendas/2011/121911-regular.pdf

Gift Certificates for EES Classes

Give a gift that lasts with a gift certificate for an Extended Education class! Choose from cooking, photography, computers, dance, fitness, and much more. Browse the selections atwww.nmc.edu/ees. Call 995-1700 to purchase a gift certificate for a specific class or an amount ($25 or more) towards any class in the “Learn for Life” schedule. Employee tuition waivers apply.

ACTION PLAN IN PROCESS

Over the past five months, President’s Council, Planning & Budget Council and the Leadership Group with the help of the Office of Research, Planning & Effectiveness (ORPE), have been working hard to implement the work of the Alignment of Planning Action Project team. This work began in August 2011 with the Grasp the Situation work, moved into the development of Strategic Outcomes and Strategic Goals, and lead to eight Board approved Strategic Goals for FY’12 and FY’13 at the November Board meeting. We now have a Strategic Plan that moves us further along in our ability to take action on our Strategic Directions and Institutional Effectiveness Criteria.

On December 9, the Leadership Group engaged in a work session whereby we turned from strategic to operational planning. Department leads will be engaging their teams in the process of developing Operational Plan A3’s for 2012-13. These plans will be due January 30, 2012. Additional materials on the planning process, including templates and key strategy documents, are available on the new ORPE intranet site and can be accessed at: intranet.nmc.edu/depts/orpe/planning/index.html

We’ll be checking and adjusting the process as we go: If you have feedback or input at any time, please feel free to send your thoughts to Karen Ruedinger at kruedinger@nmc.edu.

ACCREDITATION VISIT UPDATE

In preparation for our January 25-27 visit by a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) review team, we were required to submit two pre-work documents titled the Federal Compliance Report and the Quality Program Summary. These were released on December 14. You can access the documents on the IR website located here: www.nmc.edu/ir/accreditation/index.html under the Check Up Visit by HLC portion of the table.

The public comment period continues to run through December 25, 2011. Additional information about the process for commenting about NMC directly to the HLC is available on the website located here: www.nmc.edu/news/ (see blue panel on the right).

NMC INTERCOM – News and information for NMC faculty and staff – Friday, December 16, 2011

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NMC Intercom for December 9, 2011

Dec 9, 2011 | Intercom

Here are some highlights from the December 9, 2011 issue of the NMC Intercom.

The full  issue is linked below. You’ll need an NMC ID and password to download it.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY: HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

Do you have a spare bedroom available? Would you like to share your culture and experiences with a student while learning about theirs? Become a host for an international student attending NMC! We have an immediate need for a host family for January for a great new aviation student from England. He is a male student who has already completed an honors degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire and is coming to NMC to earn his Aviation degree and get his pilot’s license. The student will have his own transportation, but would like to stay with a family during his time here. For more information please contact Lindsey Dickinson (ldickinson@nmc.edu or 5-1082).

ACCREDITATION VISIT UPDATE

As we learned at Mid-Year Opening Conference, the next step in our quality journey will be a check- up visit by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) on January 25-27, 2012. As part of that process, we are required to offer an opportunity for the community to provide comment about NMC directly to the HLC. Therefore, you might notice an ad that will run next week in the Traverse City Record- Eagle announcing this comment period. Additionally, there is a link on our NMC website www.nmc.edu/news where you and other members of the community are provided the details for sending comments directly to the HLC. Comments must be received by December 25, 2011.

The intent of the check-up visit is to provide constructive feedback on our institution, designed to help accelerate our continuous improvement journey. HLC’s motivation will be to help us improve. We are gearing up to take full advantage of their expertise and experience.

NMC INTERCOM – News and information for NMC faculty and staff – Friday, December 9, 2011
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NMC Intercom for December 2, 2011

Dec 2, 2011 | Intercom

Here are some highlights from the December 2, 2011 issue of the NMC Intercom.

The full  issue is linked below. You’ll need an NMC ID and password to download it.

ERIC DAIGH EXHIBITION OPENS SUNDAY, DEC. 4

NMC‟s Dennos Museum Center will host the exhibition Eric Daigh: Happiness is a Target, December 4, 2011 – April 1, 2012.

Portraitist Eric Daigh of Traverse City presents a collection of works spanning his career to date. Claiming to be a photographer sometimes and a painter at others, Daigh is probably best placed in the category of mosaic. His works often include an arrangement of small pixels, most notably pushpins that form a larger picture. Daigh won acclaim in 2009 by taking 3rd place in the inaugural ArtPrize competition, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then,
Daigh has gone on to group and solo shows nationwide, commissions, collections, larger works, etc. This show will features works from the very beginning of Daigh’s career in pushpins, as well as recent work involving sculptural installations and street art.

Daigh states of his own work, “In my work I aim to explore themes of individuality and representation. My subjects are imprisoned, diluted, marginalized. Their escape, however, is imminent. Whether a symptom of corporate and social homogenization, or the four base pairs of DNA, we are products of just a small handful of variables. In five colors of plastic, you can be reproduced. I enjoy very much making something digital with my hands. I enjoy making work that requires a physical proximity. I enjoy the fact that this work travels from the intangible, the binary, to the tactile, the singular. By invoking these mediums, I hope to generate a dialogue and sentiment that has something to do with the effort, repetition, focus, discipline, absurdity, and love that went into its making. Ultimately, then, I hope those themes come crashing through the human in front of you, and spill over onto those you’re standing next to, those you know and those you have yet to know. I hope you spend more time staring at people’s faces and that you feel something in the process.”

The Dennos will host a number of programs with Eric Daigh in January 2012. For more information on the programs, call Diana Bolander, Curator of Education and Interpretation at 995-1029 or check online at www.dennosmuseum.org.

Running out of original gift ideas for family and friends?

A donation to the college on behalf of a friend or family member is meaningful and unique.

The NMC Foundation will acknowledge your tax-deductible contribution and provide you with a holiday gift card that you can present to your friend or family member.

To give the gift of learning as a tribute, please include a note with the honoree‟s name and your completed Faculty/Staff payroll pledge form (available at s:\resource development\public\fac staff gift form.doc) and send to the NMC Foundation, Founders Hall.

Thank you to those faculty and staff who have given to date. We are 25% of the way toward our 100% participation goal! Pledge your gift before December 18 and be entered in the drawing to win a free lunch for two at Lobdell’s. For more information, call 995-1021.

NMC INTERCOM – News and information for NMC faculty and staff – Friday, December 2, 2011
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