Welcome our newest hires!
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Isaac Hintz, supplemental employee – Tutor
- Susan Froussine – Business Instructor
Media mentions for August 17, 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.
Adapted in TC: The financial toxicity of healthcare (Retired instructor Susan Odgers’ monthly column on living with disability)
Record-Eagle, Aug. 16 (more…)
Extra emergency notification test set for Aug. 19
At NMC, our first priority is to keep our entire college community safe. As part of that commitment, earlier this year NMC invested in Mitel Revolution for its more comprehensive capabilities and faster deployment. As shared in Intercom last month, the first test of all new capabilities occurred Monday, Aug. 3 during the regularly scheduled testing the first Monday of each month. In order to give faculty an opportunity to experience the new methods before classes begin, we are planning an additional test Wednesday, Aug. 19 at approximately 9 a.m. Here is what to expect:
NEW:
- Overhead paging: In the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, The Dennos and North Hall
UPDATED:
- Screen capture of laptops and desktops connected to NMC’s network or virtual private network (VPN), including campus monitors showing events and announcements. Previously, screen capture included only desktops and laptops. Users can close the notification by acknowledging it or exiting the window.
- Phones: Faster notifications to cell phones and landlines. Campus phones will also broadcast notifications in classrooms and offices. Calls come from 231-995-1101. You may want to save the number in your phone.
- Emails. Sender is “nmc-notifications.” You may want to whitelist it.
CONTINUING:
- Texting. Alerts come from “NMC Security.” You may want to save the number in your phone.
Students and employees are automatically opted into the emergency notification system. Regular monthly testing will next occur Tuesday, Sept. 8, due to the Labor Day holiday, and continue on the first Monday thereafter: Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7 for fall semester.
For more information on campus safety, visit nmc.edu/safety. You can also contact Security Director Garrett Croon with questions (gcroon@nmc.edu, 231-995-1747). Thanks for helping to keep campus safe, and have a great semester.
eCampus partnership with NMC Bookstore
The NMC Bookstore is excited to announce their new partnership with eCampus, bringing students a more convenient way to access their course materials. Students have expressed their preferences and frustrations around course materials and we have heard them clearly say that they are looking for an easy shopping experience, low prices and the ability to rent and return their textbooks. The partnership with eCampus allows us to better assist our students with what they need.
Benefits to students include:
- Free expedited shipping to the Bookstore in 2-3 business days
- Free shipping to a student’s home for orders over $59
- A price match guarantee, matching competitor websites as well as brick and mortar competitors
- Rental options for all titles (excluding consumable items like lab manuals)
- Visible buyback pricing at time of purchase
- Immediate access for digital purchases
- Free prepaid shipping labels for returning rental books
- Online buyback store and free prepaid shipping labels for any books sold to eCampus
- Select titles include complimentary 7 day digital access while the student’s book is in transit
- Expanded payment options, including credit card, debit card, Venmo, Paypal and financial aid
- A student dashboard that consolidates all information a student needs: rental due dates, access to shipping labels, access to digital books and purchase history
The NMC Bookstore will not have physical inventory in store; students will need to order directly from the eCampus website. It can be found at nmc.ecampus.com; when a student logs into the eCampus website, a personalized list of books and materials is generated for the student, eliminating any confusion over what to purchase.
The NMC Bookstore will continue to stock items such as lab kits, uniforms, school supplies, and all the Hawk Owl merch that our students love. The bookstore staff is available to assist students with ordering and questions about their materials; an ordering kiosk will also be available in the store for students who would prefer to have some support placing their order.
Classes participating in the AutoAccess program will continue to use the same digital platform that students are used to, via the VitalSource Bookshelf. Students will simply use the eCampus Course Materials tab in Canvas instead of the VitalSource tab, and will have the same experience that they are accustomed to.
Faculty will have access soon to a Student Readiness Dashboard; this tool will show which students have purchased their materials (and when), giving better transparency to the data regarding student buying habits.
Fall book information will be available starting July 1 at nmc.ecampus.com; financial aid will be available for students Aug. 3 – Sept. 9.
