Benefits Corner- UPDATED: Compliance training courses for all employees

We’re working on some glitches with SilkRoad Learning (access issues, due dates, etc.) The training should be working now. Below are directions and tips to help you. Thanks for your patience with our new system. Below are login instructions and tips. Remember to use Chrome or FireFox as Internet Explorer is not supported.
 
Please login to SilkRoad Learning through Chrome or FireFox using the link below:
 
Go to: MyNMC > Human Resources (click to expand) > SilkRoad Learning
  • You should see Title IX training (required for all employees.) You can complete a few sections at a time. This training will take approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete. Log out using the “EXIT” button to bookmark your training progress.
  • Training is due May 8, 2016. (Supervisors, please allow time for employees to complete training during work hours.)
  • If you have any problems accessing the training, please contact NMC HelpDesk. You may enter a ticket under Human Resources>SilkRoad>Learning.
  • Note: Alcohol & Drug Awareness training is required of all except those who were hired in 2016.
We apologize for the short timeline. We appreciate your help keeping our campus safe and keeping NMC legally compliant.
 
Please contact me if you do not see Title IX training on your “My Training tile.”
 
Thank you!
 
 

#MyVoice photo campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

#myvoiceThe #MyVoice Photo Campaign was created with the intention of raising awareness during sexual assault awareness month (April), as well as showing support for survivors and starting conversations both on and off campus. The campaign was developed by the NMC student group Voices. Voices is a peer support and activist/advocacy group working to raise awareness and change the way our community views and discusses sexual assault.

Success story: Maritime alumna leads Beaver Island Boat Co.

April 6, 2016

By the calendar, spring arrived two weeks ago, but for Great Lakes Maritime Academy alumna Margo Marks, it sailed in today.

This morning the Emerald Isle picked up passengers at Charlevoix for the Beaver Island Boat Co.’s first voyage of the season. For company president Marks, the vessel’s return from its winter on the Lake Michigan island truly signifies spring.

Beaver Island ferry and Charlevoix drawbridge“It’s always exciting to see the bridge open,” she said of the drawbridge over the channel that links Lake Michigan and Round Lake. “It’s a beautiful sight to see the Emerald Isle pull in.”

Marks, 54, and her husband Todd both graduated in 1983, she as a deck officer and he as an engine officer. Their timing couldn’t have been worse, coinciding with a slump in the U.S. steel industry that dominated Great Lakes shipping. In order to find work, Todd Marks joined the Army and the couple left the state for nearly a decade. But the Great Lakes are a powerful lure.

“We were always trying to find a way to get back to Traverse City,” Marks said.

It came after her husband’s military discharge. He found work on a West Coast tanker, hauling petroleum from Alaska to Long Beach, Calif. The job allowed their family of five to live anywhere, and in 1992 the Markses returned to northern Michigan. (Todd Marks still works as a chief engineer.)

In 1994 Marks got her own second shot at a maritime career when she became harbormaster for the village of Elk Rapids. She stayed in that role until 2001 when she joined the Beaver Island Boat Co. as general manager.

Ferry as a lifeline

The ferry is considered a lifeline for the island’s 550 resident and a boon for tourism in Charlevoix. During the course of 375 annual round trips between April and December the Emerald Isle transports 6,500 vehicles, 40,000 passengers, and all manner of freight, from appliances to manufactured homes to heavy equipment.

“One time we had a young lady take a goat in her car,” Marks recalled.

Charlevoix Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Amanda Wilkin noted that 40,000 ferry passengers also means 40,000 potential diners and shoppers are discharged into the streets of Charlevoix. The drawbridge itself is an attraction.

“It’s a huge attraction for people to watch the bridge go up and the ferry go through,” she said. “It’s a unique thing to our community.”

Marks also serves her industry as the president of the Passenger Vessel Association, a national association representing owners and operators of dinner cruise vessels, sightseeing and excursion vessels, car and passenger ferries and other vessels that carry more than 200 million passengers per year.

1927 wooden-hulled boatMarks traces her maritime career to her downstate childhood, when she helped her father restore a 1927 wooden-hulled boat at a marina in Monroe (right).

“It fell over in winter storage. My dad bought it with a hole and we repaired it,” she said. They subsequently spent every summer weekend on the Queen Ann — named for her mother — on Lake Erie.

“Dad and I would go out and do a lot of perch fishing. We’d go out and fish and swim and it was a great time,” Marks said.

