Employee Anniversaries – April
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Board of Trustees committees meet April 17
The NMC Board of Trustees Building and Site Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 in the President’s Office Conference Room in the Tanis Building on NMC’s Front Street campus, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City. The meeting notice is available here.
The Board of Trustees Executive Committee will meet at 2 p.m. the same day, also in the President’s Office Conference Room. That meeting notice is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Kudos!
Kudos to the 2nd Shift Custodians. After the NMC Gala event on Friday, April 5 at the Dennos Museum, the building was quite dirty with a lot of glitter and trash. The 2nd shift custodians that could spare some additional time to help came and helped clean up so one or two custodians did not have to stay late, It was awesome seeing so many work together!
Kudos to Hannah Rodriguez. Kudos to Hannah Rodrigues and the Student Success Coaches for partnering with the Experiential Learning Institute to provide a Lunch and Learn around study strategies and finishing the semester strong. Her team provided resources and study strategies to NMC students who attended the workshop.
Kudos to Brittany Hanbury. Brittany has demonstrated incredible work on her recent recruiting efforts for NMC. She has taken on additional responsibilities while covering for a colleague on leave and has done so in a truly remarkable way! Thank you, Brittany, for stepping up and keeping everything moving on time and on track! You are a true professional and NMC is so fortunate to have your talent!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Welcome our newest hires
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Jermarcus Nelson – Custodian
- Eli McCullough – Custodian
- Sarah Hirsch – Adjunct GLMA Deck Instructor
- Stephan Vriezema – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
Additional funding available from the Office of Possibilities
Do you have an idea or project that needs resources to reach its full potential? If so, the Office of Possibilities wants to hear from you! OOPS seeks to provide resources for education-related projects as well as projects related to community partnerships with NMC.
The Office of Possibilities is hosting it’s final pitch event for the academic year on Tuesday, May 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in room 104/105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Take advantage of this opportunity to kick-off the next innovative project! The timeline will be very tight and the turnaround quick!
Those interested should submit an application by May 7 to determine their eligibility and to be connected with an OOPs team member to assist in planning the pitch.
Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council Awards
The Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council is hosting their annual awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19 in the Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Celebrate with passionate environmentalists and honor their dedication to protecting our planet. David Milarch, Co-Founder of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, will be the evening’s keynote speaker and NMC faculty member Nick Roster will be receiving an award. The event is free for NMC students and employees. Refreshments will be provided.
Contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu for more information.
Celebrating Inclusion: A Student Q&A
Do you have questions surrounding disabilities? Ever wondered what it would be like to live with a disability?
Hosts Craig Saunders and Gary Holik from Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) will join a panel of NMC students to discuss what it is like to live day-to-day with various disabilities so that attendees can grasp a better understanding of their human experience through life.
The event will be held in the room 106/107 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center from noon to 1:30 pm. on Wednesday, April 24.
A QnA session will follow their presentation. Boxed lunches will be provided. Open to all employees and students.
This event is brought to you by the NMC Disability Support Office and DEIB Advisory Council.
Compliance training is due April 20 & 24
Use these troubleshooting tips for painless completion!
#1 Issue: The state laws PDFs may appear behind the actual training tab in Title IX-Building Supportive Communities.
Try one of these methods to get unstuck:
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- Pull the PDF to your second monitor. You should now see your training and be able to continue.
– or – - Hover your cursor over the browser icon at the bottom of your screen. Identify the training window and click on it to continue. (See screenshot below.)
- Pull the PDF to your second monitor. You should now see your training and be able to continue.
Additional troubleshooting tips
If you are accessing training from a desktop or laptop computer:
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- Update and restart your browser. If you have any pending updates, they may need to be completed to move forward with training.
- Clear your browser’s cookies and cache (typically located under your browser’s history settings).
- Device-specific browser extensions and/or pop-up blockers may be interfering with your training. Try accessing the training from another browser to rule out this possibility.
If these troubleshooting tips do not correct the issue, contact with Vector Support. Let them know which browser and version are you experiencing the issue on, what type of device you are using, the full course title and section where the issue is occurring and include a screenshot of where you are stuck.
Third annual Experiential Learning Institute Learning Symposium April 29–May 2
The 3rd annual Experiential Learning Institute Learning Symposium will celebrate learning from April 29–May 2. Throughout the event, attendees can browse poster displays and artifacts that showcase the diverse ways students engage in high-impact learning at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (TJNIC) on NMC’s Front Street Campus. The schedule also includes:
Monday, April 29:
- 12:15 p.m.: Study abroad panel with Jim Bensley and Marina Call. Pizza Included. (TJNIC, room103)
- 6:00 p.m.: EGY 105 Sustainable Building Design presentations with Charles Macphee’s students (Aero Park Laboratories, room 110A, Aero Park Campus)
Tuesday, April 30:
- 10:30 a.m.: MFG 203 Manufacturing/Engineering Processes presentations with Hollianne McHugh’s students (TJNIC, room 106/107)
- 12 p.m.: Student groups and student projects reflective table talks (TJNIC Hallways)
Wednesday, May 1:
- 1 p.m.: SOC 201 Modern Social Problems final presentations with Brandon Everest’s students (TJNIC, room 104/105)
- 3 p.m.: BUS 231 Big Little Hero Race Reflection with Kristy McDonald’s students (TJNIC, room 106/107)
Artwork created by Marcus Johnson, Morgan Reames, and Kane Williams.
