I hope you are well and able to enjoy this sunny weather!
Today we have launched NMC’s COVID-19 Exposure Control Plan (ECP) Training. It is required that all employees complete this training as soon as possible and prior to coming to any of NMC’s campuses again (regardless of the deadline listed in your training email). This training is required to ensure ECP protocols are shared and followed by everyone on our campuses and anywhere they are performing college business outside of their homes.
The COVID-19 Exposure Control Plan is part of NMC’s compliance with Federal, State, and local health rules and guidelines related to the coronavirus. The plan is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Grand Traverse County Health Department (GTCHD). Completing this training and complying with its guidelines is essential to keeping our ourselves and colleagues, students and campus visitors safe by limiting potential exposure to the disease.
Please check your email for your training link and contact hr@nmc.edu if you have any questions about access to the training.
Thank you for helping to keep one another safe during this public health crisis.
Very Best Regards,
Mark
—
Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342
The video below is of the Virtual Budget Session conducted for NMC employees Wednesday, June 10. If you were unable get your questions answered during the session, or if you have any followup questions or feedback, please email them to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
The video below is of the Virtual Town Hall conducted for NMC employees Friday, June 5, with President Nick Nissley, vice-presidents Vicki Cook, Marguerite Cotto, Todd Neibauer and Stephen Siciliano, and Diana Fairbanks, Holly Gorton and Mark Liebling. More than 120 people attended. The TownHall included an update on the work of the college during the last month and a look toward our future including reopening and the fall semester, along with a Q&A.
If you were unable get your questions answered during the meeting, or if you have any followup questions or feedback, please email them to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
FOREIGN POLICY MASHUP: A Webinar Roundtable Discussion
Join IAF as it rounds out its 26th season, featuring Amb. Charles Shapiro, former US Ambassador to Venezuela, former Coordinator for Cuban Affairs, and current President of World Affairs Council of Atlanta. (more…)
50% of proceeds will benefit the COVID-19 Fund at Munson Healthcare Foundations
TEDxTraverseCity goes virtual! Because of these unprecedented times, TEDxTraverseCity will be offered in an online platform this year. A livestream event will ensure our community stays safe while we celebrate ten years of bringing ideas worth spreading to Traverse City. Our tenth TEDxTraverseCity will provide another excellent opportunity for our community to be inspired and challenged. TEDxTraverseCity’s 2020 event will examine the timely concept of RETHINKING OUR HEALTH.
Thanks to librarian Joelle Hannert for sharing the library’s anti-racist reading list at Friday’s town hall meeting. You can read the list here.
The list follow’s last week’s announcement by President Nick Nissley that the college is forming a committee to address inequities and injustices faced by students, employees and the community, in the wake of global protests over the police killing of George Floyd. The committee will be led by Mark Liebling, associate vice president of human resources, and Lisa Thomas, dean of students. “We’ve had a great number of staff and instructors volunteer,” Lisa said Monday. People interested in the initiative or with questions about it can email Mark.
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media in the past week. 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 Osterlin Library.
Here is a link to view the training video from Priority Health on accessing the Well-Being Hub. Simply click in the center of the first slide and it will begin.
The NMC Bookstore will reopen for curbside pickup of online orders Tuesday, June 9 through Thursday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Starting Tuesday, June 16, the bookstore will be open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Curbside pickup will be available on these days as well.
To pick up your order curbside, please call the bookstore at (231) 995-1285 and your order will be brought out to you.
The bookstore will resume normal summer hours starting Monday, July 6.
The library will be closed for business from Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 19 while library staff move to its new location in the West Hall Innovation Center. Please email library@nmc.edu for urgent requests during this time, but expect a delayed response time. Library staff plan to offer curbside checkout of technology to students and to provide faculty and staff assistance June 19.
As I look out to the world from our northern Michigan community, my heart breaks at the frustration and anger that is overflowing onto the streets of cities across our country in response to years of racial injustice. My first reaction is to acknowledge the pain, seek to understand the struggle and empathize with the emotions. As important as that response is, I also know it is not enough. I must also take action. We must take action. It is not enough to be “not racist” we must actively work to be “anti-racist.”
When I first arrived at Northwestern Michigan College earlier this year, I was proud to see the work that we are already doing on diversity and inclusion through areas like the Experiential Learning Institute, the Dennos Museum Center, International Affairs Forum, and throughout our classrooms, student groups and support services. And while we will continue to use those areas to live our values, I believe we can and must do more.
Starting this week, I am championing a new committee at NMC that will focus solely on addressing inequities and injustices faced by our students, employees and the community. This will be led by Mark Liebling, associate VP of human resources, and Lisa Thomas, dean of students. We will look closely at our own NMC community and act as a convener of discussions for the larger community to engage thoughtfully and work collaboratively.
I also intend to lead and learn by doing. This week I have actively sought input from throughout our college community, participated in robust discussions with President’s Council, we will continue that discussion in our virtual employee town hall Friday, and I will join our Phi Theta Kappa students in their Racial Justice Issues/Honors in Action meeting and other student and employee groups. I know this is just a start, but it is a start and I am committed to prioritizing this work as your president.
