Open Enrollment begins on November 9
Please save the date for the open enrollment meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. More details will follow!
Kudos!
Kudos to all of our NMC students for following COVID-19 safety measures. We can see it all over campus with mask-wearing and social distancing keeping everyone healthy. Thank you!
Mariners Memorial service goes virtual
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to view the virtual 45th annual Mariners Memorial Service at noon Tuesday, November 10 via a Zoom webinar from the courtyard of NMC’s Great Lakes campus. The public can access the event at the following Zoom address: nmc.zoom.us/
The memorial service is held to remember and honor mariners who have perished on the Great Lakes and oceans and is sponsored by the Student Propeller Club, Port 150, of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
About GLMA and NMC: NMC is the only community college in the nation to grant a bachelor’s degree, in either maritime deck, maritime engineering or maritime power systems, to its Great Lakes Maritime Academy cadets. Celebrating 50 years of maritime education in 2019-2020, GLMA was commended by U.S. Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby (USN, ret) as a “pillar of maritime education and training in the Great Lakes region, this great nation, and the entire world.”
Release date: OCTOBER 16, 2020
For more information:
Scott Fairbank
Great Lakes Maritime Academy Director of Admissions
(231) 995-1213
sfairbank@nmc.edu
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-discriminationSuccess Story: Reimagined Freshwater Studies class notches triple win
October 14, 2020
Adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 has led NMC’s flagship Freshwater Studies program to a triple win: improving student learning, community collaboration and career exploration in a single course.
Introduction to Freshwater Studies is the first course in NMC’s first-in-the-nation Freshwater Studies associate degree program. This fall, instructor Constanza Hazelwood reimagined the 20-student course to conform to group size restrictions and distancing requirements necessitated by the coronavirus. She divided it into three tracks that allow students to experience project research, management and communications in areas that align with their interests, from water quality monitoring to habitat restoration to laboratory testing.
“We didn’t want large groups gathering anywhere,” said Hazelwood, who has taught the class for the past 11 years on NMC’s Great Lakes campus. “That’s what got me thinking we must have students outdoors. We cannot teach this on a screen.”
Field work and community partnerships have been part of the course in the past, but this time, it’s a much deeper dive. Hazelwood tapped nine community organizations, many non-profit. Each student works with three as they go through their tracks.
“This time the students are really engaged in the work of the organizations,” said Hazelwood.
Groups like the Grand Traverse Conservation District, where students planted trees to help restore the Boardman River Watershed (photos, courtesy Alan Newton) and the Glen Lake Association in Leelanau County, where students worked on a project to eradicate invasive yellow iris in Big Fisher Lake, part of the Glen Lake/Crystal River watershed.
‘We’re so grateful, not just for the manual labor but the opportunity to work alongside these really incredible students,” said GLA’s Tricia Denton. “These are the future caretakers of our precious water resources.”
Other groups participating include For Love of Water, Circle of Blue, Freshwater Solutions and Fish Pass. (Watch a TV 9 & 10 story on the Fish Pass project.)
“A big component is career exploration,” Hazelwood said. “It’s very much immersion in the professional world.”
“They’re working with master’s and PhD-level professionals, some of them who have been in the field for over 40 years, which is so different from reading about something online or in a textbook,” said Denton, who is also eyeing the group of nine students she worked with for future association interns.
2019 graduate Abbey Hull, now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Freshwater Science and Sustainability from Western Michigan University, a partnership with NMC, returned to mentor current students in a project using state-of-the-art technology to test water for E. coli.
Traverse City’s Freshwater Solutions is the partner for the project using qPCR technology, which extracts DNA from water samples. Also being deployed to monitor for COVID-19, for E. coli, results are available in two hours instead of the 24 hours it would take using the traditional method of sampling and then attempting to grow cultures.
Drilling down further, qPCR can determine the source of the bacteria — septic tanks, or waterfowl?— which guides appropriate mitigation.
“This was a great way for students to get hands-on, and meet people in the field and network from there,” Hull said.
Hazelwood points out that it’s another opportunity for alumni like Hull, too.
“Even after graduating, they’re still learning from NMC,” she said.
Success Story: Reimagined Freshwater Studies class notches triple win
October 14, 2020
Adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 has led NMC’s flagship Freshwater Studies program to a triple win: improving student learning, community collaboration and career exploration in a single course.
Introduction to Freshwater Studies is the first course in NMC’s first-in-the-nation Freshwater Studies associate degree program. This fall, instructor Constanza Hazelwood reimagined the 20-student course to conform to group size restrictions and distancing requirements necessitated by the coronavirus. She divided it into three tracks that allow students to experience project research, management and communications in areas that align with their interests, from water quality monitoring to habitat restoration to laboratory testing.
