LegalShield Resources
Get answers to your legal and identity theft questions at the LegalShield website.
ORS Offering Online Retirement Seminars
The Office of Retirement Services conducts Planning Your Retirement workshops around the state during a normal school year. This was, however, anything but a normal school year.
ORS Customer Education staff completed and posted on the website an online recorded version of the workshop which members can view at any time using this link: Planning Your Retirement – Online Workshop for Public School Employees.
Kudos
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. During our “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive, please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
IAF hosts discussion on refugees & COVID-19
As COVID-19 spreads across the world, how are vulnerable refugee populations coping with the threat? IAF brings in frontline voices for an engaging discussion. The program includes Aesa Oso, a refugee of the Syrian civil war, humanitarian worker, and interpreter; (more…)
Online Book Buyback
Book buyback is now available online! Visit bookstore.nmc.edu and select “Sell Your Books Here”. Get a quote, a free prepaid label to ship back your books, and you’ll get a check in about 3 weeks.
Success Story: Rising to the challenges of COVID-19
April 22, 2020
Planning ahead more than a decade ago led to a timely discovery this month, a pattern of foresight NMC aims to continue through COVID-19 uncertainty.
A cache of stored personal protective equipment, including 400 N95 masks originally ordered in 2009 for the H1N1 flu pandemic, was discovered earlier this month by an employee filling food pantry orders. The supplies, which also included gowns and face shields, had been stored in the Osterlin building due to lack of space in the NMC Health clinic.
“I walked out of the food pantry door, and saw ‘N95’ on a sticky note,” said Katie Sommer (right), manager of NMC’s Office of Learning Services. “It was like a lightbulb going off. That word stands out these days.”
Sommer opened the cabinet with the note, alerted others of her discovery, and the supplies were promptly donated to Munson Medical Center.
At first glance a fortuitous coincidence, the discovery illustrates NMC’s strategic value of exhibiting foresight. The existence of the food pantry is another. Started in 2017, Sommer said last week was the pantry’s busiest ever — despite the fact that campuses are closed. Orders are called in or placed online, and picked up outdoors.
Food Pantry curbside pickup items“It’s a great resource and asset,” said Sommer. “I would venture to say the 15 families we’re supporting now are very grateful to whoever had that idea.”
Foresight is more important now than ever, with COVID-19 creating so much uncertainty. The college has already decided all summer classes will be offered online only. All student services including orientation and student success coaching, usually held on campus, are also being offered remotely.
“We’ve really challenged ourselves to see what different modalities we can offer our services in,” said Sommer, noting that Advising calendars have stayed as full as if face-to-face services were being offered.
Calling all Hawk Owl Heroes and Helpers
We know there are many of you helping students, helping each other and helping the community during this unprecedented time. Share these uplifting stories by emailing them to publicrelations@nmc.edu to help raise our spirits and bring us closer together as we work toward our common goals.
What and who are you grateful for right now? Who has helped you? Who do you see stepping up and pitching in to help others?
Please share your story, or tell us a story of a classmate, instructor, staff member or co-worker who is demonstrating how NMC is made up of heroes and helpers. Send your stories to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
IMPORTANT: Instructions on Time Reporting Using New Leave Codes
Dear all,
This message applies to all Regular Faculty, Regular Staff and Student Employees,
Thank you for your work during this unprecedented time. We appreciate your patience and support as the College makes important updates to our leave tracking system in ADP. These updates are to ensure you get the important resources you need and that the college is eligible for COVID-19 related support from the federal government.
NMC will begin using additional ADP pay codes that are directly related to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), effective April 20, 2020, while continuing to use the COVID-19 code.
If you are hourly:
- Please continue to report the hours worked on your time card as regular hours
- Please continue to report those hours scheduled, but not worked under the COVID-19 leave code, unless you are using the FFCRA leave explained below.
If you are salaried:
- Please continue to report any time not worked as a time off request under COVID-19, unless you are using the FFCRA leave explained below.
The following new leave types have been created under federal law to track time off required to address very specific COVID-19 related issues.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave can be used for yourself or to care for others impacted by the coronavirus:
- Full Time Employees are eligible for up to 80 hours of paid sick leave.
- Part Time Employees are eligible for the number of hours usually worked, averaged over a 2 week period.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave has two leave codes:
- Families First Employee Pay- (ADP code is FF-PSL-EE)
- To be used if the employee is unable to work due to being quarantined (due to a Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a healthcare provider), and/or experiencing COVID19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. This reason is available for your own illness related to covid19.
- A letter/note from your medical provider will be required if you are being asked to stay out from work due to the above reasons.
- Submit the letter/note to Hollie DeWalt in HR through email hdewalt@nmc.edu, or by fax 231-995-1590.
- Wages will be paid at 100% for this pay/leave code.
- The time is intended to be used in one increment, and not intermittently. The purpose of the leave is to keep someone out of the workplace while they might be contagious.
