The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Room 106/107. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
The Building & Site committee of NMC’s Board of Trustees will meet Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Room 104/105. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Extended Education & Training is excited to announce the release of its Winter-Spring Catalog, offering more than 150 diverse classes for personal and professional growth. The catalog is now available online at www.nmc.edu/ees, and registration is open for all learners.
This season, NMC is offering a wide range of in-person, livestream, and online courses in both life enrichment and professional and workforce training. Community members can explore topics such as cooking, painting, fitness, gardening, global cultures, technology, and more. New courses this winter include Drawing Fundamentals, One Day Journal, Maple Sugaring, and Sharpen & Shine: Building Leaders.
For a unique holiday gift, the Learn Together program offers a variety of classes designed for couples, families, and friends. Whether it’s a Date Night or Adult & Child format, participants can bond while learning new skills in areas like painting, cooking, wine tasting, partner dancing, and more.
In addition to individual courses, NMC Extended Education & Training also supports local businesses with custom training programs and corporate retreats tailored to meet specific organizational needs. For more information, businesses can contact NMC at ees@nmc.edu.
To explore the full catalog and secure your spot, visit nmc.edu/ees. To request a printed catalog, email ees@nmc.edu.
About Northwestern Michigan College Extended Education & Training
Northwestern Michigan College Extended Education & Training is a leading provider of lifelong and professional learning opportunities in the region. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, NMC Extended Education & Training strives to empower individuals and businesses to achieve their goals through high-quality educational programs and customized training solutions.
NMC Extended Education & Training
ees@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1700
Please join us in congratulations these individuals who successfully completed Crucial Conversations for Accountability for fall 2025:
Thank you for working to improve relationships and to build trust at NMC.
It’s the perfect time to stop into the Dennos Museum store to do a little holiday gift shopping. The museum and store are open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through December 23!
Members, NMC employees and students will receive DOUBLE DISCOUNTS at 20% off storewide on purchases through Christmas.
Special holiday sales include 25% off jewelry and 30% off calendars, holiday ornaments and holiday cards.
And if you’re not sure what to get, Museum store gift cards are available at a $10 minimum.
As always, the highest discount prevails, and consignment items are not included in special promotions.
NMC Campus Life will host an ice skating event Saturday, Jan. 17 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center’s Howe Arena (1125 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City, MI).
Must present a valid NMC ID to participate. This event is free to all NMC students, employees and their families. Skates will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
Refreshments provided by His House, NMC Esports, and Student Government Association.
For more details, contact Marcus Bennett at (231) 995-1401 or mbennett@nmc.edu, or CJ Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu.
Thanks to all faculty, coaches, advisers, librarians and others working to get students over the finals finish line this week. You’ve got this!
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
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.
MI native Katherine DeYoung takes the Met Opera stage
Interlochen Public Radio, Dec. 5
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As we head into the winter season, now is the perfect time to confirm that you are signed up for NMC’s Emergency text alert system. Follow the steps below to check your opt-in status now.
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Kudos to Janet Lively and the CIE Board! Kudos to Janet Lively and the CIE Board for an informative fall semester! The professional development on AI, advising, difficult conversations, AI book club and watercolor painting has been interesting and useful. Thank you for all the time and energy you put into providing PD opportunities for NMC employees!
Kudos to Jim Bensley! Kudos to Jim Bensley for his Rock-N-Roll role-playing in his Humanities course. His energy and fun-loving spirit bring joy to his class and those around him. It was fun to see him in the TJNIC dressed up and playing his guitar!
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!
Stephanie Liss recently started working at the college as a Custodian. Welcome to the NMC community!
Did you know that your tuition waiver benefits extend beyond credit classes? Take a fitness class, learn a new hobby, or even enjoy a date night with your partner. Check out these exclusive employee passes and get a sneak peek of our team’s upcoming Winter-Spring classes (and register early)!
