Welcome our newest hire
Jack Shiner recently started working at the college as a supplemental employee in front of house food service. Welcome to the NMC community!
Board of Trustees Policy Committee meeting
The NMC Board of Trustees Policy Committee will meet Tuesday, November 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.
Study Abroad photo contest
Stop by the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center lobby from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 to see the winning photographs from the Study Abroad 2025 experiences in the landscape/cultural categories and place your vote for your favorite photo in the animal category.
All photos were taken by students during their study abroad experiences in Morocco, Denmark, France and Spain.
Global Cinema Series: Four Souls of Coyote
Four Souls of Coyote will screen at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 in the Dutmers Theater as part of NMC’s Global Cinema Series.
Four Souls of Coyote is an animated feature film that is set in the present day focusing on Native American teenagers who confront the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors. Four Souls of Coyote is billed as an epic adventure tale of the Native American creation myth. Through a unique retelling of the creation of the universe, the film highlights the increasingly pressing need to live in harmony with the environment, before it’s too late.
Running time: 105 minutes.
Admission is FREE and is open to students, staff and the community, although seating is limited. Doors open and 5:30 p.m. and films begin at 6 p.m. in the Dutmers Theater at the Dennos Museum on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
Surveillance Cameras
NMC employees and students may request that Campus Security review surveillance footage to assist in identifying alleged criminal activity or misconduct, provided there is a substantiated reason to do so. Please contact Campus Security at extension (231) 995-1111 for assistance.
NMC VP chosen for state transfer success council
Stephen Siciliano (download high-resolution photo)TRAVERSE CITY — Stephen Siciliano, NMC’s vice president for Educational Services, has been selected to serve as a member of the newly launched statewide Advisory Council on Transfer Success (ACTS).
Convened by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP), ACTS will guide statewide efforts to expand pathways to degree completion, strengthen collaboration across Michigan’s colleges and universities, and prepare more students for in-demand careers.
NMC President Nick Nissley stated: “Dr. Siciliano’s participation reflects NMC’s deep commitment to the strong and effective transfer of our students to their choice of university.” About half of NMC students enroll seeking to transfer to a four-year college or university where they will complete a bachelor’s and/or other advanced degree.
“The ability to transfer should be a bridge, not a barrier,” said Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The Advisory Council on Transfer Success brings together leaders from across Michigan’s education institutions to drive bold, student-centered change, simplify pathways, and create a system where every student has the opportunity to finish their degree and access meaningful, in-demand jobs.”
Through their service, ACTS will help advance ongoing efforts to reach Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which seeks to increase the number of working-age adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 60% by 2030.
The council’s 16 members will play guide and oversee the state’s Transfer Success Project while also supporting MiLEAP’s efforts to navigate the transfer landscape, engage partners and advocate for productive change. Together, they will help streamline credit transfers, expand pathways in high-demand fields and make the process more transparent for students.
“Streamlined transfer pathways are critical to helping students stay on track and complete their degrees,” said Katie Giardello, Transfer Success Project Manager within MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education. “With the Advisory Council’s leadership, we can make transfer simpler and more predictable so that more students can achieve their educational and career goals.”
About MiLEAP:
Established by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
Release date: OCTOBER 28, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationTrunk or Treat winners
Students and staff braved the rain to share the spooky spirit with trick or treaters at the annual Student Ambassador’s Trunk or Treat last week. This year’s winners of the trunk contest are:
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- 1st Place: Scooby Doo Mystery Machine (Adyn McHugh)
- 2nd Place: The Lorax (Erin Lake)
- 3rd Place: Zombies (Alyssa Irani)
Scooby Doo Mystery Machine
Thanks to the Student Ambassadors (Kylie Gibson, Holly Hayes, Eily Knight and Bradley Knight) for hosting an awesome, community-building Trunk or Treat event and to our judges (Lisa Thomas, Elise Ballinger and Lisa Blackford) who had the tough job of choosing between all the amazing submissions.
Food and basic needs resources at NMC
NMC offers both permanent and mobile food pantries for students and their families. This fall, usage of both has risen compared to 2024. With food assistance benefits (SNAP) potentially paused starting next week due to the government shutdown, please take advantage of these resources. The self-serve permanent food pantry is located in the Osterlin building on NMC’s Front Street campus. Hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 3-8 p.m. Sundays. Students log their visit via QR code, then serve themselves.
