Announcement from the NMC Green Team:
Brush drop-off site closing for the season November 19.
Grand Traverse County Brush Drop-Off Site:
2471 N. Keystone Road, Traverse City
Tuesdays: noon-dusk
Thursdays and Saturdays: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The sites accepts brush, grass clippings, leaves, stumps and untreated construction wood. For more information on the brush drop-off site, visit: recyclesmart.info/905/Brush-
Students Mackenzie Campbell and Dustin Leppert from NMC’s Audio Technology program composed a song in honor of Veterans Day, illustrated by posters done by students from local schools including TCAPS, TCAPS Montessori and Long Lake Elementary. The song was played in West Hall during NMC’s Veterans Day ceremonies. Check it out below or at ensemble.nmc.edu/Watch/b7QDi5k3!
A variety of student-led activities will highlight National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (NHHAW) from November 12 until November 19. Events will be hosted by NMC students in Composition and Sociology courses. Join us to support student research, service and engagement.
NMC NHHAW STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE – NOVEMBER 16:
On November 16, from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm in Scholars Hall on NMC Main Campus, NMC students will share their learning with the community, giving presentations and sharing research posters. Students’ research will debunk myths of poverty as well as highlight areas critical to these like housing policy, economic inequality, low-income dynamics, homelessness and food insecurity. Students’ research posters will be left on display through the month of November. Come see what all of this is about!
NMC FOOD FOR THOUGHT & HYGIENE DRIVE – OCTOBER 29 UNTIL NOVEMBER 18:
Students in Composition and Sociology courses are supporting Kristy McDonald’s BUS-231 NMC Food for Thought Drive, putting an emphasis on the importance of hygiene and personal care products. These items are often overlooked by donors to food pantries, and, as such, this need goes unfilled. Access to personal care products can affect employability, self-esteem and children’s school relationships and performance. Students will be setting up stations at Tom’s Grocery Stores, Walmart, and at NMC’s Tech Expo and elsewhere to encourage donations. In addition to the many connections already established by business students, our students are also coordinating with area schools, including TC West, Grand Traverse Academy and TC St. Francis to scale up the project. Contact Brandon Everest at beverest@nmc.edu to learn more or to donate.
WALK FOR HEALTH & HOUSING – NOVEMBER 14:
Join us in a Walk for Health & Housing on November 14 at 5:30 pm to bring awareness to the challenges of unhoused people in our region. Ryan Hannon, Goodwill Street Outreach Coordinator, will take participants on a guided walk and tour of downtown Traverse City bringing attention to the sorts of situations and challenges faced by homeless people. There will be speeches by other participants as well. We will begin and end at the Great Lakes Campus for this one-hour tour to make the invisible problem of homelessness visible to area residents. Students are making signs, banners, info sheets and pamphlets to distribute to passers-by and onlookers in this effort. We will stop by the Government Center to highlight ways area citizens can provide input to City and County Commission Meetings and elsewhere. We need “All Hands on Deck” for this event to be as successful as possible. We hope to see you there!
NMC SNAP CHALLENGE:
Click here for information about the SNAP Challenge. In short, the SNAP Challenge is an awareness raising activity where participants live off of a SNAP/Food Stamp budget for a week ($29) and document their experiences, sharing those with the community in some way. For us, we hope that participants will share video recordings on their social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others with the hashtags: #nmcsnap and #snapchallenge). We have a growing number of participants, and we hope you will consider joining us in that effort and spreading the word. We are asking participants to pick a week in the month of November to take the challenge. Further “rules” information will be distributed to participants upon their agreement to take the challenge.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:
TRAVERSE CITY — The Board of Trustees from Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is beginning the process of replacing Vice-Chair Steven Rawlings after he resigned from his position this week.
Rawlings announced Thursday he is stepping down from the board, citing increased responsibilities and travel for his job, but added he remains dedicated to the college.
In a letter to Board Chair Kennard Weaver, Rawlings said, “I am hopeful that one day I will serve the college community again in some capacity. But in the meantime, I will forever remain in awe of NMC, its inspiring students, devoted faculty, committed staff and administration, fellow board members and donors alike- each of whom, dedicate so much time, treasure and talent to the betterment of our community.”
Trustee Weaver said, “We at NMC are appreciative of the service of Mr. Rawlings. His perspective, insight and willingness to engage in thoughtful discourse have been of great benefit to our communities of learners. We wish him well.”