Date Night: Paint Your PetSip, socialize, and get creative at our Paint Your Pet Date Night! You and your special someone will each paint a canvas portrait of your beloved pet in this fun and unique evening workshop. No experience is necessary — our instructors will guide you through the techniques to capture your furry (or scaled or feathered!) friend’s likeness. Read more.
Wednesday, March 11; 6–9 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $52 for two people (public price $125)
Date Night: Brilliant BubblesWhat is better than a festive exploration of sparkling wines, from celebratory Champagne to versatile Prosecco and Cava? Focus will be placed on understanding the diverse food pairings that go surprisingly well with sparkling wine—it’s not just for appetizers! Read more.
Wednesday, Feb. 25; 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $46 for two people (public price $149)
Delve into the rich world of Islam, a global faith practiced by billions. This class offers a fascinating survey of its core beliefs, foundational practices, and remarkable history, from its origins to its impact on the modern world. Read more.
Instructor: Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards
Monday, March 23; 6–8 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $30 per person (public price $65)
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Orange Chicken & Broccoli Bowl with mandarin oranges and spinach served with rice & Bosco stick
Orange Tofu & Broccoli Bowl (V) with mandarin oranges and spinach served with rice & Bosco stick
Beef Barbacoa Tacos with cheddar, sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Jackfruit Tacos (V) with cheddar, sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Spaghetti & Meatballs with marinara and parmesan served with garlic bread & green beans
Tri-Color Tortellini (V) with pesto cream sauce served with garlic bread & green beans
Breakfast for Dinner!
No Special — Closed at 2 p.m. Happy Holidays!
Greetings!
The Public Relations, Marketing and Communications team has created a fun holiday video for employees to share with their professional networks.
To share, drag your cursor over the entire message below, hit copy and then paste into your email program. You can edit the text to customize who the message is from.
Happy holidays,
NMC Public Relations
December 3, 2025
Call it shaken or call it stirred, the beverage industry has seen significant consumer shifts over the last five years.
No longer are choices limited to wine, beer or soda. Now there’s ciders, seltzers and spirits. There’s specialty cocktails, often handcrafted. There’s RTDs, or ready-to-drink cocktails, conveniently bottled or canned. There’s no/lo — as in alcohol — options, also known as mocktails. Plus teas, coffees and waters, all of which can come flavored or infused, handcrafted or RTD.
To serve that rapidly growing and diversifying industry, NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute will offer a one-year beverage management certificate beginning fall 2026. Culinary Director Les Eckert said that northwest Michigan’s many wineries, breweries, distilleries and most recently, cideries make the credential a good fit for GLCI.
“We could see the growth happening all around us,” Eckert said. “We knew we had to get involved.”
While there are beverage programs elsewhere in the U.S., GLCI’s stand-alone certificate will be on the leading edge in Michigan. The curriculum also embeds the experiential learning that is an NMC hallmark.
“Given that no single program in Michigan offers a comprehensive blend of beverage training, GLCI knew the timing was right to offer the Beverage Management certificate,” Eckert said.
GLCI introduced a beverage management class (CUL 232) in 2022. That and one other existing course will be part of the certificate, plus 13 new classes.
Those classes are designed to be experiential. Eckert said that up to 50 percent of the certificate’s courses will be conducted off-site, with industry visits built into course descriptions. For instance, NMC currently offers a viticulture certificate in partnership with Michigan State – a relationship that will mark 35 years next year. GLCI can lean into partnerships developed with winery vineyard managers to get students into cellars and tasting rooms.
Graduates will earn two industry certifications (ServSafe, CUL 110, and TIPS) and be prepared to take other industry exams.
“It really opens the doors for you to gain more globally recognized certifications,” Eckert said.
The beverage management certificate is the third new credential to emerge from GLCI’s 2021-22 reimagination process, which engaged the college, GLCI alumni and culinary/hospitality employers in designing changes to increase enrollment, improve financial performance and help students achieve success. In 2023 the college introduced a two-year culinary-maritime certificate, and in 2024 a two-year sports performance nutrition certificate debuted.
The NMC Board of Trustees Executive Committee meet Thursday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Room 08 (Lower Level). More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.