Other student resources include lunch coupons, Goodwill Inn vouchers, transportation assistance and emergency assistance.
The mobile food pantry distributes twice a month and is also open to the community. Upcoming dates are Monday, Nov. 3, Monday, Nov. 24 and Monday, Dec. 1. All are 3-5 p.m. and all are held at the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. Users receive up to $200 worth of food per family per week, usually 8-10 different items, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables as well as other perishable foods. Any leftovers are stocked in the Osterlin permanent pantry.
To donate non-perishable food and personal care items to the Osterlin pantry, please review the list of items most needed here. To support student basic needs financially, donate at nmc.edu/give. In the drop-down menu, select “NMC Food Pantry,” “Student Emergency Resource Fund” or “other.”
Media mentions for October 27, 2025
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.
13 spooky happenings up north
Northern Express, Oct. 25
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Logo gift delivery underway; recycling deadline extended
Facilities is delivering all the logo gift items ordered after Opening Conference to department/office managers. If you find anything missing or incorrect, please let PRMC know at publicrelations@nmc.edu. The deadline for recycling old logo items (and entering a raffle to win a new water bottle or cup) has been extended to Oct. 31. Please bring old items to the PRMC office, located in room 104 of the Les Biederman Building.
Thanks for your partnership in living the refreshed NMC brand. New name tags are expected in November. In the meantime, visit the brand hub tile on your MyNMC page to download new logos, letterhead, presentation templates, videoconference backgrounds, update your email signature, order business cards and more.
Stop the Bleed course
The Campus Safety department, along with the Facilities department, are in the process of installing “Stop the Bleed” kits next to every AED machine cabinet.
All employees are encouraged to take the interactive “Stop the Bleed” course in NEOED to learn how to use the kit effectively. This is important.
The course guides you through the methods of bleeding control using video demonstrations, interactive learning, and quizzes. This course is estimated to take 25 minutes. Take the course here!
Mobile food pantry
NMC is hosting a mobile pantry on from 3–5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3 in the Maple Lot at the Front Street campus.
NMC’s mobile pantry program is designed specifically for NMC students and their families. Mobile pantries provide 7-10 days worth of fresh and shelf-stable goods to supplement family incomes. While this is intended for students, all are welcome. There are no financial requirements or means tests. Drive-thru and walk-up options are both available.
Campus Safety Reminder — Bicycle theft alert
Several bicycles have been reported stolen from campus over the past four months. As a precaution, please remember to always lock your bicycle (and vehicle) securely or, if possible, store it inside your residence.
If your bicycle is stolen, take the following steps:
- Report the theft to the Traverse City Police Department at (231) 922-4550.
- Notify NMC Security at (231) 995-1111 after filing your police report.
Your vigilance helps keep our campus community safe. Thank you for taking steps to protect your property.
Welcome our newest hires!
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Krista McCarty — EES Marketing Coordinator
- Everett Howell, student employee — Communications Office Assistant
It’s here! It’s here! It’s heeeere! NMC logo gift items
The new NMC logo gift items have arrived! Apparel and drinkware will be delivered to the designated campus contacts (typically your office manager) beginning on Friday. Thanks for your patience with the ordering and delivery process. We look forward to seeing you sport or carry these items around campus.
New NMC name tags will arrive in November. This turned out to be a longer process than expected. Thanks to Facilities for picking up the logo gift items so that they could get distributed as soon as possible.
Special order apparel
The Campus Bookstore is expanding the professional apparel options available through a new special order program! Check out our special order pieces at bookstore.nmc.edu. Special order apparel is available in men’s and women’s cuts; men’s sizing can range from Small-5XL and some include tall sizing. Women’s cuts can range from X-Small-3XL.
All items are made to order and can be shipped to the bookstore and picked up at the bookstore or sent to your office via campus mail. To take your employee discount, please use the coupon code SPECIALORDER at checkout. Please let us know in the notes of the order if you’d like us to campus mail your order.
NMC October Conference: That’s a wrap!
Thank you to all who helped make October Conference a success! We appreciate all who led sessions, served on a panel, supported pre-conference arrangements, those who helped out during the day and all who attended. What a great day of connection and learning about the impact of AI!
View the photo gallery.
Disc Golf tournament
Campus Life will host a Disc Golf tournament at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24. Participants will meet in front of East Hall. Prizes will be given for the top participants with the lowest score for 9 holes. Register
For more information, contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.