Please reach out to Sarah Denniston at sdenniston@nmc.edu with any questions.
Board of Trustees regular meeting
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 106/107. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Boardman Lake campus moves update
It’s been four months since NMC closed on the sale of the Boardman Lake Campus to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Here’s an update on who’s moved where so far:
- Strategic Initiatives: Parsons-Stulen Bldg, Suite 104
- International Affairs Forum; The Dennos, room 146
- Extended Education & Training: Parsons-Stulen Suite 115 and classroom 114
- Office of Research, Planning & Effectiveness: Fully remote
The following teams will gradually relocate over the next several months, before NMC’s lease back term ends in April 2027:
- Human Resources: Les Biederman 32 and 34. By end of October.
- Business office: Tanis 51. By end of November.
- NMC Foundation: Great Lakes campus 114 and 112B – By March 31, 2027
Cherry Lot closed until Nov. 1
Fall semester parking heads up! Due to the ongoing construction of NMC’s geothermal project, the Cherry Lot will not be available for parking on the Front Street campus through October. This major clean energy investment by NMC will reduce carbon emissions and natural gas consumption by the five buildings served by more than 90 percent. In the meantime, expect parking across campus to be tighter than usual, especially between the peak hours of 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Please allow extra time to find parking and to reach your destination through Nov 1.
As with all construction projects, the schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change. We will keep you informed if the schedule changes. Thanks for your patience.
Data Wranglers – August 2026
As summer begins to wind down and we look ahead to the start of a new academic year, it’s a great time to reconnect around the data, research, and planning that help inform our work across campus. This month, we’re highlighting how ORPE supports campus conversations, the shift toward more thoughtful and intentional use of AI in higher education, and research on why students may leave their majors and what those findings can tell us about supporting students earlier.
Data Wranglers
Insights. Impact. Student Success.
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ORPE ON CAMPUS
The ORPE / Data Wranglers team shares research and data to support campus conversations and student success.
🎯 Strategic planning support
👥 Enrollment & student success insights
📊 Survey and dashboard updates
🤝 Cross-campus decision support
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AI + Higher Ed
From experimentation to intentional use
✅ AI can help brainstorm, summarize, and organize work
✅ Use AI to support thinking, not replace judgment
✅ Protect sensitive student and institutional data
✅ Review outputs for accuracy, bias, and context
Why it matters ↙
- Builds AI literacy across campus
- Encourages responsible and practical use
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Research Spotlight
Why students leave their majors
Our research finds students may leave majors when they feel underprepared, unsupported, or overwhelmed.
🔵 Academic challenge can drive uncertainty
🔵 Support and belonging matter
🔵 Early intervention is important
🔵 Data can help identify where support is needed
Reference: Why students leave their majors: A meta-ethnography.(n.d.). Inside Higher Ed.
👥 QUESTIONS FOR CAMPUS
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- Where do students seem to struggle early?
- How can advising and support respond sooner?
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Car & Truck Show expands into Block Party
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to celebrate a double milestone Sept. 12: the 20th annual free Mike McIntosh Memorial Car & Truck Show & Block Party showcasing NMC’s trade and technical programs, and NMC’s 75th anniversary.
A longtime September tradition at NMC’s Automotive Service Technology building on Aero Park Drive, the car show honors the legacy of the late NMC automotive instructor Mike McIntosh, who retired in 2004 after 34 years of service. McIntosh organized the first car show for the Automotive program in 2004, launching what has become a beloved annual community event.
In honor of the college’s 75th anniversary, this year’s event has been expanded into a block party. Aero Park Drive will close to through traffic so students, alumni, local businesses and community members can come together for a full day of classic cars, food trucks, music and family-friendly activities across the Aero Park Campus, 2510-2600 Aero Park Drive.
All events are held rain or shine Saturday, Sept. 12:
- 10 a.m. –2 p.m.: Block Party. Visit NMC’s Automotive Technology, Aviation, Construction Technology, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Uncrewed Aerial Systems and Welding Technology programs. Enjoy food trucks, music, family friendly activities and games and a silent auction.