Comparative Religion and Interfaith Conference
Students in NMC’s Western and Eastern Religions classes are hosting a conference on Saturday, April 13 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center at NMC’s Front Street Campus.
The Comparative Religion and Interfaith Conference is the culmination of an optional course project that will serve as a way for students to apply their learning of world religions in a way that benefits our campus and local community. The conference aims to increase knowledge and understanding of not only diverse religious and cultural perspectives, but also of some of the ways religion pops up in the world around us. Children’s activities will be available throughout the event except during lunch. This event is free and open to the public.
Schedule
9:30-10:15 a.m.
Opening session
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Buddhist Meditation
Quiet meditation led by local Buddhist leaders.
Quiet meditation led by local Buddhist leaders.
Comparative Religion for Health and Human Services
Hear from professionals in healthcare related fields on religious diversity in their work.
Hear from professionals in healthcare related fields on religious diversity in their work.
Comparative Religion for K-12 Educators
Hear from Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards on the ways the academic study of religion can be included in a K-12 setting to promote greater cultural understanding.
Hear from Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards on the ways the academic study of religion can be included in a K-12 setting to promote greater cultural understanding.
Interfaith Panel Q&A
Hear from a diverse panel of local individuals who will share their spiritual perspectives and take questions from the audience.
The Religion and Pop Culture Experience, Pt. 1
Ever wondered about how religion pops up in video games and more? Come explore this topic!
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:45-1:45 p.m.
Buddhist Meditation
Quiet meditation led by local Buddhist leaders.
Quiet meditation led by local Buddhist leaders.
Comparative Religion for Health and Human Services
Hear from professionals in healthcare related fields on religious diversity in their work.
Hear from professionals in healthcare related fields on religious diversity in their work.
Comparative Religion for K-12 Educators
Hear from Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards on the ways the academic study of religion can be included in a K-12 setting to promote greater cultural understanding.
Hear from Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards on the ways the academic study of religion can be included in a K-12 setting to promote greater cultural understanding.
Interfaith Panel Q&A
Hear from a diverse panel of local individuals who will share their spiritual perspectives and take questions from the audience.
Hear from a diverse panel of local individuals who will share their spiritual perspectives and take questions from the audience.
The Religion and Pop Culture Experience, Pt. 2
Join us for Part 2 of this topic!
For more information, contact Sarah Montgomery-Richards at smontgomery@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1331 and Ceynor Drumm at cdrumm@nmc.edu.
Success Story: Abundant scholarships something to celebrate
April 10, 2024
This National Community College Month, NMC has news the entire Grand Traverse region can celebrate: higher education here is more affordable to more people than ever before, including high school students.
Thanks to Michigan Reconnect, a state scholarship program intended to encourage degree or certificate completion, for the rest of this year tuition is free to county residents 21 or over who don’t already have a degree or certificate. After Nov. 15, the free tuition offer reverts to those 25 and older.
Michigan Achievement, another state scholarship specific to 2023 and 2024 high school graduates cuts the cost of their full-time tuition nearly in half. In total, NMC more than doubled the amount of state scholarship funds it awarded this year — $3.5 million — compared to $1.7 million in the 2019–20 year, before the COVID pandemic.
“These dollars go directly toward students’ tuition bills, helping them achieve their career goals as well as financial security for them and their families,” NMC President Nick Nissley said. “I am really proud of all of the new ways the state, and NMC, are working to help students make college more affordable.”
A new, lower dual-enrollment rate for high school students who live outside Grand Traverse County, plus NMC scholarships plus a plan to make those dollars more easily accessible all add up to a considerably reduced tuition burden. NMC scholarships are awarded through the generosity of local donors. This year, 1,075 students received $1.3 million in funds.
Starting next year, students will be automatically placed into the scholarship pool upon admission to NMC. Skipping a separate application requirement is expected to increase the number of students who receive scholarships. The most recent National Postsecondary Student Aid Study states that only 6 percent of public 2‐year college students receive institutional aid. NMC’s rate has been as high as 30 percent.
Helping students pay for college helps them complete college, which is the state’s ultimate goal. Reconnect and Achievement are both tactics of Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which seeks to increase the percentage of Michigan adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2030. Currently, 51.1 percent do.