Trustees will hold a special meeting on Monday, November 14, 2016, at 5 p.m. to decide the next steps to fill the vacancy until the next NMC Board of Trustees election in November 2018, where voters will choose a candidate to serve the remainder of the term held by Rawlings which expires December 31, 2020.
Michigan law gives the college 30 days to fill this position.
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
Are you looking for career opportunities? Find it here! jobs.nmc.edu. Current openings include:
KUDOS- (praise or respect that you get because of something you have done or achieved) defined by Merriam-Webster.com
Submit a Kudos here.
Kudos to Amanda Gower- For coordinating the Commitment Scholarship Induction Ceremony. Amanda took on this new task and ensured the students, families, and colleagues all felt welcomed, well informed. It was truly made to be a special event to celebrate the lives that will be changed and the people who make it possible. Thanks to Amanda for all her effort to make it happen beautifully and for the enthusiasm and support of Pam Palermo and others who were involved with the event and support the program.
Dear NMC Faculty and Staff,
I would like to update you on the current state of our health insurance benefits decision process, and also inform you of an important change in our Open Enrollment schedule.
We will be postponing Open Enrollment from Monday, November 14, 2016 to Thursday, December 1, 2016.
As many of you are aware, changes in the health insurance environment nationally have contributed to cost increases of health insurance plans for employers, and NMC is no exception. We have attempted to let everyone know about these changes and about the College’s options through Benefits Advisory Committee members, and also in 3 meetings where Hollie DeWalt and I spoke directly to the College community. A key point in these discussions has been that a renewal of our health insurance plans ‘as is’ would cost an additional $413,000.
We presented 2 options for changes in our benefits plans that would reduce the amount of cost increase to both the College and to employees, with what we believe are relatively minor reductions in benefits levels. We asked for everyone’s feedback. The feedback we received overwhelmingly favored Option 1 over Option 2. On Monday, October 31, the BAC met and agreed that their respective groups preferred Option 1 over Option 2.
We also agreed that the HSA seeding in Option 1 would be front loaded at 70/30, rather than 50/50, in order to better help employees manage health care cash flows.
This week, we began discussions with the Faculty and Academic Chair unions regarding the proposed changes. We have additional meetings set up later this week and next week if necessary to continue our conversations. Because of the on-going conversations with the Faculty and Academic Chair unions, we are postponing the Open Enrollment scheduled for November 14, 2016 to Thursday, December 1, 2016.
The HR team and the BAC is appreciative of your involvement in these discussions and in your understanding of our current situation. Check your calendar for updated details in the Open Enrollment schedule. Please feel free to contact me or Hollie DeWalt if you have questions.
We look forward to seeing you all at Open Enrollment on December 1.
Thank you,
Mark Liebling, Executive Director of Human Resources
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Join us Wednesday, November 16, for an All Day, All You Can Eat Thanksgiving FeastAnnouncing Bite, a new menu and nutrition app that can link to myfitnesspal.com.
Search for “Bite by Sodexo” on the App Store or Google Play, and use Bite Code G2HP8
In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, this semester, NMC students are collecting food donations, swinging hammers and X-raying teeth.
Service learning projects, which engage the whole class in a project that also benefits the community, have a long history in many academic areas at NMC. Here’s a look at some underway this semester, and how to help or participate yourself:
Food for Thought food drive – The fourth annual event organized by NMC business students runs through November 19. Regional pantries have come to rely on the event, which seeks to collect enough non-perishable food and hygiene products to stock more than 45 pantries throughout northwest Michigan through the holiday season.
“It’s not just a blessing for some pantries, it is survival,” said Val Stone with the Northwest Food Coalition.
Donations are accepted on campus and at several community collection sites, including at Technology Exploration Day this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parsons-Stulen Building.
Dental X-rays – Dental assistant students began their annual free X-ray project this week. Patients referred by their dentist may receive a free set of complete X-rays, valued at up to $200 per set. Instructor Beckie Wooters expects between 80 and 90 patients to take advantage before it wraps up Dec. 8.
“We get a lot of patients that are returned to us when they’re due for these X-rays, because they enjoy the opportunity to meet our students,” Wooters said. The program has been offered since at least 1995.
Students will also be using new digital equipment in all three screening rooms, enabling them to e-mail X-rays directly to patients’ dentists. The digital images mean less radiation exposure for patients, too, Wooters said.
Garden shed – In October, Construction Technology students finished building an 8-by-12-foot storage shed on the property of the non-profit TC Community Garden, located at the Grand Traverse Commons. Previously, the garden had a small, old shed which didn’t offer sufficient space or security, garden president Kimberly Conaghan said.
