Attention NMC Students, Staff, Faculty and Northern Michigan Community Members with children at home!
Join Professional Storyteller and NMC Success Coach Jen Strauss in the Storytelling Zoom Room Thursday, April 16 at 11 a.m. for:
Greetings NMC Community! I hope this finds you well, and healthy!
In these times of self-quarantines and social distancing, we need to continue to find ways to connect with one another. What better way to do that than through music? And since we can’t make music in person, how about connecting virtually in our inaugural NMC Virtual Choir?
Answers to questions you may have:
How will this work? I’ve attached a PDF of the piece we’ll be singing. Here are links to practice/reference recordings for each voice part. (I have also added this to the NMC Music App – You can download the app here for free.) There are several seconds of silence at the beginning of each track. We will need that later for video/sound synchronization.
Before you begin you will need:
When you’re ready to begin:
Again, we’d like to try to get this wrapped up this weekend so we have set a deadline for submissions for Thursday, April 9, at 5 p.m.
Thanks again everyone for sharing your time and talents – happy singing!
Jeff
—
Jeffrey Cobb
Director of Music Programs
Northwestern Michigan College
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1338
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.
On Ice: Hot Job Market Catches Cold With COVID-19
Traverse City Business News, April 2020 issue (more…)
The Golden Ass / Apuleius (library ebook available)
Fantasy/Classical Fiction
In the surreal times we are living through, get lost in the absurd trials of a man-turned-donkey due to his own inept experiments in witchcraft.
Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism
by Anne Case and Angus Deaton
Non-fiction/Economics
A well-researched book arguing that the capitalism that lifted people out of poverty is now destroying blue-collar America. The authors propose solutions to make it work for all. Read it online now at ebookcentral.proquest.com/ (login required).
At Home: A Short History of Private Life / Bill Bryson
Non-fiction/History
A personal compendium of fascinating facts suggesting how the history of domesticity has shaped our lives, language, and ideas.
Dangerous Laughter: Thirteen Stories / Steven Millhauser
Fiction/Short Stories
Millhauser’s diverting stories concern themselves with how communities respond to unsettling phenomena and shifting norms, usually combining a sense of wonder, thrill and threat.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation / Ottessa Moshfegh
Fiction
A young woman’s foray into a self-imposed and well-medicated year of isolation. Enough similarities to the current shelter-in-place to make this darkly funny story far more relevant than it might normally be.
Little Weirds / Jenny Slate
Non-Fiction/Memoir
Jenny Slate is known for her Netflix special “Stage Fright” and as an actor in “Obvious Child.” Her extraordinary yet-strange writing style is full of light and hope and laughter.
Etymologicon / Mark Forsyth
Non-fiction/ Linguistics
Fans of Mark Forsyth’s Inky Fool blog on the oddities of the English language will enjoy this interesting and funny book on etymology.
The Women of the Copper Country: a Novel by Mary Doria Russell.
Historical fiction
Set in 1913, the wife of a miner leads a strike against deadly labor practices and unfair wages in the company town of Calumet. Written by the New York Times best-selling author of The Sparrow.
The Wolfkeeper: Stories by Carolyn J. Lewis,
Fiction
Carol Lewis was an Old Mission Peninsula native, and her work is rooted in Northern Michigan culture and history. The book was published by Mission Point Press after her untimely death in 2019.
The Odyssey by Homer, Translated by Emily Wilson. Audiobook.
Classical Fiction
The first woman to publish a translation of the 3,000 year-old Odyssey, Emily Wilson presents the epic poem clearly with enough modern language making it understandable. Read by actress Claire Daines.
Please follow this link to read about your options for signing up!
TIAA is providing this link for ongoing updates and information.
Log into your Priority Health account, go to “My health care” in the top ribbon, and select “Virtual care” from the dropdown menu.
Priority Health’s COVID-19 public information page is HERE.
Good afternoon NMC faculty and staff,
With the passage of the COVID-19 federal relief package, we are anticipating significant emergency relief funding for our students. We are waiting on details of how qualification and awarding will work (likely heavily weighted toward Pell eligible students). It will likely take a couple of weeks for Federal Student Aid to provide these details.
