Cyber Minute: Skip the Public USB Charging Station
Plugging your phone into a public USB port in an airport or student lounge can expose your data to a technique called juice jacking. Use your own wall adapter or a $5 Data Blocker and you’re safe.
Join us tomorrow for October Conference
NMC’s October Conference, Lasting Legacy: Bold Tomorrow — Thriving Together in a Changing World, takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13! Join us starting at 8 a.m. at the Dennos Museum Center for coffee and donuts before the morning kickoff in the Milliken Auditorium, followed by a full day of insightful breakout sessions, a keynote address from Dr. Rebecca Pope-Ruark on reframing burnout, lunch and afternoon refreshments at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Please review the schedule and session summary guide before arriving. If you have any last-minute questions, reach out to Lori Hodek at lhodek@nmc.edu or Janet Lively at jlively@nmc.edu. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Rogers Observatory celebrates 45 years, college’s 75th
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Rogers Observatory will hold a special public viewing night in honor of its 45th anniversary and the college’s 75th from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.
The observatory dome will be open and telescopes available for public viewing. Refreshments will also be available.
Located at 1753 Birmley Road, Rogers Observatory opened in 1981. It was founded and constructed completely from public donations, the result of a tireless effort by instructor the late Joseph H. Rogers to build a permanent home for what had been NMC’s “portable” telescope. Two local property owners each donate 2.5 acres for the Observatory on land with a 250’ elevation above the surrounding property. Some forty-plus businesses and 106 individuals contributed money, materials and labor to construct the observatory.
More than 100,000 community members have visited for regular public viewing nights as well as for special celestial events like comets Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in 1996. The observatory hosted its largest crowds in August 2003, when Mars made its closest approach to Earth in more than 50,000 years.
Release date: OCTOBER 10, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationBoard of Trustees Audit and Policy Committees to meet Oct. 14 and 16
TRAVERSE CITY — Two committees of Northwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees are scheduled to meet at the President’s Office Conference Room in the Tanis Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City, Michigan.
- Audit Committee, Wednesday, October 14, 10 a.m.
- Policy Committee, Friday, October 16, 9:30 a.m.
The official meeting notices are available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Release date: October 9, 2026
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationNMC Magazine seeks submissions for Xeno
Submissions are open for the fall 2026 issue of NMC Magazine. The theme of this issue is Xeno. We want poems, stories, essays, graphic stories & art inspired by either definition of xeno:
- xeno (noun). The smallest measurable unit of human connection, typically exchanged between passing strangers–a flirtatious glance, a sympathetic nod, a shared laugh about some odd coincidence–random and fleeting shared moments that contain powerful emotional nutrients that can alleviate loneliness. – from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
- xeno (adj.). Strange, foreign; (noun) a guest, stranger, outsider, guest-friend, or one entitled to hospitality. (xenia).
NMC students, employees and alumni can enter their submissions thru Sunday, October 25. Visit nmc.edu/nmcmagazine for more information. Please complete a submission form for each entry.
Kudos!
Kudos to Georgenia Hromada, Augusta Kummer, Amy Burns Bailey, Shelly VanderMeulen, Jeff Morse, Uriah Petersen, Ryan Deering, Wayne Moody and Tracy Welch! Thank you to everyone who helped make Building Tomorrow 2026 a success. Special thanks to our staff and faculty for making this day run smoothly!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Welcome our newest hires!
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Darcee Kerneghan, student employee – Biology Laboratory Assistant
- Vivian Little, supplemental employee – Food Service, Front of House
- Mark Mellor, student employee – Student Life Office Assistant
- Courtney Fouch, supplemental employee – Food Service, Front of House
- Ainsley Chellis, supplemental employee – Food Service, Front of House
- Caleb Gurtowsky, student employee – Parsons-Stulen Welcome Desk
- Kassy Robbe, student employee – Lobdell’s Purchasing & Receiving Assistant
- Xander VerHelst, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Kevin Gramajo, student employee – Lobdell’s Purchasing & Receiving Assistant
New books for October 2026
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Success Story: Employers, students both see AI as critical to careers
October 7, 2026
Responding to demand from employers, students and faculty, NMC launched its first class in artificial intelligence this semester – and it proved so popular a second section was added.
