Jan 29, 2021 | Intercom
The Academic & Career Advising department is working hard to transform our annual NMC Career Fair to a virtual format this year. We hope to have a week full of workshops and events for students this year. To help our students prepare for their professional opportunities, we are partnering with the NMC Food Pantry for a Professional Clothing Drive!
We are looking for donations of professional clothing for students who may not otherwise have appropriate options for hiring events and interviews.
Donations should meet the following criteria:
- Be recently laundered and free of stains
- Gently used and in good condition
- Be appropriate for job interviews and hiring events such as the Career Fair
- Men’s and Women’s clothing accepted!
- Be dropped off by Tuesday, Feb. 23
We will accept any items you may wish to purchase from thrift stores to offer more variety.
If you have any donations, they can be dropped off in the Advising Center or the Success Center in Osterlin during the hours below. Please feel free to reach out to Katie Sommer-Ford to make alternative arrangements if needed.
- Monday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Wednesday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Thursday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: 3–8 p.m.
The NMC Career & Employment Fair will be held March 2–4 this year. More details can be found at nmc.edu/career-fair.
Jan 28, 2021 | Intercom
Pour a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for entertaining virtual Coffee Chats each Friday. Treat yourself to personal stories from interesting people in the community each Friday at 10 a.m. From travel to health and arts to global issues, each virtual interview is followed by a live zoom Q & A session. Next up:
- Feb. 5 “Who’s Smoking Now and Why it Matters” with NMC Trustee Ken Warner
- Feb. 12 “Taking Flight in Retirement” with Adjunct NMC Flight Instructor Bill Donberg
Public price is $15 each or $99 for all; 100% employee tuition waiver price is $10 each or $19 for all Coffee Chats through April 30. Those enrolled in the “The Whole Carafe” will receive a link to each recording before AND after each event, so if you miss it, you may watch it later!
VIEW ALL TOPICS HERE.
Offered by NMC Extended Educational Services. CALL (231) 995-1700 TO ENROLL WITH STAFF WAIVER.
Jan 27, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will appear Feb. 19 at a virtual event commemorating the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote.
“A Discussion on Elections and Voting” will be hosted by Rachel Wilczewski, NMC sociology instructor, at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 on Zoom: https://nmc.zoom.us/j/96362184978
Secretary Benson will share information and her expertise on issues surrounding voter access in Michigan. A live Q and A will follow Benson’s presentation. The 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment was marked in 2020.
Elected in 2018, Benson is the author of State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process, the first major book on the role of the secretary of state in enforcing election and campaign finance laws.
Release date: January 27, 2021
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
NMC Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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
Jan 26, 2021 | Intercom, Student Events
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 3–4 p.m.
Join Mark and Whitney as they bring people together with the global power of music! Watch and listen to how the Playing For Change Foundation is creating positive change for marginalized youth in diverse communities through music and arts education. Find answers on how PFC has partnered with musicians such as Jason Mraz, Billie Eilish, Maroon 5, Ringo Starr, Sara Bareilles, Ziggy Marley, Becky G. Lucas Nelson, and others to promote global understanding!
Check out a sample video here: playingforchange.com/theweight/.
Sponsored by NMC International Services and Service Learning
Jan 26, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café dining area will reopen Monday, Feb. 1 in compliance with Michigan’s Jan. 22 epidemic order.
Learn more about NMC Dining Services at nmc.edu/dining.
Jan 26, 2021 | Intercom
Good afternoon NMC community,
As the COVID-19 vaccination effort begins to ramp up in our region, we want to follow up on some frequently asked questions about vaccine availability for higher education employees in Grand Traverse County.
While decisions about phases are made at the state level, each county also has some discretion about how to interpret the details for vaccine distribution. Grand Traverse County health leaders are currently including K-12 employees in the 1B vaccination phase, but NOT including higher education employees as a prioritized group in this phase. Other counties in Michigan may be taking a different approach based on the availability of vaccines in their areas. Vaccine supplies are very limited right now and local leaders feel this is the best way to meet the most urgent needs of the region.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging all residents to develop a plan to get vaccinated. Residents should know which phase they belong to and continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Michigan vaccinations phases are as follows:
- Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Persons 65 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
- Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.
- Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
These prioritizations may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available. Right now higher education employees are included in Phase 2. Unless an individual qualifies for an earlier phase, the majority of NMC employees and students will likely not qualify for the vaccine until after the spring semester. The college is also helping prepare for the vaccination process by getting a better understanding of how many employees are interested in receiving a vaccine. This information will help the county respond faster if more vaccine becomes available sooner. Please watch for an upcoming survey in your email inbox.
Reaching a 70% vaccination rate of our population is the fastest way for our society to return to normal, but this vaccination process is a highly complex and rapidly evolving undertaking for public health leaders. The entire vaccination process statewide may take 9-12 months.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in Grand Traverse County please visit GTCountyCOVID19.com for more information including scheduling and current vaccine phase.
NMC is proud to support the vaccination effort in our region by partnering with the Grand Traverse Health Department to host a mass vaccination clinic at the Hagerty Center through at least April. This facility has been widely praised for its efficiency as a clinic site. The GTCHD says they are now able to vaccinate the same amount of people in one day that they previously vaccinated in a week. We should all be proud of the college’s role in this important work to support our community.
Thank you for your continued patience and adherence to NMC’s safety protocols including social distancing and wearing masks. We will continue to update you with new information as it becomes available.
—
NMC Public Relations
Jan 26, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College will offer an associate degree in engineering beginning in the fall 2021 semester, making that degree more affordable to students.
NMC’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new degree at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. It builds upon work NMC has already done to smooth transfer pathways for engineering students, particularly with Michigan Technological University. It also enables students to qualify for federal financial aid for the higher number of credits — 73 instead of 58— required by four-year universities to transfer with junior status.
“This new degree better reflects the curricular needs of our pre-engineering students,” said vice president for Academic Affairs Stephen Siciliano.
Engineering instructor Jay Smith said the new degree is another way NMC offers value to students.
“Our program allows students to enter most engineering programs with full junior-level status, which represents a tremendous cost savings in addition to the benefits of staying close to home and having much more one-on-one interaction with their instructors,” Smith said, noting NMC’s average class size is 20 students.
In addition to the financial benefits, the new associate degree also provides tangible evidence of a student’s accomplishments on the road to a bachelor’s degree in engineering. This can be particularly helpful for students who need to take time off from college before completing their bachelor’s, allowing them access to engineering-related positions minimally requiring an associate degree.
Michigan has the third-highest level of engineering employment in the United States, paying a mean average wage of $86,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Engineering is a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and consistently pays higher than average entry-level wages.
“The future is STEM, and those jobs are growing quickly, especially in this region,” said Science Department Chairman Jerry Dobek, noting that Camp Pugsley south of Kingsley is in the running as the location of the Michigan Space Launch Command Center.
Read more about NMC’s engineering program. NMC also offers an engineering technology degree.
Release date: January 26, 2021
For more information:
Dr. Gerald O. Dobek, FRAS
Sciences Department Chair
jdobek@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1271 (office)
(231) 342-4545 (mobile)
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
Jan 26, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College will offer an associate degree in engineering beginning in the fall 2021 semester, making that degree more affordable to students.
NMC’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new degree at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. It builds upon work NMC has already done to smooth transfer pathways for engineering students, particularly with Michigan Technological University. It also enables students to qualify for federal financial aid for the higher number of credits — 73 instead of 58— required by four-year universities to transfer with junior status.
“This new degree better reflects the curricular needs of our pre-engineering students,” said vice president for Academic Affairs Stephen Siciliano.
Engineering instructor Jay Smith said the new degree is another way NMC offers value to students.
“Our program allows students to enter most engineering programs with full junior-level status, which represents a tremendous cost savings in addition to the benefits of staying close to home and having much more one-on-one interaction with their instructors,” Smith said, noting NMC’s average class size is 20 students.
In addition to the financial benefits, the new associate degree also provides tangible evidence of a student’s accomplishments on the road to a bachelor’s degree in engineering. This can be particularly helpful for students who need to take time off from college before completing their bachelor’s, allowing them access to engineering-related positions minimally requiring an associate degree.
Michigan has the third-highest level of engineering employment in the United States, paying a mean average wage of $86,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Engineering is a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and consistently pays higher than average entry-level wages.
“The future is STEM, and those jobs are growing quickly, especially in this region,” said Science Department Chairman Jerry Dobek, noting that Camp Pugsley south of Kingsley is in the running as the location of the Michigan Space Launch Command Center.