I also remain committed to listening. I know that will be essential to seeking deeper understanding. I encourage you to share your thoughts with me and together we will work to make meaningful change in our world.
Nick
—
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College
Release date: June 4, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications dfairbanks@nmc.edu (231) 995-1019
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-discrimination
As I look out to the world from our northern Michigan community, my heart breaks at the frustration and anger that is overflowing onto the streets of cities across our country in response to years of racial injustice. My first reaction is to acknowledge the pain, seek to understand the struggle and empathize with the emotions. As important as that response is, I also know it is not enough. I must also take action. We must take action. It is not enough to be “not racist” we must actively work to be “anti-racist.”
When I first arrived at Northwestern Michigan College earlier this year, I was proud to see the work that we are already doing on diversity and inclusion through areas like the Experiential Learning Institute, the Dennos Museum Center, International Affairs Forum, and throughout our classrooms, student groups and support services. And while we will continue to use those areas to live our values, I believe we can and must do more.
Starting this week, I am championing a new committee at NMC that will focus solely on addressing inequities and injustices faced by our students, employees and the community. This will be led by Mark Liebling, associate VP of human resources, and Lisa Thomas, dean of students. We will look closely at our own NMC community and act as a convener of discussions for the larger community to engage thoughtfully and work collaboratively.
I also intend to lead and learn by doing. This week I have actively sought input from throughout our college community, participated in robust discussions with President’s Council, we will continue that discussion in our virtual employee town hall Friday, and I will join our Phi Theta Kappa students in their Racial Justice Issues/Honors in Action meeting and other student and employee groups. I know this is just a start, but it is a start and I am committed to prioritizing this work as your president.
I also remain committed to listening. I know that will be essential to seeking deeper understanding. I encourage you to share your thoughts with me and together we will work to make meaningful change in our world.
Nick
—
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College
Release date: June 4, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications dfairbanks@nmc.edu (231) 995-1019
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-discrimination
As I shared with you last week, the college and community lost a great champion with the passing of Mr. James Beckett.
This coming Thursday, June 4, the community is invited to help celebrate Jim’s life and tremendous contributions as part of a memorial tribute. (more…)
This afternoon Governor Whitmer lifted the Stay Home, Stay Safe Order, reopening the state and moving Michigan to phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. At this time, NMC will continue its limited reopening while finalizing safety protocols so we can expand reopening efforts in the future. NMC campuses remain closed to the public for the time being.
The Governor’s order today reiterates that any work that can be done remotely, must be. Office work that cannot be done remotely may resume. If you have work that must be completed on campus please contact your supervisor and coordinate with Human Resources to ensure all safety protocols are followed.
NMC’s campuses will remain closed until further notice while the College continues to develop plans to return to campus work and face-to-face learning safely. Two committees are meeting regularly to assist with this effort. We will share drafts of the College’s staggered reopening and exposure control plans with you later this week for review and feedback ahead of Friday’s virtual townhall. The College is also continuing to collaborate with the Grand Traverse County Joint Operations Center on a coordinated regional approach to managing the impact of COVID-19.
If you must come to campus, please wear a face mask, as specified in the Governor’s order. For more information and resources, including instructions on campus mail pickup and delivery, please visit the “keep working” section of nmc.edu/coronavirus.
Following the Governor’s guidance, the college will begin taking a slow and deliberate approach to phased re-starting of some functions on campus. For the safety of our students, employees and community, it is essential that these guidelines are followed.
Summer semester is being delivered virtually with limited small in person labs and classes on a case by case basis. You can see a list of canceled events here.
The College is currently planning several possible scenarios for fall delivery of instruction including face-to-face, hybrid and virtual options. The goal is to communicate the plans with you next week.
This is an unprecedented and rapidly-evolving situation. We will continue to communicate with you to keep you safe and limit the disruption to learning as much as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your supervisor.
As we get updates and changes, we post them first on nmc.edu/coronavirus. Please continue to check here for the latest information.
Thank you,
NMC Public Relations
Release date: June 1, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications dfairbanks@nmc.edu (231) 995-1019
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-discrimination
Police Academy Director Gail Kurowski and Health Occupations Academic Chair and Dental Assisting Instructor Beckie Wooters oversaw the first face-to-face instruction on NMC’s campus since mid-March.
Following strict health and safety protocols, police academy and dental assisting students resumed face-to-face training at Northwestern Michigan College May 18 in accordance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s latest executive order, which amends the scope of previous orders to allow training for first responders and healthcare workers. (Police Academy recruit Monte White, right, is shown taking a defensive driving course at Camp Grayling as part of the academy training.)
Some class days stretched 11 or 12 hours in order to compress necessary training into efficient delivery. Read more.
FOREIGN POLICY MASHUP: A Webinar Roundtable Discussion
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Thanks to librarian Joelle Hannert for sharing the library’s anti-racist reading list at Friday’s town hall meeting. 
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff, and congratulating current NMC staff on their new positions!
Police Academy Director Gail Kurowski and Health Occupations Academic Chair and Dental Assisting Instructor Beckie Wooters oversaw the first face-to-face instruction on NMC’s campus since mid-March.