Instructor Stewart Jack, who designed NMC’s Introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence course, characterized the demand as a “clamor” that had been building since ChatGPT was released. That’s considered the moment when AI moved into the mainstream.
This fall, about 50 students from multiple academic disciplines, not just IT, are enrolled across the two sections. Jack, pictured above, doesn’t use a textbook in the all-online class. Rather, students from programs as varied as marine technology, health care, business and journalism learn about AI from AI, feeding prompts into AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Every week there’s a discussion about how to apply AI in their various fields.
Through this interactive, hands-on trial and error process, students learn how AI works and when and where it’s appropriate to use. It’s experiential in the same way that many other NMC classes are. Jack calls it a “learning adventure.”
“Instead of pretending (AI) doesn’t exist, and penalizing students, we have to find a way to teach students to incorporate it into their workflow,” said Jack, who’s taught at NMC since 2018. That approach is also part of NMC’s strategic plan, which calls for strengthening student outcomes, institutional performance and workforce readiness by embedding responsible and effective use of AI across teaching, learning and operations
As AI use becomes more widespread, understanding how it works is critical, Jack said. For instance, AI will make up an answer rather than tell a user it doesn’t know something. That vulnerability illuminates the importance of human review, especially when important decisions – like patient diagnosis – are at stake.
Ethical use of AI, AI bias, legal and intellectual property considerations are woven into the course, after which students can earn Certiport’s Generative AI Foundations certification, a national credential that adds value to their transcript.
Jack expects the class to be offered again in the spring semester. NMC formally adopted a policy on generative AI in August 2025, and has established an AI workgroup to keep abreast of the technology as it evolves. AI navigators act as liaisons between the workgroup and each academic area and department. Navigators are dedicated to establishing professional norms and practices that safeguard institutional data and students’ critical-thinking skills.
Read more about AI at NMC.
Cyber Minute: Your Digital Footprint is Bigger Than You Think
Posting your workspace setup, class schedule, or NMCID on social media gives scammers real ammunition for targeted attacks. Keep that kind of detail off public accounts.
Data Wranglers – October 2026
Data Wranglers
Insights. Impact. Student Success.
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🏛️ ORPE ON CAMPUS
Bounce Back Night: Finish Strong
Students in select high-DFW courses can connect with instructors, success coaches, and tutors before small academic challenges become difficult to recover from.
Wednesday, October 14 | 3–5 p.m.
TJNIC, outside Rooms 106–107
Quiet workspaces available in Rooms 104–105.- Meet with instructors
- Catch up on assignments
- Connect with tutoring and coaching
- Make a plan for the rest of the semester
Small course corrections can make a big difference.
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📣 CAMPUS POLL
What helps students succeed in college math?
Recent analysis found that approximately 60% of students entering MTH 121 with a high school GPA of 3.30–3.39 earned a C or better. The success rate increased to approximately 82% for students with GPAs of 3.50 to 3.59.
Which factor should carry the most weight when determining math placement?
- High school GPA
- Placement-test results
- Previous math performance
- Multiple measures used together
Take the Data Wranglers Poll
Your feedback can help inform campus conversations about placement and student support
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🤖 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Who benefits from community college bachelor’s degrees?
A 2026 University of Washington policy brief examined the continued growth of community college bachelor’s degree programs.
What researchers found
✅ 24 states authorized community colleges to award bachelor’s degrees as of December 31, 2025
✅ 214 community colleges offered at least one bachelor’s program
✅ Approximately 70% of graduates were age 25 or older
✅ Average annual tuition and fees were about $5,417, compared with $10,022 at public four-year universities
✅ Programs were commonly tied to documented workforce needsFor NMC, the findings support evaluating bachelor’s programs through access, affordability, workforce demand, completion, employment, earnings, and long-term viability.
Source: Meza, E. A. (2026). The basics: Key community college bachelor’s degree facts, figures, and the national landscape.
👥 QUESTION FOR CAMPUS
How can NMC’s bachelor’s programs expand access while continuing to meet regional workforce needs?
‘Bring Your Own’ Book Club at the NMC Library
All of the fun and connection of a book club with none of the pressure to finish the same book at the same time. No assigned reading! No stress!
The NMC Library invites you to come share your latest read, your favorite read or your current read! You’re also more than welcome to just to listen and hear recommendations from other readers.