“We didn’t want large groups gathering anywhere,” said Hazelwood, who has taught the class for the past 11 years on NMC’s Great Lakes campus. “That’s what got me thinking we must have students outdoors. We cannot teach this on a screen.”
Field work and community partnerships have been part of the course in the past, but this time, it’s a much deeper dive. Hazelwood tapped nine community organizations, many non-profit. Each student works with three as they go through their tracks.
“This time the students are really engaged in the work of the organizations,” said Hazelwood.
Groups like the Grand Traverse Conservation District, where students planted trees to help restore the Boardman River Watershed (photos, courtesy Alan Newton) and the Glen Lake Association in Leelanau County, where students worked on a project to eradicate invasive yellow iris in Big Fisher Lake, part of the Glen Lake/Crystal River watershed.
‘We’re so grateful, not just for the manual labor but the opportunity to work alongside these really incredible students,” said GLA’s Tricia Denton. “These are the future caretakers of our precious water resources.”
Other groups participating include For Love of Water, Circle of Blue, Freshwater Solutions and Fish Pass.
“A big component is career exploration,” Hazelwood said. “It’s very much immersion in the professional world.”
“They’re working with master’s and PhD-level professionals, some of them who have been in the field for over 40 years, which is so different from reading about something online or in a textbook,” said Denton, who is also eyeing the group of nine students she worked with for future association interns.
2019 graduate Abbey Hull, now pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Freshwater Science and Sustainability from Western Michigan University, a partnership with NMC, returned to mentor current students in a project using state-of-the-art technology to test water for E. coli.
Traverse City’s Freshwater Solutions is the partner for the project using qPCR technology, which extracts DNA from water samples. Also being deployed to monitor for COVID-19, for E. coli, results are available in two hours instead of the 24 hours it would take using the traditional method of sampling and then attempting to grow cultures.
Drilling down further, qPCR can determine the source of the bacteria — septic tanks, or waterfowl?— which guides appropriate mitigation.
“This was a great way for students to get hands-on, and meet people in the field and network from there,” Hull said.
Hazelwood points out that it’s another opportunity for alumni like Hull, too.
“Even after graduating, they’re still learning from NMC,” she said.
GLCI Charcuterie To Go
November 11, 2020
Support Great Lakes Culinary Institute students while enjoying a delicious spread of charcuterie. For this one-time event, you are invited to purchase charcuterie boxes delightfully prepared by the garde manger class. Boxes will include a variety of delicacies and each item is handcrafted from scratch. Choose between four different themes (pork, poultry/duck, fish/seafood, and vegetable/foraging) or purchase all four! Each box costs $40 and generously serves one person.
To purchase your box, visit nmc.edu/glci-togo. Call the NMC Foundation at (231) 995-1021 with questions.
All Steps must be entered by Sunday, Oct. 18!
Step Challenge (access the flyer here)
- Challenge 9/21/2020 – 10/18/2020
- Last day to enter your steps is October 18. If you are not someone who accesses the portal on the weekend, feel free to project what you anticipate stepping so you have your totals included!
Kudos!
Mary Jo Elliott in the Science and Math Academic Area and the Human Resources department are being honored with kudos this week. Read the reasons below!
Honoree’s Name: Mary Jo Elliott
Honoree’s Dept./Division: Science and Math Academic Area
Reason for Kudos: Mary Jo recorded a presentation for the Board of Trustees on how student engagement is encouraged through online chemistry! The presentation was thoughtful, inspiring, and a wonderful example of how innovative and talented our faculty are! Thank you, Mary Jo, for taking the time to educate and share your expertise around chemistry and online learning!
Honoree’s Name: Human Resources Dept.
Reason for Kudos: From March to May, Human Resources and the Business Office collaborated to utilize our agile new payroll software to responsibly track employee leave time related to the pandemic (Covid-19 time, Paid Sick Leaves, etc.) This required a thoughtful setup, designing ADP’s leave banks, earnings codes, and other parameters and guidelines for employees on how to track this time. That administrative work has reaped major benefits for NMC. Because HR clearly communicated and employees effectively tracked the Covid-19 time, NMC is eligible for grant funding and will recover the wages they paid employees during this time which otherwise may not have been fully recovered.
Honoree’s Name: Human Resources Dept.
