These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
See something? Help keep NMC safe and say something. If you notice suspicious activity, call Campus Safety at (231) 995-1111. In case of an emergency, call 911 immediately.
NMC is hosting several upcoming training opportunities for employes. Seats are limited! Register for all courses through NeoEd Learn using these instructions. For questions, contact professionaldevelopmentinstitute@nmc.edu
Wednesday, February 4, 12–1 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
Flyers, newsletters, presentations, infographics, mind maps—you name it, Canva can help you design it. With thousands of beautifully crafted templates and intuitive drag-and-drop tools, Canva makes it easy to bring your ideas to life. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to customize layouts, edit images, work with text, and make the most of Canva’s built-in magic. Whether you’re designing for your classroom, your team, or your next big idea, you’ll walk away with creative tools and confidence to match.
Monday, February 9, 12–1 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
Focusing on presentations and the use of AI, you will learn to apply the skills you have learned in Canva Basics to develop graphically pleasing presentations including video and audio, as well as using features such as drawing, resizing designs, magic features, text-to-image features, instant styles, and layouts. You will learn how to use AI to start the development of your presentations and how to upload existing presentations for further development in Canva. This is for use in class, on Instagram, on campus monitors, and more!
Wednesday, February 11, 12–1 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
This hands-on course introduces Google Vids, an AI-powered video creation and editing application integrated with Google Workspace, to enhance teaching, professional development, and campus communications. Participants will learn to quickly generate video drafts using Gemini AI from simple prompts or existing Drive documents, utilize built-in templates, record screen or camera content, integrate various media, and employ editing tools for customizing and branding short-form video content up to 10 minutes in length, ultimately fostering more engaging and accessible learning experiences and internal announcements through streamlined video production.
Tuesday, February 17, 4:30–6 p.m.
Osterlin Building, room 205
Instructor: Eric Darling, Fife Lake Fire Chief
Learn how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. This is a non-certification training that will provide attendees with hands-on learning opportunities.
For questions, contact Garrett Croon at gcroon@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1747.
Wednesday, February 18, 3–4 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
Are you curious about AI and how it can help you? Learn about working with the AI Large Language Models (LLM’s like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.ai) to brainstorm, summarize, explain topics, find information on the web, and respond to complex prompts. Come to this session where you will see a demonstration and get hands-on practice in AI Prompting!
Wednesday, February 25, 3–4 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
This advanced workshop is designed for faculty and staff who are already familiar with AI LLM’s and basic AI prompting but want to deepen their understanding of the newest developments in AI. Participants will explore powerful new tools and features—including Gemini Flash 2.5 Image, ChatGPT-5, Study and Learn, Agent Mode, storybooks, real-world applications that are reshaping education and productivity, and other new launches. (Please take AI Prompting before signing up for this class or ask athornton@nmc.edu for a waiver, if you are familiar with AI Prompting.)
Monday, March 16, 3:30–6 p.m.
Osterlin Building, room 205
Instructor: Eric Darling, Fife Lake Fire Chief
When acts of violence occur, you can’t always wait for EMS to arrive. AVIRT Training was developed with law enforcement and medical experts to empower everyone to become an immediate responder. This course is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively to active violence and emergency situations. AVIRT teaches both active shooter response skills and emergency bleeding techniques. Certification period: 2 years
NMC is a large, open campus with multiple locations. It’s important to know what to do in an emergency situation. Campus Safety would like for employees to watch the FBI’s Run. Hide. Fight. — Safe in Schools video.
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 and browse classes for you and yours this winter!
DATE NIGHT: GOURMET ON A DIMEWant to eat well without emptying your wallet? Learn the art of transforming simple, inexpensive ingredients into bold, flavorful, and beautifully-balanced meals with simple elegance. Read more about Date Night: Gourmet on a Dime.
Thursday, Feb. 5; 6–9 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $46 per person (public price $199)
DATE NIGHT: SOCIAL PARTNER DANCEHave you always wanted to dance, already love to dance, or have a wedding or event coming up where dancing is expected? Perhaps you’re looking for a new date night activity? Learn to connect with a partner and be able to dance to any kind of music—to listen, co-create, trust, and become a better dancer. Read more about Date Night: Social Partner Dance.
4 sessions; Fridays, Feb. 6–27; 6:15–8 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $32 per person (public price $199)
PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS: WINTER LANDSCAPESThe colder months in northern Michigan are a winter wonderland! Learn how to create different shades and shapes that are specific to winter. Color mixing, color theory, and different brushes will also be discussed. Read more about Painting With Acrylics: Winter Landscapes.