The group will meet at 12 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Library Fireplace Room. The next meetup will be held on Oct. 20.
Since the meetings are during lunchtime, you’re encouraged to bring your lunch. Tea will be provided!
Student Health Services walk-in flu clinics
Flu season is on the horizon and Student Health Services will host three more flu clinics this fall.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
1–2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20
10–11 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
2–3 p.m.
Flu shots cost $15 for students and $20 for employees without NMC insurance.
For those who are unable to stop by during one of the times listed above call (231) 995-1255 to schedule an appointment.
Student Health Services is located in room 106 of the Les Biederman Building on NMC’s Front Street campus.
Media mentions for October 5, 2026
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Freshwater Research & Innovation Center ‘comes to life’
Record-Eagle, Oct. 3
(more…)
Gas pipeline work expected to produce odor this week
DTE Energy is making natural gas pipeline upgrades near NMC’s Front Street campus to keep the community’s service safe and reliable. As part of this work, crews are scheduled to conduct a controlled gas flare on Tuesday, Oct. 6, beginning around 8:30 a.m. and lasting until approximately 3 p.m.
During this routine process, odorant will be injected into the new gas main near Eighth Street and Hastings Street, several blocks south of Front Street campus. Crews will then conduct a controlled flare operation in the northwest corner of the Traverse City Central High School parking lot, near Eastern Avenue and Milliken Street, to the northwest of NMC. The flare may be visible to nearby residents and businesses and may be accompanied by a slight rotten egg odor and low roaring sound. This is a routine procedure, and natural gas service will not be interrupted. Traffic control will be in place near the two main work areas, but no road closures or detours are expected.
The odorant will remain in the pipe for about one week, with crews expected to purge the remaining gas/odorant from the line on or around Tuesday, Oct. 13, using a second, shorter flare operation. If you have general or non-emergency questions about the work, call (616) 632-2620, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As always, if you believe you detect a natural gas leak at your property, leave the area immediately, call 911, then call DTE’s dedicated natural gas leak hotline at (800) 947-5000.
Reconnect and recharge: October Conference is next Tuesday, Oct 13!
Join us on Tuesday, October 13 for this year’s October Conference—Lasting Legacy, Bold Tomorrow: Thriving Together in a Changing World. This day is designed to offer you actionable insights, honest conversations and practical tools you can directly apply to your work.
NMC faculty and staff along with resident experts will lead an impressive variety of sessions covering everything from practical classroom and office strategies for AI, to human-centered approaches for fostering campus belonging, connection and care.
Reframing Burnout in Academia
We are excited to welcome Dr. Rebecca Pope-Ruark, who will address burnout in higher education. Dr. Pope-Ruark will share grounded research on how we define, understand and realistically mitigate burnout in our academic environment. In addition to her keynote presentation, she will host two interactive workshops during the day.
Schedule Overview
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8 a.m. – Coffee & Donuts: Start the day at the Dennos Museum Center with coffee, donuts, and time to catch up with colleagues.
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Morning kickoff: Gather in Milliken Auditorium for the opening program (including a return appearance by the Swag Squad).
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Breakout sessions 1 & 2: Choose your path from the session guide.
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Lunch: Provided for conference attendees.
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Breakout sessions 3 & 4: Choose your path from the session guide.
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Afternoon wrap-up: Finish at the Innovation Center for light refreshments and informal conversations on what you learned.
Attendance expectations & stipends:
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Regular faculty and staff: Attendance is an expectation for staff and a contractual obligation for faculty. Supplemental staff should check with their supervisor.
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Adjunct Instructors: You are strongly encouraged to attend and will receive a stipend for all hours attended.
View the October Conference schedule and session summary guide.
Questions? Please contact: Lori Hodek, lhodek@nmc.edu 5-1143 or Janet Lively, jlively@nmc.edu 5-1231.
Trustee Building & Site and Executive committees to meet Oct. 7 and 8
TRAVERSE CITY — Two committees of Northwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees are scheduled to meet in the President’s Office Conference Room of the Tanis Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City, Michigan.
- Building & Site Committee, Wednesday, October 7, 2 p.m.
- Executive Committee, Thursday, October 8, 3 p.m.
The official meeting notices are available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Release date: October 2, 2026
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationEmployee anniversaries – October
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!