A photo of the Queen Ann now graces her office as Marks prepares for another season helping other families make memories on another Great Lake.

Success story: Maritime alumna leads Beaver Island Boat Co.

April 6, 2016

By the calendar, spring arrived two weeks ago, but for Great Lakes Maritime Academy alumna Margo Marks, it sailed in today.

This morning the Emerald Isle picked up passengers at Charlevoix for the Beaver Island Boat Co.’s first voyage of the season. For company president Marks, the vessel’s return from its winter on the Lake Michigan island truly signifies spring.

Beaver Island ferry and Charlevoix drawbridge“It’s always exciting to see the bridge open,” she said of the drawbridge over the channel that links Lake Michigan and Round Lake. “It’s a beautiful sight to see the Emerald Isle pull in.”

Marks, 54, and her husband Todd both graduated in 1983, she as a deck officer and he as an engine officer. Their timing couldn’t have been worse, coinciding with a slump in the U.S. steel industry that dominated Great Lakes shipping. In order to find work, Todd Marks joined the Army and the couple left the state for nearly a decade. But the Great Lakes are a powerful lure.

“We were always trying to find a way to get back to Traverse City,” Marks said.

It came after her husband’s military discharge. He found work on a West Coast tanker, hauling petroleum from Alaska to Long Beach, Calif. The job allowed their family of five to live anywhere, and in 1992 the Markses returned to northern Michigan. (Todd Marks still works as a chief engineer.)

In 1994 Marks got her own second shot at a maritime career when she became harbormaster for the village of Elk Rapids. She stayed in that role until 2001 when she joined the Beaver Island Boat Co. as general manager.

Ferry as a lifeline

The ferry is considered a lifeline for the island’s 550 resident and a boon for tourism in Charlevoix. During the course of 375 annual round trips between April and December the Emerald Isle transports 6,500 vehicles, 40,000 passengers, and all manner of freight, from appliances to manufactured homes to heavy equipment.

“One time we had a young lady take a goat in her car,” Marks recalled.

Charlevoix Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Amanda Wilkin noted that 40,000 ferry passengers also means 40,000 potential diners and shoppers are discharged into the streets of Charlevoix. The drawbridge itself is an attraction.

“It’s a huge attraction for people to watch the bridge go up and the ferry go through,” she said. “It’s a unique thing to our community.”

Marks also serves her industry as the president of the Passenger Vessel Association, a national association representing owners and operators of dinner cruise vessels, sightseeing and excursion vessels, car and passenger ferries and other vessels that carry more than 200 million passengers per year.

1927 wooden-hulled boatMarks traces her maritime career to her downstate childhood, when she helped her father restore a 1927 wooden-hulled boat at a marina in Monroe (right).

“It fell over in winter storage. My dad bought it with a hole and we repaired it,” she said. They subsequently spent every summer weekend on the Queen Ann — named for her mother — on Lake Erie.

“Dad and I would go out and do a lot of perch fishing. We’d go out and fish and swim and it was a great time,” Marks said.

A photo of the Queen Ann now graces her office as Marks prepares for another season helping other families make memories on another Great Lake.

Almost Home Housewarming Event

ferris-logoA group of Master’s level Social Workers from Ferris State University is raising money on behalf of 36 families and individuals moving into Carson Square Apartments, a new supportive housing development in Traverse City specifically for individuals experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic violence and people with disabilities.

To reach their goal of $10,000, the group is hosting an event at Right Brain Brewery on Sunday, April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. and asking for sponsors and cash donations. Sponsors who donate $250 or more will be featured by name at the event. The money earned at this event will go a long way in covering the move-in needs of a new apartment and your gift will make a difference in the life of many individuals and families from your community!

Learn more here »

Window on the World

An NMC Global Opportunity logoWindow on the World

A week of international events: April 14–23, 2016

Date

Event

Region

Time

Place

Cost

Thursday, April 14

International Club International Dinner
Featuring fine cuisine from many regions and cultures. Also featuring international talents and entertainment. Located at the Hagerty Center. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available through MyNorth at MyNorthTickets.com. (For student prices, please contact Julia at jcastilho@nmc.edu or the Jason in the Admissions Office at (231) 995-1054)

World

6–8 p.m.

Hagerty Center

$40

Friday, April 15

Global Literature Reading Group Discussion
The Global Literature Reading Group will discuss this semester’s book, House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East, by Anthony Shadid, which tells the story of a Lebanese-American journalist who stumbles upon the ruins of his grandfather’s estate while covering the war in Lebanon.