- Families First Family Care Pay- (ADP code is FF-PSL-FAM)
- To be used if the employee is unable to work because of the need to care for a family member subject to quarantine (due to a Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a healthcare provider), or care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID19.
- Wages will be paid at 100% for this pay/leave code.
- How do I request the use of Paid Sick Leave under FFCRA?
- Complete the Request Form found at this link.
- Report time used in ADP
Expanded FMLA is also available if you are caring for your child whose school or place of care is closed due to the coronavirus. ADP pay code for this leave is FF-FMLA
- Eligibility occurs after 30 days of employment.
- 12 weeks of FMLA are available (this total includes any other FMLA time you have taken in a year).
- The first 10 work days of the 12 week period are either unpaid, using the Emergency Paid Sick Leave, or your own leave banks.
- The following 10 weeks of this leave are paid at 100% of your wages.
- Expanded FMLA can be used consecutively or intermittently.
- How do I request the use of the Expanded FMLA?
- Complete the Request Form found at this link.
- Report time used in ADP.
If you have questions about this, please contact Hollie DeWalt at 995-1350 or HDeWalt@nmc.edu.
Best Regards, Mark
—
Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342
Media Mentions for April 20, 2020
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.
GTPulse: Dennos Museum Center Teaches Kids in Quarantine How to Draw
9&10 News, April 20 (more…)
April 16 Virtual Town Hall video
The video below is of the Virtual Town Hall conducted for NMC employees Thursday, April 17, 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 200 people attended.
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. You can view the meeting agenda here.
Internal Promotions
The following employee was promoted internally. Please join us in congratulating him! (more…)
Benefit Expansion under the CARES Act- HSA and FSA impact
Find a resource from Meritain Health on how the CARES Act impacts HSA and FSA plans HERE. See details about qualified expenses.
Priority Health- Important Message
The following message is from Priority Health:
As Michigan continues to be impacted by this unpredictable illness, we want to remain a supportive partner by sharing important health care coverage updates.
Important COVID-19 coverage news
Your health plan will now fully cover your treatment of COVID-19 in addition to screening and testing.
- Your plan already covers screening, whether in-person or virtual, at $0 if your doctor orders a COVID-19 test.
- If a doctor orders testing based upon your screening results, the test will also be administered at no cost to you.
- In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one on your health plan is diagnosed with this illness, your treatment of COVID-19 will be fully covered at 100%. We will waive all copays, deductibles and coinsurance for inpatient and outpatient COVID-19 treatment from an in-network provider through June 30.
Remember, COVID-19 is extremely contagious, so please use virtual care as a first step if you are experiencing symptoms. Contact your primary care provider to ask about virtual care options or log in to your Priority Health member account for virtual care.
For a limited time get your prescriptions safely with free in-home delivery from Meijer, Walgreens and CVS
Our online member FAQs have the latest on prescription delivery, coverage details and more – all in one place.
Coverage options and other helpful resources
During these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that you have coverage for health care. Whether you’ve lost your job, your employment status has changed, or you want to see if you qualify for financial assistance, you have options.
- See our updated COVID-19 resources and information page on these topics and much more.
TIAA – Member Resource Center
TIAA has created a web resource center with information, insights and expert analysis to help participants stay informed in this time of uncertainty.
Employee Anniversaries – April
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)
Summer Books Available
Summer books are now available online through the NMC Bookstore! Visit bookstore.nmc.edu for information on all required materials for summer classes.
Students wanting to use financial aid for their purchases will be able to do so starting April 27.
In-store pickup is not available at this time.
April 16 Virtual Town Hall Information
Good afternoon NMC community,
We’re looking forward to “seeing” you tomorrow at our virtual Town Hall meeting. The live event will begin at 4 p.m. via Zoom. Please check your calendar appointment tomorrow for the Zoom link. We will also share a link to the recording of the event afterward for those of you who cannot attend.
This Town Hall will include an update from President Nick Nissley on the work of the college during the last month and a look toward our future. Nick will also be joined by a panel of vice-presidents to answer your questions. You can submit your questions ahead of the event to publicrelations@nmc.edu. During the event you can submit your questions by using the Q&A feature in Zoom. We will try to get to as many questions as possible during the scheduled hour.
We are also planning the annual spring budget presentations later in May. This year they will be held via Zoom. Please watch your email for details.
The Board of Trustees meeting will be held as scheduled April 27, but will also take place virtually. We will share more details including the Zoom link soon.
Thank you for all of your work during this unusual time. We look forward to reconnecting as a college community at our Town Hall on Thursday afternoon.
—
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Mail Collection Procedures
In order to provide the opportunity to continue collecting mail during the campus closure, departments should call the NMC Facilities Department at (231) 995-1111 to schedule an appointment for mail pickup.
Employees should wear a face covering such as a mask or scarf when entering the facilities building, and also answer the health and safety questions from the county in this document.