Reconnect and recharge: October Conference is next Tuesday, Oct 13!

Oct 5, 2026 | Intercom

Join us on Tuesday, October 13 for this year’s October Conference—Lasting Legacy, Bold Tomorrow: Thriving Together in a Changing World. This day is designed to offer you actionable insights, honest conversations and practical tools you can directly apply to your work.

NMC faculty and staff along with resident experts will lead an impressive variety of sessions covering everything from practical classroom and office strategies for AI, to human-centered approaches for fostering campus belonging, connection and care.

Reframing Burnout in Academia

We are excited to welcome Dr. Rebecca Pope-Ruark, who will address burnout in higher education. Dr. Pope-Ruark will share grounded research on how we define, understand and realistically mitigate burnout in our academic environment. In addition to her keynote presentation, she will host two interactive workshops during the day.

Schedule Overview

• 8 a.m. – Coffee & Donuts: Start the day at the Dennos Museum Center with coffee, donuts, and time to catch up with colleagues.

• Morning kickoff: Gather in Milliken Auditorium for the opening program (including a return appearance by the Swag Squad).

• Breakout sessions 1 & 2: Choose your path from the session guide.

• Lunch: Provided for conference attendees.

• Breakout sessions 3 & 4: Choose your path from the session guide.

• Afternoon wrap-up: Finish at the Innovation Center for light refreshments and informal conversations on what you learned.

Attendance expectations & stipends:

• Regular faculty and staff: Attendance is an expectation for staff and a contractual obligation for faculty. Supplemental staff should check with their supervisor.

• Adjunct Instructors: You are strongly encouraged to attend and will receive a stipend for all hours attended.

View the October Conference schedule and session summary guide.

Questions? Please contact: Lori Hodek, lhodek@nmc.edu 5-1143 or Janet Lively, jlively@nmc.edu 5-1231.

Extended Education Opportunities

Oct 5, 2026 | Intercom

Did you know that your 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 exclusive employee passes (remember, you must be logged into your student account to view) and browse classes for you and yours this spring!

Strength n’ Stretch: EmPOWERment

Empower yourself from the inside out with a playfully powerful experience that builds resilience, grace, and grit. Blend traditional postures, flowing transitions, and breath work with functional strength and mobility to improve overall flexibility and balance. Read more about Strength n’ Stretch: EmPOWERment.

11 sessions; Tuesdays, Oct. 6 – Dec. 15; 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $22 per person (Public price: $179)

Date Night: Sheet Pan Dinners

New! Streamline weeknight cooking with all-in-one meals that deliver maximum flavor with minimal cleanup. Discover how a single sheet pan can transform fresh ingredients into effortless family favorites. Read more about Date Night: Sheet Pan Dinners.

Tuesday, Oct. 20; 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $52 for two people (Public price: $199)

Fitness Conditioning

Condition your entire body by using a variety of modalities like Pilates, yoga, strength training, and cardio. By using many different types of exercises that incorporate flexibility, strength, and resistance, you will build strength, agility, and power. Read more about Fitness Conditioning.

16 sessions; Mondays & Wednesdays; Oct. 26 – Dec. 16; 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $35 per person (Public price: $199)

Strategic Plan update: Strategy 1 in the spotlight

Oct 2, 2026 | Intercom

We continue to make steady progress on the action steps across our strategic objectives. Strategy 1 was presented in depth during Monday’s Board Study Session and Board Meeting—you can view the full Strategy 1 memo here for reference.

Strategy 1 is robust, and finding the right balance to highlight every objective within our allotted presentation time is an ongoing effort. We could dedicate an entire board meeting to Strategy 1 alone!

Key highlights presented from Strategy 1: Future-Focused Education:

AI Goals & Progress: Ryan Bernstein and Terri Gustafson led a two-hour Board Study Session overviewing NMC’s AI goals, current progress, and future opportunities, fielding questions and scenarios from Trustees. Board Chair Mark Keely noted how reassuring it was to have Terri and Ryan leading this charge. Hats off to them both!

Tip: Check out the last few pages of the Strategy 1 memo to view the AI infographic. It was very well received by both the Board and President Nissley and may serve as a helpful model for your own work.

Mission & Values in Action: Marine Technology student Gary T. highlighted his hands-on experience aboard the E/V Nautilus, where he participated in Exploration 178 mapping from Hawaii to Guam. His story beautifully demonstrated the reach of our distinguished programs, the strength of our community partnerships (like the Marine Technology Society), and the impact of our outreach efforts in drawing students to NMC from beyond our region (tied to Objective 3).

Durable Skills: During the faculty report, Brandon Everest and Kristy McDonald shared a timely update on how experiential learning from NMC Next has evolved into a broader focus on durable skills in our current strategic plan. They detailed course- and program-level work to equip instructors with resources, as well as outreach encouraging students to pursue the nEXt endorsement. The Board remains enthusiastic about how this work supports regional employers, differentiates the NMC experience, and balances our AI initiatives (tied to Objective 1).

Supporting At-Risk Students: Joy Goodchild provided a detailed look into Objective 4, highlighting our targeted efforts to support at-risk students through Week 3/Week 8 outreach, expanded interventions, and course redesigns. The Board engaged deeply, asking great follow-up questions about expanding reach, potential participation models, the role of the Osterlin redesign, and even options for students to designate a mentor or parent to receive support updates. Expect this discussion to continue as our outreach expands.

Additional Updates & Upcoming Schedule:

• Strategy 1 Dashboards Complete: Joy and the ORPE team finalized the Strategy 1 dashboards late last week, and we are working to integrate them into the landing page. Dashboards for Strategies 2 and 3 will be developed this month. Thank you, Joy and team!
• Strategic Plan “Cheat Sheet:” We created a summary graphic that directly links NMC’s mission, vision, and values to our strategic plan objectives. Feel free to use this helpful reference when speaking with community members or external stakeholders.
• October Look Ahead: Tony Sauerbrey will lead presentations on the Northsky Consortium and the Uncrewed Aerial Systems program. There will be no additional strategic plan updates in October.
• November 23, 2026: Strategy 2 Presentation — Enrollment and Student Success
• December 14, 2026: Strategy 3 Presentation — Vibrant College Community

Spring textbook requisitions due Oct. 9

Oct 2, 2026 | Intercom

Spring textbook requisitions are due on October 9. Please log into fast.ecampus.com/school/nmc to complete your textbook requisition.

Need help submitting your course materials? Watch this video or read through these step-by-step instructions to learn more.

Questions? Please email nmc@ecampus.com for assistance.