NMC to participate in free tuition program for front-line workers

Sep 10, 2020 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Front-line workers may receive a scholarship to attend NMC free of charge starting in January through the Futures for Frontliners program unveiled today by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Futures for Frontliners offers Michiganders who worked in essential industries during the April 1–June 30 period but do not have a college degree free tuition to their local community college. They may pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate on a full-time or part-time basis while they continue to work.

Those without a high school diploma or equivalency are eligible for services to help them prepare for and complete this credential and go on to a community college or job training program. The application period runs through December 31, 2020, with enrollment available beginning in January of 2021.

Essential industries include health care, financial services, food and agriculture, law enforcement and first responders, water and wastewater, transportation and more.

“Providing these front-line workers in essential industries with access to tuition-free community college — even if they don’t have a high school diploma or equivalency — to pursue their career and personal dreams is a wonderful way to say ‘thank you’ — they certainly earned it,” NMC President Nick Nissley said.

To apply and learn more about Futures for Frontliners, visit nmc.edu/frontliners.

Release date: SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu 

NMC extends college campus closure through June 12, 2020

Sep 9, 2020 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — As our state continues efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the Stay Home, Stay Safe order through June 12. To support this effort, and comply with the order, Northwestern Michigan College extended the closure of all five of its campuses in Traverse City through June 12.

NMC began a limited reopening of its campuses June 15 in accordance with the college’s 4-stage Reopening Plan and Exposure Control Plan. Learn more here »

NMC’s five campuses include:

• Main – 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City
• Great Lakes – 715 E. Front St., Traverse City
• Aero Park – 2600 Aero Park Dr., Traverse City
• University Center – 2200 Dendrinos Dr., Traverse City
• Rogers Observatory – 1753 Birmley Road, Traverse City

In an ongoing effort to ensure public safety, please see the following list of event cancellations and closures:

virtual

• NMC Barbecue – May 15–30

CANCELED

• All Rogers Observatory Public Viewing Nights for 2020
• NMC Transfer Fair – March 17, 2020
• Free Visiting Artist Lecture and Workshop – March 18, 2020
• International Affairs Forum – March 19, 2020
• Panel discussion on legalized marijuana’s implications for health – March 20, 2020
• 2nd Annual Concert for Community Awareness – March 20, 2020
• Blood Drive – April 6, 2020
• Long Night Against Procrastination – April 16, 2020
• International Affairs Forum – April 16, 2020
• A Taste of Success – April 17, 2020
• Mystical Arts of Tibet (Dennos Concert Series) – April 17, 2020
• Big Little Hero Race – April 18, 2020
• T/S State of Michigan open house – April 18, 2020
• NMC Retirement & Recognition Reception – April 22, 2020
• Loudon Wainwright III (Dennos Concert Series) – May 2, 2020
• Nursing Pinning Ceremony – May 3, 2020
• Lifelong Learning Campus Day – May 8, 2020
• Native American immersion camp – June 15-18, 2020
• Kids Free Fishing Day – June 20, 2020
• Mike McIntosh Memorial Car and Truck Show – Sept. 12, 2020

Postponed

• NMC Commencement – May 2, 2020 (TO BE RESCHEDULED)
  • NMC’s commencement ceremony will either be delayed until August 2020, or a double ceremony will be held in May 2021.
  • All commencement-related activities, including Honors Convocation, will also be postponed.
• NMC Fellows Dinner – June 4, 2020 (TO BE RESCHEDULED)

CLOSED

• The Hawk Owl Café in the Oleson Center (now open in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Innovation Center)
• The Hawks Nest in East Hall
• Northwest Grind–Starbucks (now open in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Innovation Center)
• The NMC Fitness Center
• The NMC Bookstore (now open)
• The NMC Library (now open in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Innovation Center)
• Lobdell’s: A Teaching Restaurant (open Sept. 16)
• The Hagerty Center
• The Dennos Museum Center (now open)
• Aero Park Professional Testing Center (now open)

RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2020; Last updated September 9, 2020

For More Information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019 (direct)
231) 995-1020 (office)
(231) 392-6082 (mobile)

Last Call for Submissions to Patch✹Work!

Sep 8, 2020 | Intercom, Student News

To mark Constitution Day (September 17, 2020), NMC Library is collecting submissions of brief video “appreciations” of the Constitutional amendments, or patches, that have been stitched over the years to span holes in the founding document of our national government.

For more details, check out the submission guidelines. The deadline to submit is this Sunday, September 13.

“A Century of Gender Justice Activism” virtual discussion

Sep 3, 2020 | Intercom, Student News

NOTE: The Oct. 16 event featuring Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been canceled.

TRAVERSE CITY — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and several academic speakers will appear at four virtual events this fall commemorating the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote.

An in-person voter registration drive Sept. 22 on NMC’s main campus will also be part of “100 Years of the 19th Amendment: Observing the Past and Looking Toward the Future.” Volunteers from the League of Women Voters – Grand Traverse Area will be available to register new voters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.