Saturday, Feb. 14; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $22 per person (public price $99)
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Orange Chicken & Broccoli Bowl with spinach and mandarin oranges served with rice & Bosco stick
Orange Tofu & Broccoli Bowl (V) with spinach and mandarin oranges served with rice & Bosco stick
Beef Barbacoa Tacos with cheddar, sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Jackfruit Tacos (V) with sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice, tortilla chips & queso blanco
Spaghetti & Meatballs with marinara and parmesan served with garlic bread & green beans
Tri-Color Tortellini (V) with pesto cream sauce served with garlic bread & green beans
Thursday, February 5
Food for the Soul
$6 for NMC Students & Staff, $12 for Community Members
Beer-Battered Cod Sandwich with tartar sauce served with French fries & asparagus
Roasted Sweet Potato (V) with kale served with French fries & asparagus
NMC is hosting a mobile pantry from 3–5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2 in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus.
We have over 4,700 pounds of food to share with our students and community. The menu includes apples, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, pasta, cottage cheese, beef sticks and dried beans. NMC’s mobile pantry program is designed specifically for NMC students and their families though all members of the community are welcome. Drive-thru and walk-up options are both available. If a student is unable to attend the distribution due to a class conflict, they may send a friend or family member to pick-up on their behalf.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Celebrate NMC’s 75th anniversary with a special Alumni Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026 at Right Brain Brewery.
Beat the winter blues, reconnect, and reminisce with friends and fellow alumni. The questions will focus on NMC’s 75th year of operation, and the winning team or individual(s) will receive fantastic prizes.
Pizza will be provided and a cash bar with beer, wine, cider, mocktails, and seltzer will be available.
Please RSVP for yourself or your team (up to four people) if you plan to attend.
Failure is scary, but it isn’t the end—it is an opportunity to grow. Student Success will host a week of events dedicated to normalizing setbacks and building resilience so that students can use past missteps to lead to future success. Activities include:
Thursday, Feb. 12, 12-1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105
RSVP
Monday, Feb. 16, 12–1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
RSVP
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Lobby
Connect & learn more about your support services at NMC!
Keep an eye out for “fail” boards on each campus all week long, follow @nmcstudentsuccess on social to hear testimonials about how you can overcome past mistakes and don’t forget to get your Certificate of Failure from the Advising Center!
TRAVERSE CITY — The governing boards of both Northwestern Michigan College and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians have signed a purchase and sale agreement for the Band to buy NMC’s Boardman Lake Campus.
NMC trustees unanimously approved the $27 million sale Monday. Members of the Band’s tribal council signed the document Jan. 21. The actions follow a letter of intent signed previously.
The sale could be completely executed by spring. To allow for the relocation of college offices still on the campus, NMC will lease back space for one year. No NMC classes are currently held on the campus.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Band has committed to never using the property for gaming activities. The Band has also stated that they will use the property, part of their ancestral homeland, as a centralized governmental services center. They will maintain public access for recreation, including the Boardman Lake loop trail, and lake and river access.
The Greenspire School’s current lease through 2030, and its tenant option to renew through 2035, are included in the purchase sale agreement.
“We made this decision thoughtfully and deliberately,” said Mark Keely, NMC’s incoming board chair. “We assessed the Boardman Lake Campus’s past and potential future impact on both students and the community, and we are convinced this course of action most effectively bolsters the NMC mission.”
The NMC board resolution states that the sale proceeds will be directed toward priorities already identified in NMC’s strategic plan and campus master plan, all focused on strengthening student success and the region’s future workforce. Those priorities include converting the Osterlin Building into a one-stop Student Success hub, addressing essential campus infrastructure such as a new power plant, and expanding student housing, which is currently at capacity. Together, these long-term priorities represent well over $100 million in planned investments, meaning the sale allows NMC to make meaningful progress, but represents only a portion of what is required.
“This investment gives us momentum, but it doesn’t change the scale of the work ahead,” President Nick Nissley said. “Supporting student success and the region’s future will continue to require strong partnerships with donors and the state.”
NMC purchased the property in 1989. For 30 years it was the home of the University Center. More than 10,000 students earned advanced degrees from four-year partners located there between 1995 and 2025.
