Cyber Minute: Public Wi-Fi and the lakeshore trap
Working remotely from a local coffee shop this summer? Public Wi-Fi is rarely secure. Connect to the college’s VPN before logging into Canvas, grading systems, or MyNMC.
Explore History Day volunteers sought
Saturday, July 25 is Explore History Day, NMC’s second signature 75th anniversary event. The work group is looking for a few good volunteers! Opportunities are:
- 9–10:30 a.m.: Help set up and greet guests
- 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Staff a swag and selfie station
- 2–3 p.m. Help take down/clean up
If you can share a couple hours of your time, please email Cari Noga at cnoga@nmc.edu, or text (231) 392-1800. High school students or scouts looking for service hours are welcome.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Kudos!
Kudos to Garrett Croon and Security! Super Kudos to Garret Croon and the IT Security Team for security for reserving/enforcing our parking lot for our employees during the Cherry Festival! A wonderful perk for employees and not an easy job for our Security Team.
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!
Celebrating new chapters
These colleagues have moved on to a new chapter in their lives. We wish them the very best as they navigate a new adventure, and we thank them for their time and dedication to NMC!
- Lil Anderson – Hagerty Center Events Coordinator
- Cherline Barnum, supplemental employee – Food Service Back of House
- Nikolas Burkhart – Adjunct – Art
- Emily Fitzpatrick, supplemental employee – Banquet Cook – Hagerty Center
- Alaina Frank, supplemental employee – Food Service Front of House
- Madeline Mcchesney, student employee – Lobdell’s Kitchen & Dining Room
- Rojan Meno, supplemental employee – Food Service Back of House
- Benjamin Moore, supplemental employee – Food Service Back of House
- Jack Shiner, supplemental employee – Food Service Front of House
Welcome our newest hires!
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Austin Corbin, supplemental employee – Enrollment Services Assistant
- Brandon Thompson, supplemental employee – Food Service Back of House
- Austin Dietel, student employee – Aviation Line Crew
- Dakota Mummey, student employee – Enrollment Services Office Assistant
Data Wranglers – July 2026
Hello Data Wranglers,
Happy July! As we move through the summer months, this is a great time to pause, review, and prepare for the data, reporting, assessment, and planning work that will support the year ahead.
Data Wranglers
Insights. Impact. Student Success.
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What to Review This Month
July is a good time to check in on dashboards, reports, and lingering data questions before the fall semester gets busy.
A few helpful reminders:
- Ensure that you are connected to VPN
- Review dashboard access and make sure the right people can see the data they need.
- Check for upcoming reporting, planning, or assessment deadlines.
- Identify data questions early so there is time to clarify definitions, sources, and next steps.
- Use existing dashboards when possible before requesting a new report.
- When sharing data, include important context such as filters, timeframe, population, and source.
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Data Tip: Start With the Question
Before opening a dashboard or requesting a report, start with the decision you are trying to make.
Ask yourself:
- What are we trying to understand?
- What decision will this information support?
- Who needs to use the information?
- What action might we take based on what we learn?
Starting with the question helps make data more meaningful and useful. It also helps ensure we are not just collecting information, but using it to support planning, improvement, and student success.
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Dashboard Reminder
Filters matter.
A small change in a dashboard filter can significantly change what the data shows. Before sharing a dashboard screenshot, summary, or takeaway, double-check the selected term, student group, program, course format, location, or other filters.
Whenever possible, include the filter settings with your summary so others can understand exactly what the data represents.
Looking Ahead
As fall approaches, data will continue to play an important role in enrollment conversations, student success work, assessment, planning, and continuous improvement.
Thank you for the work you do to ask good questions, support thoughtful decisions, and help strengthen NMC’s culture of evidence.
Have a great July!
ORPE
Meijer Festival of Races to impact Front Street Campus access and parking July 11
The Meijer Festival of Races will be held on Saturday, July 11, beginning at approximately 5:30 a.m. Access to College Drive and multiple parking lots will be restricted. The restrictions will conclude at around 9 a.m. Please be patient when traveling to campus during these times.
NMC hosts Explore History Day
TRAVERSE CITY — Explore NMC’s 75 years of history Saturday, July 25, a day packed full of free activities from the opening of the 2001 college time capsule to a self-guided, interactive campus tour to a live band concert.
Explore History Day begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25 and runs all day with four distinct events on NMC’s Front Street campus. Come for one or stay for all four. Attendance is free with lunch available to purchase. This event is for you whether you’re an alumnus with cherished memories, a proud community member, a newcomer interested in discovering heritage or a future student.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
10–11:30 A.M. | History Showcase
Milliken Auditorium
Kick off the day watching the premiere of NMC’s anniversary history video, an engaging panel discussion and the opening of the college’s 50th anniversary time capsule, closed during that 2001 celebration. You’ll also have an opportunity to contribute to the centennial time capsule, to be opened in 2051.