The virtual events are as follows:

• Thursday, September 17: The Constitution’s Suffrage Amendments: Giving Voice to Those Who Were Not Silent.
  7 p.m.— Panel discussion in conjunction with Constitution Day. Presenters and NMC instructors Mindy Morton and John Zachman will discuss the 15th, 19th, and 24th amendments and the individuals and groups whose political actions saw those amendments become political reality, and evaluate how these amendments impact our current political climate and elections. Morton is an adjunct instructor of history and Zachman is an instructor of political science and philosophy. Zoom Link: nmc.zoom.us/j/98632067245

• CANCELED: Friday, October 16: A Discussion on Elections and Voting with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
  7 p.m.— Hosted by Rachel Wilczewski, NMC sociology instructor, Secretary Benson will share information and her expertise on issues surrounding voter access in Michigan as well as information regarding the upcoming election and the recent actions in the state to reduce partisan gerrymandering. Live Q and A to follow a 30-minute presentation. 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.

• Thursday, November 12: “A Century of Gender Justice Activism” with Caroline Heldman, Ph.d. Chair of Critical Theory and Social Justice Department, Chair of Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies at Occidental College.
  7 p.m.—Hosted by Shilo Smith, NMC psychology instructor, Heldman will present a timeline of the last century of gender justice activism with a focus on progress and pitfalls. She will analyze the current status of women in the U.S. after a century of pushing for gender justice. Zoom Link: nmc.zoom.us/j/94968308718

• Friday, December 4: “The Lesson of the Lark” Virtual Choral Concert
  7 p.m. — Hosted by Jeffrey Cobb, Director of Music Programs
  The NMC Music Department, Audio Tech and Visual Communications programs are premiering a new concert work celebrating the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage. This piece, which is meant to uplift and unify us, is a multi-movement work composed for narrator, soloists, chorus, and jazz orchestra. It is based on local author Laura Knight Cobb’s recently published book of the same name, a dramatic interpretation of the struggle for women’s voting rights.
  • Sign up for free tickets to the virtual event at MyNorthTickets. Those who register for the performance will receive a link to view the premiere and pre-premiere talk shortly before the event.

Release date: September 3, 2020

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
NMC Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu

Success Story: ‘Not a normal experience, but so far, it’s been good.’

Sep 2, 2020 | Intercom, Student News

September 2, 2020

Kyle Korson gets food at the Hawk Owl CaféMasked students, faculty and staff members returned to a campus transformed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, as completely overhauled fall classes began last week in new instruction formats, with safety and learner success top-of-mind.

“We know some parts of the college experience will be different,” NMC President Nick Nissley said in a welcome video message to students. “Our faculty and staff are still here for you, in more new ways than ever before, to help you reach your goals.”

NMC’s fall learning plan is safety first, offering most classes remotely. It’s the reverse of 2019, when 83 percent of courses were offered in traditional face-to-face lecture format. This fall, only 13 percent are. Livestream debuts as a brand-new format. More than a third of classes are offered livestream, with an instructor teaching online at established days and times.

“Our instructors spent the summer learning how to make virtual learning even better,” Nissley said.

Classes are also offered in on-demand online format, hybrid, and in person where required for accreditation, such as nursing.

Nursing student Kendall McNitt had planned to transfer to NMC from Saginaw Valley State University pre-pandemic, but the safety and flexibility NMC is offering students in this unique semester has affirmed she made a good decision. She’s closer to her East Jordan home, in smaller classes and paying more affordable tuition. Her classes are a mix of all the formats.

“So far, everyone’s been very on top of the guidelines,” McNitt said of safety requirements like mandatory masks and social distancing in classrooms. “All of the nursing professors, they’re super willing to help.”

First-year student Kyle Korson, an East Hall resident, is taking all his classes online, but is grateful to be living on campus for the reliable wireless Internet connection. He lives in Leelanau County near Northport and said connectivity from his home is poor, and wouldn’t allow for livestreamed classes.

“It’s good to get away,” added the engineering student.

On-campus housing occupancy is at about 50 percent of capacity, to allow for social distancing. Fellow East Hall resident Lukus Herblet is glad to be living on campus and that some of his audio technology classes are in hybrid format, combining online and face-to-face instruction.

“I feel it’s part of the college experience,” he said.

New to this year’s college experience: Hand sanitizer stations in all building entrances, with complimentary face masks available to help visitors comply.

Also, the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center is now open after almost two years of construction. The first-floor Hawk Owl Cafe and the new second-floor library are open to students, faculty and staff, with occupancy limited to about 50 percent of capacity. Public seating areas have also been marked so that visitors maintain a minimum six feet of separation.

“It’s pretty nice to have everything in one place,” Herblet said.

McNitt, settled into one of the booths by the cafeteria, agreed.

“It’s definitely not a normal experience, but so far, it’s been good,” she said.

Campus Safety services at West Hall

Aug 31, 2020 | Intercom, Student News