Exciting news- the payroll deductions for medical, dental and vision will remain the same for 2018, along with our current insurance providers!
A new offering from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will be available to all employees who elect medical coverage in 2018- 24/7 Online Health Care to address minor illnesses such as: sinus infections, flu, minor burns or cuts, rash, sore throat, earache and vomiting. A Blue Cross representative will be at the meetings to share the details.
Choose one of two Open Enrollment meetings to meet with benefit vendors, and hear about your 2018 options:
Thursday, November 16 at 10 a.m.- Oleson Center
Thursday, November 16 at 1 p.m.- Oleson Center
If you are not able to attend, no worries! We will record session one with the help of Educational Media Technologies and have it available on the benefits website.
Computer Labs will be held for those who would like assistance:
Monday, November 20- 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in UC 205
Tuesday, November 21- 8 p.m.-10 p.m. in UC 205
Access the benefits website HERE, and specifically the 2018 open enrollment page HERE.
We are saving trees this year with no paper packets. All of the information you need will be available on the benefits website.
You will have to create a new username and password this year, because Cigna’s on-line enrollment site has updated to create a more user friendly experience. You will see all of your 2017 benefit selections on the site.
The website address will be provided to you at the open enrollment meetings, as well as on the benefits website.
How can I get involved in an NMC Wellness initiative?
Kudos toFood Pantry Committee-consisting of students, faculty, and staff- They filled out 27 bags of food to NMC students on the first day!
“Our mission is to fulfill the physical and emotional needs of NMC students in order to promote student health and goal completion. At least 13% of community college students nationwide are food insecure, meaning they don’t have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. At NMC that translates to the potential of at least 5 students in a classroom of 40 being hungry. That is unacceptable on our campus and everywhere. So anytime we collect food or supplies for the NMC Food Pantry we call it the Minus 5 Project.”
The NMC Food Pantry is only available to NMC students. Non-student community members can be referred to local resources.
This Friday, November 17 is the LAST DAY for your students to drop regular 15-week classes. Please encourage those students in your classes who may benefit from exercising this option to check with Student Financial Services prior to dropping. Dropping by Friday means the student receives a ‘W’ on their academic transcript instead of a grade for the class. Questions? Contact a professional advisor in the Advising Center at 5-1040. Thank you!
Out of respect for our campus community and in light of shootings that have occurred around the nation, I wanted to inform everyone that the VFW Post 2780 Color Guard will be performing the Three-Volley Salute as part of the NMC Veterans Day Honor Ceremony. It will commence shortly after the flag is raised on Monday, November 13, between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m.
The Three-Volley Salute, accompanied by the playing of Taps, is performed in honor of veterans/soldiers who are no longer with us. This is a coveted ceremony for our veterans as they honor all those who came before them, served alongside them, and gave their lives in the line of duty. These are blank rounds (gun powder in a copper casing) with no actual bullet being fired. For more information on the origin of the Three-Volley Salute, please see the attached document, provided by Scott Herzberg, NMC Military & Veteran Services/Advisor.
On behalf of all NMC veterans, please accept my sincerest gratitude for your support and continual understanding. We hope you’ll join us on Monday as we observe Veterans Day!
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Origin of the Three Volleys
The practice of firing three rifle volleys over the grave of a veteran, and at other honor military-related ceremonies, originated in the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared their dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate that the dead had been cared for and that they were ready to fight again.
Three volleys fired has become a tradition to mean the dead have been cared for. It has evolved into a military salute for the deceased serving their country. Firing the three volleys is one of the highest honors to give a deceased military veteran.
Help someone in need this winter! Bring a new or gently used hoodie/sweatshirt/coat to the bookstore between November 6-17, and receive a coupon for 30% off a new NMC apparel item. All donated items will go to the Goodwill Street Outreach program, assisting people who are struggling with homelessness.
Since 2012, NMC has prioritized the success of student veterans on campus with a host of initiatives led by the office of Military and Veterans Services — from customized orientation to a veterans lounge to efforts to convert service into credits.
Tonight, some NMC veterans will take a step toward connecting the broader community with the experience of contemporary military service by taking part in a panel discussion following the 7 p.m. free screening of Almost Sunrise at Milliken Auditorium. The documentary tells the story of two veterans who embark on a cross-country hike in an effort to heal the psychological wounds left by their military service.
Construction technology student Fernando Cruz is familiar with that restless urge. An Army reservist between 1997 and 2010 who was deployed to Iraq for a year, he too crisscrossed the U.S. for work after his discharge.
“It’s not coincidental,” said Cruz, now of Kingsley, of his nomadic work transporting vehicles, and later for a drill rig company. “I was getting away. I had to get away.”
The father of twin 18-month-old sons, Cruz, 37, thinks there’s a “big disconnect” between civilians and military members. Tonight, he’ll try to help make that connection.
8:30 a.m. – Free breakfast for all veterans and active duty military in the Hawk Owl Cafe in West Hall.
9:20 a.m. – Walk of Honor. The campus community is invited to line up along the sidewalks from West Hall to the flagpoles west of the Tanis Building. Led by the Traverse City Central High School drum line, veterans will walk from West Hall to the flagpoles.
9:30 a.m. – Flag-raising ceremony conducted by the VFW with the Traverse City Central High School band.
10 a.m.–noon – Coffee and cake served in West Hall for the entire campus community in honor of veterans.