11 A.M.–2 P.M. | History Walk — Family Friendly
Front Street Campus
Explore at your own pace with a self-guided tour and activities across seven stops that highlight NMC’s historic moments.
11:30 A.M.– 1:30 P.M. | Lunch
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center
Enjoy a picnic lunch from the Hawk Owl Café ($12 adults, $8 children) or visit the NMC Library upstairs.
7– 8:30 P.M. | 75th Anniversary Concert
Milliken Auditorium
Celebrate the evening with live performances from NMC’s Concert Band and Jazz Band.
Don’t miss this opportunity to discover NMC’s defining moments. While registration is not required, letting us know you are coming helps us plan for a great day. Visit nmc.edu/75 for more information.
Release date:
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-discriminationBoard of Trustees Executive Committee meeting
The NMC Board of Trustees Executive Committee will meet Tuesday, July 14 at 2 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center rooms 104-105. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Connecting with our community at the Cherry Festival
Thanks to all those helping to showcase NMC to the community during the 100th National Cherry Festival this week. Admissions staff is hosting a tent at the main festival entrance all week long. The office of Alumni Relations will sponsor a float in Saturday’s Grand Royale Parade. Volunteer marchers will be led by President Nick Nissley and his wife, Elise Ballenger.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Media mentions for July 6, 2026
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.
Multiple IT openings in Traverse City
News Break, July 3
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Health Occupations Open House
Curious about a future in healthcare? Join representatives from NMC’s health occupations programs for a hot dog cookout on Monday, July 13. Drop in anytime from 4–6 p.m. to explore our facilities and get your questions answered or join the program’s guided tour at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Health & Science Building.
Monday, July 13, 2026
4–6 p.m.
Health & Science Building
Front Street Campus (#6 on the Front Street Campus Map)
For questions, email healthoccupations@nmc.edu or call (231) 995-1235.
New books for July 2026
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Cyber Minute: The out of office vulnerability
Keep your out of office reply generic. Don’t share where you’re traveling or who’s covering specific duties—scammers use that info to trick your colleagues into buying gift cards or wiring money.
Employee Wellness: Book swap (back by popular demand!)
On Thursday, July 16 at 8:30 a.m. NMC’s Employee Wellness program is hosting another book swap in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 203 (the fireside room in NMC’s library).
Think “Blind Date with a Book” meets the gift-stealing fun of White Elephant! Here’s how it works: Just bring a wrapped book (gently used is best). When you arrive, you’ll fill out a label with a few clues: Genre, Fiction/Non-Fiction and 3 words to describe it. Then, the unwrapping (and stealing) begins!
Plus, indulge in a continental breakfast to make your morning even sweeter.
Employee anniversaries – July
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Kudos!
Kudos to Matt Hirsch, Denver Peters, Lisa Cooper, John Lutchko, Scott Swan and Merrick Adams! NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute was invited to apply to the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) Consortium Membership. If accepted, NMC would be the first community college recognized as part of the CIGLR network. A CIGLR membership would result in opportunities for applied research grants, fellowships, undergraduate research experiences and program graduates. In addition, it would recognize GLWSI’s contribution to workforce education and applied research support at a national level and position the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center for future success. We would be in the company of some of the most elite research universities and organizations in the nation. Hats off to this team that developed a comprehensive and compelling application in just a matter of weeks, responding with agility and professionalism. The turnaround time was impressive but the teamwork even more so! Fingers crossed!!!
Kudos to Christa Abdul-Karim, Robb Houston and Elizabeth Sonnabend! Thank you for your outstanding leadership throughout our Aotearoa Adventure: New Zealand’s Geological and Cultural Wonders journey. Your organization, enthusiasm and attention to every detail made the experience seamless and unforgettable. Your passion for sharing New Zealand’s incredible landscapes and rich cultural heritage inspired all of us and made each day an adventure. From transportation and accommodations to handling unexpected changes with grace, your hard work allowed us to fully enjoy every moment of this amazing adventure. Your kindness, professionalism and positive attitude made a lasting impression on everyone in our group. Together, you created an extraordinary experience that combined breathtaking geology, fascinating culture and unforgettable memories. Thank you for making our Aotearoa adventure truly one of a kind!
Kudos to Lauren Marchany! Kudos to Lauren Marchany for always having a positive attitude while working at the Hawk Owl Café! She does a great job of keeping items stocked, answering questions and helping when needed. Thank you for all you do!
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!
- Nikki Foster, supplemental employee – Residence Life
- Kate Becker – Aviation Maintenance Technician
- Bran Hurst, supplemental employee – Writing and Reading Center Reader
- McKagen Chio, supplemental employee – Tutor