Recent enrollment increases are also indicative of progress toward the goal. NMC’s enrollment headcount ticked up 3.3 percent this spring semester. Summer headcount is also up, while fall semester admissions are up, too.
For students interested in college who are not yet admitted, NMC is hosting Quick Start drop-in events from 4–7 p.m. Monday, April 15, Monday, May 20, and Monday, June 17. All admission tasks can be completed at the event.
For students who are admitted, online and in-person orientations are scheduled throughout spring, starting April 19. Online and in-person information sessions for dual enrollment are scheduled tonight, April 10, at 6 p.m.
“Enabling student success is truly something all NMC faculty and staff take to heart, and there’s never been a better time to be a college student,” Nissley said.
Media mentions for April 8, 2024
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.
DDA inches toward TIF approval
Record-Eagle, April 6
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Upcoming Extended Education classes for employees
NMC’s tuition waiver benefits extend beyond credit classes—take a fitness class, learn a new hobby, or even enjoy a date night with your partner. Check out these upcoming classes! Place the class in your shopping cart in order to see the discount. Need help setting up your profile? Look for “EES” in the Help Desk drop down menu.
Want to view upcoming classes at a glance? View the NEW Calendar of Classes.
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Unlock the Art of Metalworking |
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Homeowners 101 |
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Weight Strengthening Weight Strengthening not your thing? Consider Gentle Pilates or Total Barre, both on NMC campus with the same instructor! |
Need help setting up your profile? Look for “EES” in the Help Desk drop down menu.
Audio Technology organizes scholarship fundraiser
Kudos to the Audio Technology department for organizing the “Rockin’ Into Spring: Dollars for Scholars” concert this Saturday from 7-9 p.m. at the Milliken Auditorium. Laith Al-Saadi, a Michigan native and former finalist on “The Voice,” will headline. Proceeds from ticket sales will fund scholarships for future Audio Technology students. Tickets are $10 for students and $25 general admission.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Student group spotlight: Critt Happens
Critt Happens, a new, diverse and engaging student group, emerged this past fall at NMC. Spearheaded by student Eragon Byers, and overseen by Advisor Corbin Thompson, the group made a quiet entrance into the student group arena with just a handful of students. However, the Dungeons and Dragons based ensemble has quickly grown and presently holds an impressive membership number of forty-two. With its unique blend of storytelling, strategy and camaraderie, the group provides an experience that fosters belongingness and community on campus.
Critt Happens handed out dice to prospective members at the annual student group expo, Winterfest, in February.
Currently, the group is collaborating with the Maker Space to develop a dice creation event for DnD enthusiasts and has recently received a generous supply donation from local business, TC War Room. Their last event, Adventure Palooza Two, achieved a 300% increase in attendees from Adventure Palooza One earlier this year. Byers surmises their focus on inclusivity has contributed to the rapid increase in numbers. “This group strives to include as many as possible into each session, not just based on DnD level, but also ability, gender identity and more.” Byers believes the consistent meeting times and structure have also contributed to its popularity.
Fall Fest 2023 pictured left to right: Critt Happens group member, Brady Barry; group advisor Corbin Thompson; and group leader Eragon Byers.
Looking ahead, the Dungeons and Dragons group is poised to continue its pivotal role in student engagement at NMC. Their hope is that as students enjoy roleplaying in this fantasy and adventure game, that they also sharpen their critical thinking skills and solidify lasting friendships and memories from their time at NMC. Critt Happens meets twice per week both Saturday and Sunday from 6:30-11:30 p.m. in the basement of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Interested students are welcome to stop by or contact Eragon Byers at byers@mail.nmc.edu.
Do you want to see a specific student group featured? Email cknight@nmc.edu
GLMA hosts ‘open ship’ aboard State of Michigan
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy’s “open ship” showcasing the training ship State of Michigan from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. The day will include:
- Self guided tours of the T/S State of Michigan
- Interaction with current maritime cadets
- An opportunity to learn more about the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, maritime careers, how to become a chef on a ship and U.S. Navy commissioning options
- Merchandise will be for sale. Cash only.
Tours will begin at the pier security gate entrance on the north side of NMC’s Great Lakes campus, 715 E. Front St. Low-heel, closed-toe, soft-soled shoes are highly recommended. The event will occur rain or shine.
Release date: April 5, 2024
For more information:
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
maritime@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
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-discriminationKudos!
Kudos to Ryan Deering. Ryan is doing a class this week for Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW) and meeting the curriculum of the United States Coast Guard. This class allows him to teach welding to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy engine cadets. He has poured his teaching experience into this class and has been an invaluable asset to everyone who attends with him. Most of the other instructors are learning so much from him. This man loves what he does. Keep it up, Ryan! We do what we do for the students!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Welcome our newest hire
Bryce Hunter recently started working at NMC as a Supplemental Law Enforcement Coach. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!