“We’ll be able to upgrade our tools and have a lot more autonomy to store our own equipment,” she said.
The shed’s green roof and permeable surrounding pavement integrates with an adjacent rain garden, making the whole project a demonstration of the garden’s mission of education and sustainability.
“There’s kind of a cycle that’s happening there with green infrastructure,” said Conaghan, who estimated the value of materials and labor at $25,000.
It’s the second shed students have built; the first went up at the Grand Traverse Conservation District in 2015. NMC alumnus Nate Griswold of green building company Inhabitect assisted with the project, too.
In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, this semester, NMC students are collecting food donations, swinging hammers and X-raying teeth.
Service learning projects, which engage the whole class in a project that also benefits the community, have a long history in many academic areas at NMC. Here’s a look at some underway this semester, and how to help or participate yourself:
Food for Thought food drive – The fourth annual event organized by NMC business students runs through November 19. Regional pantries have come to rely on the event, which seeks to collect enough non-perishable food and hygiene products to stock more than 45 pantries throughout northwest Michigan through the holiday season.
“It’s not just a blessing for some pantries, it is survival,” said Val Stone with the Northwest Food Coalition.
Donations are accepted on campus and at several community collection sites, including at Technology Exploration Day this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parsons-Stulen Building.
Dental X-rays – Dental assistant students began their annual free X-ray project this week. Patients referred by their dentist may receive a free set of complete X-rays, valued at up to $200 per set. Instructor Beckie Wooters expects between 80 and 90 patients to take advantage before it wraps up Dec. 8.
“We get a lot of patients that are returned to us when they’re due for these X-rays, because they enjoy the opportunity to meet our students,” Wooters said. The program has been offered since at least 1995.
Students will also be using new digital equipment in all three screening rooms, enabling them to e-mail X-rays directly to patients’ dentists. The digital images mean less radiation exposure for patients, too, Wooters said.
Garden shed – In October, Construction Technology students finished building an 8-by-12-foot storage shed on the property of the non-profit TC Community Garden, located at the Grand Traverse Commons. Previously, the garden had a small, old shed which didn’t offer sufficient space or security, garden president Kimberly Conaghan said.
“We’ll be able to upgrade our tools and have a lot more autonomy to store our own equipment,” she said.
The shed’s green roof and permeable surrounding pavement integrates with an adjacent rain garden, making the whole project a demonstration of the garden’s mission of education and sustainability.
“There’s kind of a cycle that’s happening there with green infrastructure,” said Conaghan, who estimated the value of materials and labor at $25,000.
It’s the second shed students have built; the first went up at the Grand Traverse Conservation District in 2015. NMC alumnus Nate Griswold of green building company Inhabitect assisted with the project, too.
Regional accreditation is required for NMC to provide access to federal and state funding for the college and our students. NMC follows the AQIP pathway offered by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) which includes regular monitoring, annual Action Projects, Strategy Forums, Systems Portfolios and Appraisals, and a Comprehensive Quality Review. The next step in our cycle involves the creation of the Systems Portfolio.
The Systems Portfolio covers six (6) categories and describes our processes, results, and improvements in each system. The six categories are:
Our last Systems Portfolio was submitted in 2013, our next one is due 11/1/17.
The HLC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an entity that accredits institutions of higher learning. The Systems Portfolio is the primary document that demonstrates that NMC provides quality education to students in meeting the criteria for accreditation. Completing the Systems Portfolio is a time for the College to reflect, clarify, plan, and receive feedback. It is an essential element of our continuous improvement efforts.
Work groups for each category are being created who will gather input from faculty and staff across the campus. You may be asked to serve on a work group, or you may be asked to provide information or perspective on one or several of the categories.
We will be launching kickoff meetings for the work groups mid-November.
You will receive regular updates throughout the process and will be invited to submit questions or feedback.
After our Systems Portfolio is received and reviewed by the HLC, a peer review team will visit our campus as part of a comprehensive evaluation which will include the team speaking with various faculty, staff, and student groups.
Questions may be directed to Joy Evans, Executive Director of Research, Planning and Effectiveness (ORPE) at jevans@nmc.edu
Could you be a Peer Guide?
Do you remember life as a new employee? Could you help a new employee adjust to a new position at NMC? If yes, we need you!