About five percent of NMC students are veterans. For the third consecutive year NMC has been certified as a Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. NMC was also named the fifth-best “Best for Vets” community college nationwide by Military Times in 2016.
NMC will also focus on the student veteran transition in the January 2018 issue of Nexus, which will be published as the nation marks the ten-year anniversary of the post-9/11 GI Bill®, which granted educational benefits to veterans serving after Sept. 11, 2001.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
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. It was first held in 2000 and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world. Read more »
NMC’s commemoration of the 17th annual International Education Week included food from India and Greece; a student speaker from Taiwan and a former U.S. Ambassador to Russia.
November 16, 12:15-1 p.m. Location: Founder’s Hall, room 110
The Passport Student Lecture Series is a chance to explore other cultures through the experiences of NMC international students. Bring your lunch and hear “Jack” Tzu-Chun Hsu speak about his home country of Taiwan.
Global endorsement students, please bring your GE passport so it can be stamped and earn your GE event points!
The deadline for the spring semester’s round of Innovation Grant applications is December 1. Applications must be submitted to your area Vice President by this date.
It is strongly recommended that you discuss your proposal idea with your Vice President before developing the full proposal. VPs do have the authority to reject an application but can also provide valuable feedback to help develop great proposals that are more likely to be successful!
The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
On Monday, November 13, NMC will observe Veterans Day with morning activities to mark the day with special recognition for student, faculty, and staff veterans. Please encourage and allow any veterans in your classes and offices to attend the breakfast, Walk of Honor, and Flag Raising Ceremony.
I strongly encourage the entire campus to line up along the sidewalks from West Hall to the flagpoles west of the Tanis Building to support the veterans taking part in the Walk of Honor that begins promptly at 9:20 a.m. Afterwards, there will be a Flag Raising Ceremony conducted by the VFW with Traverse City Central High School Marching Band performing the Star Spangled Banner.
The entire campus community is invited to stop by for coffee and cake that will be served in the West Hall lobby from 10 a.m. to noon in honor of veterans. An invitation to a free public public showing of the documentary Almost Sunrise is also attached to this e-mail. The documentary will be shown on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 p.m., followed by Q&A with local combat veterans.
Serving those who have served us is a year-round priority at NMC, and I’m extremely proud that NMC has been certified for the third consecutive year as a Gold-Level Veteran Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for our commitment to supporting the needs of student veterans and dependents. The program awards Gold-, Silver-, or Bronze-Level status to institutions that offer veteran-centric services and programs.
Thank you for giving your time to recognize our military veterans and thank them for their service.
Tim
Timothy J. Nelson, President
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Kudos to Judy Druskovich: Judy acts as the student adviser for the GLMA contingent of the nationwide Women on the Water group. GLMA hosted the very first WOW conference several years ago and it came full circle back to GLMA this year (each year a different Maritime Academy hosts). This (student) maritime professional development conference was held in the Hagerty Center October 26-28, 2017. Judy almost single handedly liaised with industry, other Academies, Federal agencies and cadets to make this conference the success that it was. She obtained sponsorship for various aspects of the conference; scheduled panel speakers for sessions, keynote and guest speakers; obtained video addresses from both Senator Debbie Stabenow and the Maritime Administrator RADM Mark Buzby; arranged networking events; scheduled cadet watchkeeping duties etc. Some assistance was provided by WOW group members at GLMA (again, cadet scheduling by Judy) and the NMC Foundation for registration purposes, but Judy took this large project on with dedication, professionalism and always a sunny disposition. This project was undertaken in addition to her full time Admissions role. Kudos Judy!
It’s back! The NMC Library will once again be hosting the Long Night Against Procrastination with the Writing & Reading Center, Tutoring, and the Student Success Center. 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. on Thursday, November 30. Free pizza at 7 p.m. and midnight. Free coffee and snacks all night long! Help from WRC readers, librarians, and tutors. It’s time to CRUSH those final papers and projects, NMC!
FREE breakfast for Active Duty and Military Veterans (Hawk Owl Cafe, located in West Hall). Veterans/Service members are welcome to arrive anytime within this time frame, but breakfast will conclude at 9:15 (Welcoming remarks provided by NMC President Tim Nelson and POC Scott Herzberg)
9:20 a.m.
Walk of Honor. All Service members and Veterans will walk together to the flag pole for a flag raising ceremony (led by the VFW, Post 2780 Honor Guard and TC Central High School drum line). The campus community will line the walking route on both sides of the sidewalk to honor our Service members and Veterans.
9:30-9:45 a.m.
Flag ceremony presented by the VFW, Post 2780 Honor Guard * StarSpangled Banner performed by the TC Central Marching Band * Scott Herzberg, POC of Military & Veteran Services will MC the event and provide general comments * Taps and a rifle salute in honor of the fallen will be performed
Other Veterans Day Tributes
NMC’s Educational Media Technology Department has created a tribute to our veterans. The video consists of ‘Thank You’ posters made by area youth, along with special music created by NMC’s Audio Tech Program.
‘Thank you’ posters made by local 4th and 5th grade students will be displayed in the West Hall Cafeteria
In honor of our veterans, coffee and cake will be served in the West Hall lobby for our campus community (10 a.m.–Noon)
Tonight, some NMC veterans will take a step toward connecting the broader community with the experience of contemporary military service by taking part in a panel discussion following the 7 p.m. free screening of 
9:20 a.m.