Reason for Kudos: Human Resources assessed and streamlined an onboarding task requiring employees to sign up for direct deposit upon hire. Employees who do not enroll in direct deposit in time for their 1st pay are issued a pay card through ADP. In the first six months using ADP, Payroll issued 96 pay cards. In the last six months, Payroll has not issued any pay cards (zero), meaning 100% of newly hired employees signed up for direct deposit timely. Thank you for looking at a process and finding ways to ensure our employees are paid timely and effectively! This also reduces Payroll’s processing time each pay.
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. During our “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive, please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Freshwater Studies and GT community forging our classroom in the Great Outdoors
During COVID-19 times, Freshwater Studies students are taking part in a community-based course to immerse themselves in local freshwater projects. Students in Intro to Freshwater Studies are rotating in small groups to contribute to exemplary freshwater projects in the Grand Traverse area. Community partners like the Grand Traverse Conservation District, The Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay, and the Glen Lake Association are hosting students for three weeks giving them opportunities to use sophisticated equipment and learn from top scientists and researchers.
Check out what our local 9&10 news channel had to say about our 2020 Freshwater Studies students and the role they are playing learning about remote sensing equipment and collecting data for the Fish Pass project.
Virtual help available for filing the FAFSA
TRAVERSE CITY — FAFSA gotcha frustrated? Confused? Stuck?
NMC’s Office of Student Financial Services will offer five virtual information sessions on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, the first step to receive any kind of federal financial aid. About 80 percent of scholarships require the FAFSA as well.
Dates are Oct. 20 at 10 a.m., Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Register online for each 30-minute session. Applicants can also schedule a one-on-one FAFSA completion appointment.
Student Financial Services will also hold two virtual scholarship workshops: Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Register online for these as well.
Release date: October 8, 2020
For more information:
Student Financial Services
sfs@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1035
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-discriminationVirtual help available for filing the FAFSA
TRAVERSE CITY — FAFSA gotcha frustrated? Confused? Stuck?
NMC’s Office of Student Financial Services will offer five virtual information sessions on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, the first step to receive any kind of federal financial aid. About 80 percent of scholarships require the FAFSA as well.
Dates are Oct. 20 at 10 a.m., Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Register online for each 30-minute session. Applicants can also schedule a one-on-one FAFSA completion appointment.
Student Financial Services will also hold two virtual scholarship workshops: Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Register online for these as well.
Release date: October 8, 2020
For more information:
Student Financial Services
sfs@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1035
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-discriminationKeeping Safe at NMC: masks and social distancing required
Good afternoon NMC community,
Thank you for your work to follow NMC’s keep safe guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of your adherence to these measures, we have had only a few cases on campus, all with minimal risk of possible exposure.
Recently, discussions and decisions around masks and other safety requirements have been at the forefront of state government. Please note that NMC continues to require masks and social distancing on its campuses. The college remains committed to student and employee safety and limiting the disruption to learning as much as possible. To meet those goals, NMC will continue to follow its Keep Safe Plan at this time.
Thank you again for your work in supporting this shared responsibility. For more information on NMC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic including resources and feedback form please visit nmc.edu/covid-19.
Futures for Frontliners could drive “huge surge” in NMC enrollment
TRAVERSE CITY — More than 1,000 frontline workers have applied to NMC in the three weeks since the free tuition program was announced.
Futures for Frontliners offers free in-district tuition to community colleges to Michiganders who worked in essential industries between April 1 and June 30 but do not have a college degree. They may pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate on a full-time or part-time basis while they continue to work. NMC’s in-district tuition rates apply to Grand Traverse County residents. Those who qualify but live outside the district may still take advantage of the scholarship by paying the difference.
NMC Director of Admissions Cathryn Claerhout said 1,038 applicants had been filed as of Sept. 30. Many of those still need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, if conversion from application to enrollment conforms to NMC’s patterns (79 percent this fall) it could translate into a significant enrollment increase in January.
“We’re delighted,” Claerhout said. “There’s a huge surge we could be seeing.”
Essential industries include health care, financial services, food and agriculture, law enforcement and first responders, water and wastewater, transportation and more. NMC is also offering virtual information sessions on completing the FAFSA Oct. 20, Nov. 7 and 20 and Dec. 10. Applicants can also schedule a one-on-one FAFSA completion appointment.
Announced Sept. 10 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Futures for Frontliners has drawn more than 60,000 applicants statewide. The application period runs through December 31, 2020, with enrollment available beginning in January of 2021. Scholarship recipients may also choose to start in the summer or fall 2021 semesters.
In addition, NMC is also participating in Michigan Reconnect, another statewide program aimed at filling the state’s skills gap by helping adults over age 25 earn a degree or certificate. Beyond these two programs, NMC has more than 650 institutional scholarships available.