Lebanon

Noon–1:30 p.m.

West Hall Conference Room

Free

Saturday, April 16

Sweet Earth Arts & Music Festival
An all-inclusive Earth Day celebration featuring musicians, artist vendors, family friendly activities and workshops to help plant the seeds of environmental consciousness and provide resources to help it grow.

United States

1–6 p.m.

Hagerty Center

Free

Tuesday, April 19

Global Endorsement Spotlight—Tabling Event
An opportunity for students to discover how to distinguish themselves from other NMC graduates by participating in the Global Endorsement program and by earning the endorsement on their transcript. Available to those wanting to know more and to those already a part of the GE Cohort, especially if you are in need of completing your Capstone.

World

11 a.m.–1 p.m.

West Hall, Lower Level

Free

Wednesday, April 20

Sounds From Afar
NMC international students will share music and stories from their home countries on WNMC.

World

7:30 a.m.

WNMC, 90.7 FM

Free

Global Flavor Day
Taste a variety of international cuisines from Sodexo.

11 a.m.–1 p.m. Hawk Owl Café, West Hall Varies

Thursday, April 21

Passport Student Lecture Series Brown Bag Lunch – Peru
Explore other cultures through the experiences of NMC students. Bring your lunch and hear international student Stefany Gray speak about Peru.

Peru

12:15–1 p.m

Founders Hall, Room 110

Free

International Affairs Forum Canada: PM Trudeau’s New Direction
Justin Trudeau, a 43-year old ex-teacher with no government experience but a famous pedigree, is taking Canada’s Liberal government in new directions. Among his immediate challenges as prime minister are Syrian refugees, free trade, climate change, and how to confront the Islamic State. Join Canadian diplomat David Collins for a discussion of Canadian foreign policy, including issues in Michigan’s backyard.

Canada

6–7 p.m.

Milliken Auditorium

$10 at the door, free for students and educators

Saturday, April 23

Caravanserai II – A Project of the Arts Midwest
The second tour of the Caravanserai’s 2015‐16 season will feature hip‐hop/soul duo The Reminders joined by a female hip‐hop dance troupe led by choreographer Amirah Sackett. The tour will be emceed by Caravanserai’s Artistic Director, Asad Ali Jafri, performing under his stage moniker, DJ Man‐O‐Wax.

World

8–9 p.m.

Milliken Auditorium

$17 members, $20 advance, $23 door (additional fees apply)

Window on the World is sponsored by NMC International Services, The Dennos Museum Center, NMC International Club, International Affairs Forum, WNMC 90.7 Community Radio, The State Theatre, Michigan Global Awareness Consortium and Sodexo.

Spring concerts

TRAVERSE CITY — Step into spring by enjoying one of these toe-tapping shows by NMC’s talented performance ensembles in April and May:

  • Sunday, April 17: NMC Music Department recital. 3 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Donations taken at the door for the Music Student Scholarship Fund.

  • Tuesday, April 19: NMC Concert Band presents “A Few of Our Favorite Things.” 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Admission for NMC students with student ID is free. Tickets are available at mynorthtickets.com or at the door.

  • Friday, April 22: NMC Jazz Bands and NMC Vocal Jazz Ensemble. 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Admission for NMC students with student ID is free. Tickets are available at mynorthtickets.com or at the door.

  • Sunday, April 24: NMC Children’s Choirs. 3 p.m., Lars Hockstad Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at mynorthtickets.com or at the door.

  • Sunday, April 24: NMC Dance Department presents “Dance Matters.” 7 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $2 for children ages twelve or younger. Tickets are available at the Milliken Auditorium box office (231-995-1553) or online.

  • Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 NMC Canticum Novum presents “A Spring Evening of Sweets and Song.” 7:30 p.m., Kirkbride Hall (the Chapel) in Building 50. Tickets at mynorthtickets.com for the May 6 and May 7 shows or at the door.

Release date: April 5, 2016

For more information:

Jeffrey Cobb
Director of Music Programs
jecobb@nmc.edu
(
231) 995-1338

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-discrimination

Thank you, Hawk Owl Heroes!

IMG_3744Now that spring has arrived, it’s time for our Hawk Owl Heroes to fly home. After spending the semester hanging across our campuses, we will be sending them home to you. Thank you for all you do to make our NMC community great! And thank you to everyone who took the time to recognize our co-workers. We appreciate you!