- 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Car enthusiasts will display their classic cars, 4X4s, dragsters, sports cars, modified late models, motorcycles and more at NMC’s Automotive Services Building, 2510 Aero Park Drive.
Admission is free. There is a $20 entry fee per vehicle for auto show contestants, and vehicle registration begins at 8 a.m. Proceeds benefit NMC’s Automotive Program and scholarships.
Parking is available on site. BATA buses will still run their loop route from the Front Street campus to Aero Park.
Learn more about NMC’s 75th anniversary celebration, which runs throughout 2026.
Release date: August 10, 2026
For more information:
Augusta Kummer
NMC Admissions
(231) 995-1082
akummer@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-discriminationCelebration of life for Alissia Lingaur
A celebration of life for former Communications adjunct instructor and NMC Magazine literary adviser Alissia Lingaur is planned for August 20, 2026, from 5-8 p.m. at Jacob’s Farm Orchard View barn, 7100 East Traverse Hwy, M-72 West, Traverse City. Lingaur, who passed away Aug. 8, taught at NMC for more than 10 years, from the fall of 2013 to fall 2024, providing skillful and enthusiastic mentorship to magazine students. She enjoyed glowing student feedback and the high respect of her colleagues.
A complete obituary is available here.
Cyber Minute: Secure Your Smart Devices at Home
If you work from home, change the default passwords on your router and smart home devices. A compromised home device can become a backdoor into networks where you’re doing college work.
Statewide award for Stephen Siciliano
Congratulations to Stephen Siciliano, named the Michigan Community College Association’s 2026 Outstanding Staff member at the organization’s conference last week. As NMC’s chief academic officer for the last 30 years and a 41-year career of extraordinary dedication, we’re so proud his service to students, faculty and community was recognized as stellar in the entire state.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Media mentions for August 10, 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.
Great Lakes Maritime Leaders Grapple With Federal Waivers, Nationwide ‘Uncertainty’
The Ticker, Aug. 9 (more…)
Lakebed 2030 Conference
With less than 15% of the Great Lakes currently mapped, unlocking the full potential of the world’s largest surface freshwater system is a critical environmental and economic imperative. Join leading experts across science, policy, government, and technology at the Lakebed 2030 Conference September 15–17, 2026 at NMC’s Great Lakes Campus (virtual options available). Hosted by the Marine Center, this premier summit brings together visionaries to harness high-resolution mapping data, showcase groundbreaking marine technologies and forge cross-sector strategies to protect vital freshwater resources and drive economic vitality across the region.
Key Event Highlights:
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- Dates: September 15–17, 2026
- Location: Traverse City, MI (in-person and virtual options available)
- Who Should Attend: Industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, technology developers and environmental stewards
- Core Focus: High-resolution lakebed mapping, collaborative data sharing and cutting-edge marine technology advancements
Don’t miss your chance to be at the forefront of Great Lakes discovery and stewardship—register today! Registration is $275 for in-person attendance and $155 for virtual participation.
Employee anniversaries – August
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Kudos!
Kudos to Corbin Thompson and STT Security! On Sunday, August 2, NMC Employee Corbin Thompson and STT Security engaged with the Traverse City Police Department to locate a missing NMC student. The student was safe and received care. Thompson and Security acted quickly and showed their dedication to student safety. Well done.
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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- Cheryl Richmond – Adjunct Advanced Scientific Research Instructor
- Miran Bozicevic – Adjunct Math Instructor
- Dereck Dykes – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
- Gabe McBride, supplemental employee – Food Service Front of House
- Zach Doran, supplemental employee – Food Service Back of House
Osterlin computers reserved for students
A quick reminder for everyone: the computers and resources in the Osterlin building are reserved for student use. If you hear of or spot a community member looking for a device to use, please direct them over to the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center which is fully equipped with public-access computers to help non-students get connected. Thanks for helping us keep Osterlin’s resources focused on our students’ success!