We are looking for new Peer Guides who will connect new NMC employees with experienced NMC employees. Guides provide new employees with support during their transition to NMC, befriending them, answering questions and introducing them to colleagues from outside their immediate work area.
The next training to become a Peer Guide is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, 10-11:30 am.
If serving as a Peer Guide sounds rewarding, please click here. For more information or to sign up for training, contact Lori Hodek in Human Resources at 995-1143 or lhodek@nmc.edu.
International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
NMC’s commemoration of the 16th annual International Education Week includes food from India, China and Russia; a student speaker from Norway and a former White House Director for the Middle East; and a study abroad fair.
The students of Kristy McDonald’s Professional Communications class are hosting the fourth annual Food for Thought non-perishable food and hygiene drive. We want to invite you and team to a little fun and friendly competition. With the increased need of supplies for our local community, NMC’s Food for Thought has partnered with the Northwest Michigan Food Coalition to raise donations to help feed and provide hygiene products to over 4,000 people this holiday season.
The students have created a challenge for the faculty/staff/students to make donating even more exciting!
This challenge is a way for the faculty, staff and students to support a NMC student project and give back to our community at the same time. Please like NMC’s Food for Thought’s Facebook page for information and updates on the latest events: facebook.com/
If you are unable to donate during the challenge, there are red donation bins in the Osterlin Library, Parsons-Stulen and Health & Science buildings. You can also make monetary donations through the Facebook page. Thank you for helping collect food to fill the pantries in our local community. Let the games begin!
Gwendolyn Neumann
NMC Food for Thought Student Logistics Leader
(231) 392-2332
neuman62@mail.nmc.edu
**Open Enrollment Meetings- Regular FT & PT Employees**
Benefits Vendor Fair for All Employees
**These sessions are for the regular benefited employees in preparation for the Open Enrollment period (Nov 14-Nov 28, 2016). Presentations will cover medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and LTD insurance options. Appointments have been sent directly to eligible employees for these sessions. These sessions are for regular employees eligible for NMC’s medical plans.
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Consolidated Financial |
Valic |
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Meritain Health |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI |
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Cigna Insurance
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LegalShield |
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TBA Credit Union |
Harvitt/Meemic Insurance |
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TIAA |
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Stop in anytime during the day and talk to these benefits vendors at their booths. Find out if their offerings are right for you. Several of the vendors are offering prize drawings, so stop by their booths and sign up for a chance to win!
Would you like to be a part of the NMC Wellness Committee? We are recharging and reenergizing this committee, and would love to have a few new members on board! We will have a standing meeting one time per month, and assist with some of the Wellness activities. Please let Hollie DeWalt in HR know if you have any interest by November 21, 2016.
KUDOS- (praise or respect that you get because of something you have done or achieved) defined by Merriam-Webster.com
Kudos to Dennis Schultz in Educational Media Technologies for all your work on Professional Development Day. Thank you for taking photos and video throughout the day to capture learning, collaboration, and shared moments to document the day.
Kudos to all the following individuals who helped make the Fall Professional Development Day a success: Roy & Sodexo Staff for creating & delivering the many great lunches and coffee to feed everyone. Facilities staff who delivered and set up all the tables & chairs to create a lunch oasis. Jenny Barnes & Deb Patterson for all their work scheduling Biederman & Health Science and room setups. Jack Conners for your time & expertise running the tech for the opening session & Megan Heator for your assistance with hosting the event.
Kudos to Michelle Schneider, Kay Harris, Kyle Morrison- they dedicated significant time to creating the opening video for the October PD Day. Michelle latched onto Kay’s original idea and visited multiple departments to collect spontaneous testimonials about student success and Kyle worked his editing magic to create a wonderful video from the multitude of video footage that Michelle collected. Their hard work and dedication to NMC’s PD Day is very much appreciated!
Kudos to Jim White and Kim Gourlay along with everyone involved in set up and planning of the Homeland Security Emergency Management training held last week. The training was very informative and included several agencies of local responders including Fire, police and Emergency Manager for Grand Traverse County. Attendees also included Interlochen emergency management folks and a TC K-12 representative as well as NMC representatives from the Emergency Management team. It is important to get all of these groups in one room to discuss combined approaches. Thank you.
Kudos to Gwen Tafelsky for arranging an NMC tour for TBA/ISD Health Occupations students and instructors. The students toured nursing, surgical technician, and dental assistant programs to acquaint them with the health related academic programs that are offered at NMC. Thanks also to Margaret Fox for acting as the tour guide!