New adult education option

NMC, through a collaborative effort with Northwest Michigan Works!, is piloting an adult education option on NMC’s main campus. The program allows future NMC students to work toward college readiness without exhausting their financial aid. Students receive individualized instruction from a Michigan certified adult education instructor, and interact with NMC faculty and staff in preparation for their future enrollment. The goal of the program is to encourage students to enter their program of study fully prepared to complete their credential at NMC.

The program runs year-round and is open entry, so students may register at any time. Program hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Scholars Hall Computer Lab, Room 206.

For more information or to register, please contact Kathryn Polus at kathrynpolus@networksnorthwest.org or (231) 922-6915.

Do you elect Eye Med Vision Coverage?

What do you get when you combine the fastest growing vision benefits company1 with one of the most recognized and trusted names in hearing healthcare? Even more of what’s best for your employees’ overall health and wellness. (more…)

Kudos!

Kudos- Praise or respect that you get because of something you have done or achieved. (defined by Merriam-Webster.com) Kudos to the following people and departments! If you know of co-workers who are going above and beyond, nominate them for kudos here! (more…)

Position vacancies

Are you looking for career opportunities? Find it here! jobs.nmc.edu. Current openings include:
Manufacturing Process/Fluid Power Technology Instructor
Hagerty Center – Server, Bartender, Cook and Dishwasher
Supplemental – Mail Courier

College for Kids enrollment is open

SQUARE AD_onlineEnrollment has begun for NMC’s College for Kids summer program. Children and teens ages 3 to 17 can explore art, music, science, technology, engineering, cooking, sports, and much more with 175+ classes in June, July, and August. View the classes at nmc.edu/kids. (more…)

NMC requests mediation for faculty union contract

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College has entered mediation to attempt to resolve outstanding issues in faculty union contract negotiations.

College administrators requested mediation from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission February 25, 2016. A state mediator met with bargaining teams from the College and the Michigan Education Association, which represents the faculty, March 22, 2016 to review the parties’ proposals.

Bargaining teams will hold negotiation meetings with the state mediator at Northwestern Michigan College May 16, 19 and 23rd, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vicki Cook, the Vice President of Finance and Administration at NMC says, “We believe a mediator will assist both parties in resolving issues where disagreement exists and advance the process. The goal is to come to an agreement that will serve our learners, the faculty and the College well now and in the future.”

NMC faculty voted to be represented by the MEA in March 2015. The collective bargaining agreement will cover wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment for this group.

Release date: March 31, 2016

For more information:

Vicki Cook
Vice President of Finance and Administration
vcook@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1144

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-discrimination

Attorney Judson named NMC Fellow, college’s highest honor

TRAVERSE CITY — Attorney and community servant Charles B. “Chuck” Judson has been named the 2016 recipient of the NMC Fellow award, the highest honor bestowed by the NMC Board of Trustees. 

As a member and emeritus chair of the NMC Foundation Board, Judson has been a volunteer and advocate for NMC for two decades. He joined the Foundation Chuck JudsonBoard in 1996 and served as chair in 2001. During his tenure Judson helped to establish the Great Lakes campus, home to signature programs including the  Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Great Lakes Culinary Institute, and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute.

His philanthropy has even longer longevity. Since 1986, he has given to programs ranging from student scholarships to the Dennos Museum Center, and served as a volunteer and champion for NMC’s Annual Fund Campaign.

NMC is just one of the many Traverse City organizations to benefit from Judson’s time and energy. From serving pancakes at the National Cherry Festival to serving on the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Judson is known for his civic-minded heart and soul. Most recently the length and breadth of his community service culminated in his selection as the 2015 recipient of the Traverse City Area Chamber’s Distinguished Service Award. The DSA is among the oldest community service awards, dating to 1929.

“Chuck has served as a mentor or advisor to many,” said Rebecca Teahen, executive director of the NMC Foundation. “One of the primary reasons he is so often relied upon in this role is his clarity of purpose, thoughtful approach, and strong moral character.”

In his professional life as an attorney and shareholder at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, Judson serves as an attorney of counsel to NMC.

The NMC Board of Trustees has named Fellows each year since 1964 as a way of recognizing and thanking those individuals who have made special contributions to the college. 

Release date: March 28, 2016

For more information:

Rebecca Teahen
Executive Director for Resource Development and NMC Foundation
rteahen@nmc.edu
(
231) 995-1855

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-discrimination