Today, however, with different dynamics in higher education and online and hybrid course delivery options, NMC’s University Partners wanted to be on the college’s Front Street campus. That was accomplished in August 2025. Nissley said now it is time for the property to enter its next era.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the board elected a new slate of officers. They are: Keely, chair; Jody Lundquist, vice chair; Pam Horne, secretary; and Andy Robitshek, treasurer.
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
(231) 392-1800 (mobile – call or text)
cnoga@nmc.edu
In collaboration with the Traverse City Curling Club, NMC is hosting an Olympic Curling Watch Party from 1–3 p.m. on Friday, February 13, in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105. Come watch Sweden and Canada face off in one of the most anticipated matchups during round robin play of the men’s division.
There will be snacks representing each country and coffee during the match livestream.
Thanks to the 16 donors who saved 48 lives by donating at the campus blood drive Jan. 22. The drive exceeded its goal of 15 donors. Of the 16, six were first-time donors.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum continues its 32nd season of programs addressing global issues and fostering vital public dialogue in northern Michigan. Upcoming events include:
Event Details
Programs are open to the public and are ticketed events. Students and educators attend at no cost thanks to community support. Most programs start at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Dennos Museum Center Milliken Auditorium, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City with a welcome reception at 6 p.m.
Events are presented in hybrid format; in-person events are available to livestream online. Programming continues throughout the academic year through June 2026. All IAF events on campus at NMC are free for students and educators, including all NMC employees and employees of all local schools. For event details and tickets, please visit tciaf.com
IAF’s educational programming at NMC is free for students and educators, and open to the public thanks to its supporting members, regional partners, business sponsors, and Northwestern Michigan College. Learn more about membership, event sponsorship, and opportunities to support here: tciaf.com/support
Alexander Tank
Director
International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1844
atank@nmc.edu
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.
The summer camp shuffle: Your guide to 2026 sign-up season
Ticker, Jan. 24
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TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is now open for NMC’s College for Kids summer program, which provides weekly learning camps for students ages 4-17. These specialty, fun, experiential “college” learning classes run from June 15 through July 31. New this year, sessions for first through sixth graders will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m., allowing parents the option of full day programming when they join their child for lunch on campus. Register for all classes at nmc.edu/kids.
Held on NMC’s campuses or partner facilities, classes are taught by passionate, experienced instructors who provide a safe and exciting learning environment. Developing their own curriculum, teachers make each class unique, of high interest to students, and experiential with hands-on engagement. Young learners are introduced to college adventures in art, science, sewing, technology, culinary, dance, and more.
More than forty new classes will debut this summer, including Adventures in Loom Weaving, Writing & Drawing Comics, Mixed Media Lab and Phenomenal Physical Science, plus new partnerships with SEEDS and Great Lakes Children’s Museum. From early education classes to career exploration options – there is something for learners of every age and interest.
In addition to weekly enrichment classes, enrollment in the GRASP at-home summer bridge program also begins on February 2. Lessen summer learning loss with weekly reading lessons, math lessons, or both. Register now at nmc.edu/grasp.
Regular weekly classes start at $249. Parents can register their child for a morning and afternoon session and meet their child for lunch on campus. Thanks to generous donors and NMC’s Professional Communications students, $100 scholarships are available for those who qualify. See details at nmc.edu/kids.
To register or to learn more, visit nmc.edu/kids or contact NMC Extended Education at (231) 995-1700. A household profile must be created online before registering.
NMC Extended Education & Training
ees@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1700
Campus Life and Esports are hosting a NBA 2K26 basketball tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Esports Lab, located in the lower level of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (#9 on the Front Street campus map).
For more information please contact Andre Dean at adean@nmc.edu or Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Join the NMC Library from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 29 to celebrate Black History Month, diverse characters and the power of reading to break down barriers at the fifth annual Embrace the Dream Read-Aloud & Craft Night! This is a completely FREE event with no registration necessary and children ages 3-12 are invited to READ, CRAFT and get a FREE BOOK! Adults can join in on the fun or find a space in the building to relax while the kiddos hang out with the librarians, reading and getting crafty!
For more information, please contact the NMC Library by phone at (231) 995-1060 or by email at library@nmc.edu.
We need your help! Click to view the list of photos needed of past NMC retirees for our 75th celebration. If you have photos of any of these retired employees, please scan or send links to Lori Hodek at lhodek@nmc.edu.
Photos will be added to the Awards & Recognition page on NMC’s website under the NMC Retiree Recognition section.