In the meantime, we would like to collect information on the need and use any funds we currently have to help if we can. If you speak with students and they talk about financial stresses – job loss, health issues, etc. please send an email to sfs@nmc.edu and we will add them to our list. Here are some of the uses stated in the CARES Act so far: food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care. But let us know if there are other needs. We will use the list to reach out to them when we know more.
What they can do in the meantime:
We currently have some funds remaining for 2020 that we are awarding, so we may be able to consider them for NMC scholarships more quickly. In particular, we have funds for child care needs, so make sure to list that in your email to us if that is a need.
Again, please send an email to sfs@nmc.edu with the student ID, name, and nature of their emergency need (food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, child care, or other).
Feel free to share this with others.
Thank you!
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.
NMC postpones commencement ceremony, changes plans for exams
UpNorthLive, March 25 (more…)
To all staff employees, supplemental employees, and student employees,
Through April 13, the college will continue to pay you for your regular or scheduled hours, whether or not you are working.
Last week President Nissley informed you the college would be “closed for all but essential functions” through the end of March. Since then, Governor Whitmer has issued an executive order requiring that all but essential employees “Stay Home, Stay Safe” until April 13 to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As President Nissley shared with you recently, the college is working to be resourceful, flexible, creative, and compassionate during this time of great challenge. This includes choosing to extend the period you will be paid during this initial pandemic response and seeking additional resources.
IMPORTANT: Please watch for an upcoming message today with directions on HOW to record your time during this period.
We will be back in touch with you soon about plans starting April 14.
Please check our information hub for regular updates and FAQs: NMC.EDU/CORONAVIRUS
Please continue to watch your email for further notifications. Your questions are welcomed and should be addressed either to your direct supervisor or to the HR team.
Thank you,
Mark
Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342
To all staff employees, student employees and supplemental employees,
This is a follow-up message to help you understand how to record your time from April 1- April 13.
Effective April 1, all staff (including salaried), student and supplemental employees will be asked to record their scheduled, non-working time in ADP using the ‘COVID-19’ leave code (hourly employees were first asked to do this on March 18).
This is important because;
All Hourly Employees
All Salaried Staff Employees
Supervisors can perform the functions above on behalf of their employees, if needed. If you have any questions or problems please contact payroll@nmc.edu.
Thank you and have a safe and quiet weekend,
Mark
Mark Liebling
AVP of Human Resources
1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1342
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College will suspend face-to-face classes starting Monday, March 16, 2020 until Monday, April 27, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and keep students, faculty and staff safe.
All NMC classes will be delivered via distance education if possible. Some courses may not be able to be delivered via distance education, including some occupational and lab classes (e.g. culinary and welding.) Detailed information and instructions pertaining to each individual class will be communicated to students directly from the instructor. Students should regularly monitor e-mail for updates.
“NMC is committed to keeping our communities safe, while working to limit the disruption to learning as much as possible,” NMC President Nick Nissley said.
NMC has been monitoring and preparing for the community spread of COVID-19 since February, with input from partners in the Grand Traverse County Health Department, Munson Healthcare and state and federal health and emergency response agencies. The move to suspend face-to-face classes supports Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order late Thursday to close all Michigan K-12 schools from March 16- April 5. The governor identified that this is not only to protect the students and their families, but overall public health. As of today there are 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan.
“We at NMC support these efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus in our community,” Nissley said. ”I am proud to see our faculty and staff work diligently together toward the goal of transitioning learning to distance education delivery where possible. There is still work to do and we will continue to keep you informed of changes.”
Given the highly fluid nature of the situation, the best place to find campus updates is nmc.edu/coronavirus. NMC plans to resume face-to-face classes on campus the week of April 27, in time for students to take final exams. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic, however, this may change and NMC will continue to communicate via online messages, email and social media.
While classes are transitioning to distance education delivery, NMC’s four campuses: main, Great Lakes, University Center and Aero Park, are still open at this time. This includes all services and offices, the Dennos Museum Center and the Hagerty Center. Many services are available via phone, email and video conference, and staff are actively working to expand those options. Counseling services are available for students feeling overwhelmed or anxious. NMC’s two residence halls, East Hall and North Hall, as well as the NMC apartments will remain open and food service will be available for those students who want to remain on campus.