Read more about NMC’s engineering program. NMC also offers an engineering technology degree.
Release date: January 26, 2021
For more information:
Dr. Gerald O. Dobek, FRAS
Sciences Department Chair
jdobek@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1271 (office)
(231) 342-4545 (mobile)
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
Jan 25, 2021 | Intercom, Tech Tips
- January 27 – 3:30–4:30 p.m. and
- January 29 – 1–2 p.m.
This week! Collaboration Tools – Come join a discussion about how collaboration tools can better facilitate your work with peers or students. We will walk through a few of them, and discuss how and when to use them. Register Here.
Find a list of all upcoming Quick Bytes Sessions here.
Jan 25, 2021 | Intercom, Media Mentions
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.
Business Development Certificate Now Offered At NMC
The Ticker, Jan. 19
Record-Eagle, Jan. 20
9&10 News, Jan. 21 (more…)
Jan 25, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Black Voices in Fiction and Poetry
See these fiction selections and more displayed in the library lobby. To request titles and find new books, check out the NMC library catalog.
Title: Girl, Woman, Other
Author: Bernardine Evaristo
Girl, Woman, Other is a celebration of the diversity of Black British experience. Moving, hopeful, and inventive, this extraordinary novel is a vivid portrait of the state of contemporary Britain and the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean. Sparklingly witty and written in an innovative and fast-moving form, Girl, Woman, Other is a richly textured novel that reminds us of everything that connects us to our neighbors, even in times when we are encouraged to be split apart. (more…)
Jan 25, 2021 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thank you to the staff of the Grand Traverse County Health Department, who began administering vaccinations at the Hagerty Center last week. NMC is proud to host the first mass vaccination site in the county, which will be open through at least April.
“COVID-19 is a community-wide challenge that will require a community-wide response,” NMC President Nick Nissley said. “We at NMC feel it is both our responsibility and our privilege to support this effort and keep our residents safe. Read more about the site here.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Jan 25, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Employers are invited to register now through Jan. 31 for NMC’s 15th annual Career Fair, to be held virtually March 2-4, at nmc.edu/career-fair.
Held in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works, each day will focus on a different job area, with hours held from 3-6 p.m
- March 2: Hospitality and Retail
- March 3: Business, Healthcare and Other
- March 4: Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive, Transportation, and Technology
There is no fee to register. About 50 employers attended the 2020 fair, which is open to the entire northern Michigan community as well as students. Employers will create a virtual booth with logos and pictures and be available to chat with job seekers via audio or video. Job seekers will also register. When they log on, they will see a homepage for the event showing each employer and what positions they are hiring for. The job seeker can click on their virtual booth to talk to a company representative as they would in person at a traditional event.
Release date: JANUARY 25, 2021
For more information:
Katie Sommer- Ford
Academic & Career Advising Center – Front Office
Phone: (231) 995-1369
ksommer@nmc.edu
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
Jan 25, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Employers are invited to register now through Jan. 31 for NMC’s 15th annual Career Fair, to be held virtually March 2-4, at nmc.edu/career-fair.
Held in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works, each day will focus on a different job area, with hours held from 3-6 p.m
- March 2: Hospitality and Retail
- March 3: Business, Healthcare and Other
- March 4: Manufacturing, Construction, Automotive, Transportation, and Technology
There is no fee to register. About 50 employers attended the 2020 fair, which is open to the entire northern Michigan community as well as students. Employers will create a virtual booth with logos and pictures and be available to chat with job seekers via audio or video. Job seekers will also register. When they log on, they will see a homepage for the event showing each employer and what positions they are hiring for. The job seeker can click on their virtual booth to talk to a company representative as they would in person at a traditional event.
Release date: JANUARY 25, 2021
For more information:
Katie Sommer- Ford
Academic & Career Advising Center – Front Office
Phone: (231) 995-1369
ksommer@nmc.edu
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
Jan 21, 2021 | Intercom
Good afternoon NMC community,
Northwestern Michigan College is working on a lease agreement with The Greenspire School to host its new high school in seven classrooms at NMC’s University Center for the 2021-22 academic year.
NMC is also working on an agreement to develop an Early College program with Greenspire High School. Once approved, students will have the option to earn their high school diploma and an associate’s degree with an extended high school program including a 13th year.