Claerhout said in the Grand Traverse region there are 19,000 adults over age 25 who do not have a degree. “We’ve got pockets of students, typically older students, that we have great potential (aid) for,” she said.
Those without a high school diploma or equivalency are eligible for services to help them prepare for and complete this credential and go on to a community college or job training program.
To apply and learn more about Futures for Frontliners, visit nmc.edu/frontliners.
Release date: October 6, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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-discriminationFutures for Frontliners could drive “huge surge” in NMC enrollment
TRAVERSE CITY — More than 1,000 frontline workers have applied to NMC in the three weeks since the free tuition program was announced.
Futures for Frontliners offers free in-district tuition to community colleges to Michiganders who worked in essential industries between April 1 and June 30 but do not have a college degree. They may pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate on a full-time or part-time basis while they continue to work. NMC’s in-district tuition rates apply to Grand Traverse County residents. Those who qualify but live outside the district may still take advantage of the scholarship by paying the difference.
NMC Director of Admissions Cathryn Claerhout said 1,038 applicants had been filed as of Sept. 30. Many of those still need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, if conversion from application to enrollment conforms to NMC’s patterns (79 percent this fall) it could translate into a significant enrollment increase in January.
“We’re delighted,” Claerhout said. “There’s a huge surge we could be seeing.”
Essential industries include health care, financial services, food and agriculture, law enforcement and first responders, water and wastewater, transportation and more. NMC is also offering virtual information sessions on completing the FAFSA Oct. 20, Nov. 7 and 20 and Dec. 10. Applicants can also schedule a one-on-one FAFSA completion appointment.
Announced Sept. 10 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Futures for Frontliners has drawn more than 60,000 applicants statewide. The application period runs through December 31, 2020, with enrollment available beginning in January of 2021. Scholarship recipients may also choose to start in the summer or fall 2021 semesters.
In addition, NMC is also participating in Michigan Reconnect, another statewide program aimed at filling the state’s skills gap by helping adults over age 25 earn a degree or certificate. Beyond these two programs, NMC has more than 650 institutional scholarships available.
Claerhout said in the Grand Traverse region there are 19,000 adults over age 25 who do not have a degree. “We’ve got pockets of students, typically older students, that we have great potential (aid) for,” she said.
Those without a high school diploma or equivalency are eligible for services to help them prepare for and complete this credential and go on to a community college or job training program.
To apply and learn more about Futures for Frontliners, visit nmc.edu/frontliners.
Release date: October 6, 2020
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
(231) 995-1019
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
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-discriminationMedia Mentions for October 5, 2020
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media in the past two weeks. 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.
NMC inks agreement with Michigan Tech
Record-Eagle, September 29
9&10 News, September 30 (more…)
Culinary student found a temporary home thanks to NMC
Culinary student Elyce Newcomb (right, on the right) found many helpers and heroes in her first month at NMC, from Chef Les Eckert at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute to the Office of Student Life.
Newcomb, 19, needed short-term temporary housing in September. After an arrangement with a friend fell through, she feared she might have to leave her classes or live in her vehicle until her apartment was available. Eckert and and the Student Life office got her gas cards to go home to Sault Ste Marie for Labor Day weekend. When Newcomb returned, they had found a room at the Sierra Motel, a stone’s throw from main campus. Tom’s gift cards helped with groceries.
Newcomb stayed there for 18 days. As a thank-you, she brought lunch from her classes to the motel owners. (Motel co-owner Conie Duimstra, with Elyce in the photo, asked if she could come to Elyce’s graduation.) Now settled in her apartment, Newcomb is focused on her goal of graduating and working as a cook aboard a ship.
“I’m really thankful for NMC and my chefs, and the Student Life Center; they’ve literally changed my life,” Newcomb said.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
NMC Trustee Candidate Forum
The League of Women Voters – Grand Traverse Area will hold a virtual forum for the seven candidates running for the NMC Board of Trustees from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Questions for the candidates may be submitted to info@lwvgta.org.
Links to watch the forum are available here.
October 1 Virtual Town Hall video
Thank you to everyone who attended Thursday afternoon’s Virtual Town Hall, which drew 195 people. If you were unable to attend, or want to review what was discussed, you can view the video here.
If you were unable get your questions answered during the meeting, or if you have any followup questions or feedback, please email them to publicrelations@nmc.edu.
The Virtual Town Hall covered the following topics:
- Welcome & Update from President Nick Nissley
- COVID Update
- Enrollment Update
- Budget Update
- Fall/Spring Schedule
- DEI Team Announcement