“While one of our goals is to limit the disruption to learning, this is an historic event. Our college community has always proven itself to be resourceful with a history of overcoming challenges, and I am confident that together we will continue that proud tradition now and into the future,” Nissley said.
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)
Please read the following information regarding access to free screening for COVID-19, and virtual visit followup.
Priority Health recommends beginning your health screening with a free virtual screening through a phone call to (616) 391-2380 (Spectrum Health). Once you have discussed your symptoms and situation, it will be determined if you should be referred to a Virtual Visit Online.
Please direct any questions to Hollie DeWalt at (231) 995-1350 or hdewalt@nmc.edu.
Good afternoon NMC family,
As NMC prepares to head into Spring Break following several challenging weeks, I wanted to connect, reflect and look forward with you “in person.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for all of us and we are all working together to build new solutions to keep our students, employees and community safe, while minimizing the disruptions to student learning as best as we can. I hope Spring Break gives you an opportunity to rest and relax (while following CDC guidelines) so you can finish the semester strong.
As a reminder, you can continue to find the latest information on NMC’s response to the pandemic and resources to help you at nmc.edu/coronavirus. There you will also find a feedback form if you have any questions or need help; our response team will get back to you within 24 hours.
Thank you,
Nick
—
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College has launched a new academic catalog website at catalog.nmc.edu that offers more comprehensive and coordinated program and course information and requirements in an easy-to-navigate format.
The new catalog site will serve as a single source for NMC students to find detailed program requirements, course descriptions and course sequence guides, while providing a common location for NMC employees to update information and submit new programs and courses and acting as the college’s official catalog of record going forward.
Over the coming weeks, much of the specific program and course information on the public website at nmc.edu will be redirected to the new site at catalog.nmc.edu, with links to specific program requirements and course sequence guides on the new site from each main program page on nmc.edu. In the meantime, look to the new site first for the most current catalog and curriculum information.
Brian Heffner
Director of Academic Affairs
bheffner@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1014
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College has launched a new academic catalog website at catalog.nmc.edu that offers more comprehensive and coordinated program and course information and requirements in an easy-to-navigate format.
The new catalog site will serve as a single source for NMC students to find detailed program requirements, course descriptions and course sequence guides, while providing a common location for NMC employees to update information and submit new programs and courses and acting as the college’s official catalog of record going forward.
Over the coming weeks, much of the specific program and course information on the public website at nmc.edu will be redirected to the new site at catalog.nmc.edu, with links to specific program requirements and course sequence guides on the new site from each main program page on nmc.edu. In the meantime, look to the new site first for the most current catalog and curriculum information.
Brian Heffner
Director of Academic Affairs
bheffner@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1014
TRAVERSE CITY — As Michigan continues to try and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Northwestern Michigan College today announced it will not return to face-to-face classes for exams this semester and will postpone its 2020 Commencement ceremony.
On March 13, NMC canceled face-to-face classes through April 27, the last week of the semester, when final exams are scheduled. Students will now not return to campus for exams. Instructors will make arrangements between now and then and communicate directly with students.
The 2020 Commencement ceremony, originally set for May 2, will either be delayed until August or a double ceremony held in May 2021.
In compliance and support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay home, stay safe order, all NMC’s campuses are closed through April 13. This includes the Dennos Museum and the Hagerty Center. All events are canceled through mid-May, including the NMC Barbecue originally scheduled for May 17. See a complete list of cancellations here.
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
Good afternoon NMC community,
Throughout the last few weeks the college has had to make a lot of important decisions quickly in an effort to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these decisions have been difficult, but the goal remains to keep you safe while limiting the impact on learning as much as possible.
Today we have two new important updates to share with you:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for all of us. Thank you for your patience, as we continue to work together toward solutions to these new challenges. You can continue to find the latest information on NMC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resources to help you at nmc.edu/coronavirus. There you will also find a feedback form. If you have any questions, or need help, we will get back to you within 24 hours.
NMC Public Relations