Greenspire is a free public charter school sponsored by Grand Valley State University. The high school program will be an extension of the existing middle school program at the Grand Traverse Commons. The high school will initially serve students in grades 9 and 10, and will add grade 11 in year two and grade 12 in year three. Greenspire found the UC’s Boardman Lake location near the expanding TART trail to be a good fit for their environmentally-focused school while they grow their new program and decide whether to build their own facility in the future.
You may have seen reports of these agreements recently in local media. While the partnerships are moving forward, the details are not yet finalized. NMC looks forward to continuing to partner with educational institutions to benefit our community.
—
NMC Public Relations
Jan 21, 2021 | Intercom
Check out this exclusive deal from Yen Yoga for NMC employees and those authorized for employee tuition waivers. Purchase a 30-class package for $40 with a 100% tuition waiver (a $360 value). All classes are virtual.
Easy 2-step sign-up:
- Call NMC Extended Educational Services at (231) 995-1700 to enroll;
- then call Yen Yoga and Fitness at (231) 421-5496 to sign up for your first class.
Check out the schedule at yenyogafitness.com. Start your classes anytime, January through May 7; your 30-class package expires 12 months after purchase date.
Jan 20, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
January 20, 2021
Comprehensive student support and the value of community colleges within higher education overall are topics NMC faculty and staff believe might come up during dinner conversation in the White House starting today.
Photo courtesy NOVA Community CollegeWhile her newly-inaugurated husband works in the Oval Office, Dr. Jill Biden (right) will teach English at Northern Virginia Community College, where she’s taught since 2009. Prior to that, she taught at Delaware Technical & Community College. Having a 28-year veteran of community college classrooms as First Lady presents a unique opportunity for NMC and the 1,100 community colleges nationwide over the next four years.
“Dr. Biden will have a nuanced understanding of our open access mission, and she’ll know that our mission is fulfilled when all students are supported, not just admitted,” said NMC instructor Janet Lively (left), who teaches English like Biden. “She’ll know tuition subsidies are helpful but not enough. She’ll know that a community college education is accessible to everyone when everyone has access to childcare, housing, transportation, health care, and healthy food.”
“She has that first-line, real time experience, and she can bring that experience to the White House and advise the president on what should be done,” agreed Stephen Siciliano, NMC’s vice president for academic affairs. “We can look at statistics and we can look at reports, but there’s something really valuable about that experience, which enables our leader to have that connection.”
Beyond her teaching career and a dissertation that focused on community college retention, Siciliano noted that Biden officially promoted community colleges while Second Lady during the Obama administration. Under her leadership, that administration “elevated the image and focus on community colleges,” he said.
“I’m very hopeful that there will be a continued focus on community colleges, and the role of community colleges in rebuilding the economy,” he said.
The American Association of Community Colleges, of which NMC is a member, has enumerated multiple policy priorities for the new Biden administration, from economic and workforce development to financial assistance for students to investing in rural community colleges like NMC. In addition, Jill Biden’s classroom role will be a daily reminder of the essential function of education.
“It is easy, as a leader, to get caught up in crisis or to lose one’s bearings in a sea of endless administrative challenges. But time invested in the classroom can bring clarity and remind you that teachers transform lives and help enable students’ dreams,” said NMC President Nick Nissley. “The First Lady’s investment in continuing to serve as a teacher is a direct investment in our students’ futures.”
NMC English faculty member Dr. Cathy Warner (right) said Biden’s first-hand knowledge of the varied identities of community college students, including non-traditional older students seeking retraining, military veterans, and parents, bodes well for an overdue broadening of college readiness beyond four-year university preparation.
“As a community college, we are able to translate education into the needed skills and certifications our economy needs – and our national economy is going to need these contributors in order to recover from the many concurrent challenges our nation faces,” said Warner, who won NMC’s teaching excellence award in 2019.
Siciliano agreed that President Joe Biden will have “an overflowing plate,” making Jill Biden’s access invaluable.
“To have his partner be able to speak directly to an important part of higher education is going to be really great,” Siciliano said.
Jan 20, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Deadline: Sunday, Feb. 28
Pandemic got you creating? Share visual and written art from the era of COVID-19, isolation, and resistance with the NMC Magazine! 1000 word limit for fiction/nonfiction, 30 line limit for poetry.
Visit nmc.edu/nmcmagazine for more info and to submit.
