The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, Feb. 24 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.
FEBRUARY 19, 2025
At Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant, NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute has shortened the concept of farm to table to hallway to table.
The six hydroponic tower gardens that greet guests in the second floor hall on NMC’s Great Lakes campus have 1) saved money, 2) provided fresher produce, 3) improved sustainability practices, 4) offered an experiential learning opportunity and 5) benefited recruitment since they were installed in January 2024 through a donation.
The six-foot-tall towers, from which lettuce, herbs and edible flowers sprout under a purple glow, were installed as a year-round way to supply herbs and greens for use in Lobdell’s and improve sustainability practices.
“”Our instruction emphasizes the importance of minimizing food waste,” said Chef Les Eckert, GLCI director. As part of the culinary program’s recent reimagination, GLCI integrated additional principles of environmental stewardship. The Tower Gardens represent a significant focus area, reflecting current trends and challenges within the industry.
“How can we reduce our waste in general? What if we could literally start growing our more expensive items that have a short shelf life?” said Eckert.
Items like basil, used both fresh and to make popular sauces like pesto, which students make and freeze to use in the restaurant.
“We started doing the math, and came up with a rough estimate that we saved about $1,000,” on basil alone, Eckert said. At about $1,000 each, one tower — which was purchased with donated dollars – has already paid for itself.
Each tower has a 13-gallon reservoir, an automated water pump and lighting system.
“They simulate a long summer day,” Eckert said.
Students enrolled in GLCI lab courses make use of the produce cultivated in the Tower Gardens, which involves learning the correct techniques for trimming, snipping, and harvesting lettuce greens, herbs, and edible flowers. A committed team of students, the “Tower Garden Care Team” is responsible for the maintenance of the tower gardens, which includes tasks such as replenishing the water reservoirs, adjusting pH levels and lighting, as well as seeding, trimming, and harvesting the plants for use in the lab classes throughout the week.
The ultimate unexpected success of the towers lies in their ability to attract prospective students who visit GLCI.
“When the admissions team conducts their tours, it becomes a significant focal point at the entrance into the Institute,” Eckert said
Eventually, Eckert would like to have more towers to further reduce GLCI’s carbon footprint as well as to supply other campus food operations, like the Hagerty Center and Hawk Owl Cafe. For the short term, however, she just wants to get better
“This second year is taking what we learned,” she said. “What did we do right, and improving on our yields and the efficiencies the towers can bring.
“I see it as a great part of the curriculum.”
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Extended Education & Training division received an international award from the Learning Resources Network (LERN) for measuring and documenting the financial contribution of Extended Education students to NMC as $2.6 million since 2020.
NMC Vice President of Advancement Dino Hernandez, left,
and Extended Education and Training Director Laura Stevens
Matchett, right. (Download a high-resolution version here.)LERN is the leading association in continuing education and workforce development. The award was one of only ten presented at LERN’s annual conference in January, attended by 1,500 professionals in lifelong learning from four countries. Working with the NMC Foundation, NMC Extended Education found that 14 percent of Extended Education students are donors to the college. Since 2020, their contributions have totaled $2.6 million.
In conducting the analysis, NMC has laid down a new benchmark for the continuing education and workforce development sector.
“The award is for innovation in the field of continuing education and serving communities,” said LERN President William A. Draves. “The NMC award is especially outstanding, since every organization can adopt this best practice.”
Laura Stevens Matchett, director of Extended Education and Training at NMC, accepted the award.
“This award gives voice and value to the hard work that continuing education units do for their college communities all over the world,” she said. “I’m proud of my team for creating high interest classes and events that meet the learning desires of NMC alumni, our community’s youth, adult learners looking to upskill in the workplace, and residents who simply wish to continue learning and engaging with the college.”
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Campus Life, Student Life, Residence Life and Craft Club will be hosting a craft night for employees, students and their families from 3:30–6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3 at the open space in the Osterlin Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus (#3 on the campus map). Whether you like knitting, sand art, etc., there will something fun for everyone. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Did You Hear? Campus Day is returning in 2025!
Campus Day is a community event put on by NMC Extended Education & Training that is geared toward a 50+ audience where community members experience a variety of learning opportunities. Previous sessions ranged from “Climate Change in the Great Lakes” to “Life Changing Foods” to “Never Get a Computer Virus Again.”
Campus Day will be held on Friday, May 9. Registration fee (coming soon) includes coffee and donuts, three sessions and lunch.
Here’s a sneak peek of the tentative schedule:
Sessions will be available for preview on April 2, and full details will be included in the Extended Education & Training summer catalog. Online, phone, in-person and mail-in registration options will be available beginning on April 9. The Extended Education & Training office is open to the public Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NMC University Center.
We can’t wait to bring back this community favorite event; stay tuned for additional information!
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.
Education newsmakers
Record-Eagle, Feb. 16
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February 27, 6 p.m., The Alluvion, 414 E Eighth St., Traverse City
NMC Jazz Big Band with the Jeff Haas Trio, Josh Wagner – Director
Honor cover at the door.
Read more
February 28, 7:30 p.m., The Alluvion, 414 E Eighth St., Traverse City
NMC Chamber Singers, Jeffrey Cobb – Director
Join the NMC Chamber Singers as they share a wonderful evening of choral music.
Purchase tickets
TRAVERSE CITY — The Audit Committee of Northwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the President’s Office Conference Room in the Tanis Building on NMC’s Front Street campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City. The official meeting notice is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
If you witness a safety or security concern, NMC wants to hear from you. Call Campus Safety and Security at (231) 995-1111 or reach out to our anonymous tip line at (231)995-1116. nmc.edu/safety
Join Grand Valley State University at 6 p.m. on March 10 for the kickoff of the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab to learn about the program, ask questions and see how the MVE-Lab can support your entrepreneurial journey. The event will be held at GVSU’s Traverse City campus in room 07 (lower level) of the University Center.
The MVE-Lab is an accelerator for veterans and military-connected families, offering hands-on startup education, weekly guest speakers and mentoring sessions focused on pitch development and business growth. Participants will compete for a share of $15,000 in prize funding. The program will run from 6-9 p..m on Mondays from March 10 through May 19.
For more info vist gvsu.edu/mve
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
(Click to enlarge)
Self-care can often feel like a buzzword that is tossed around but it is an important practice that can help improve your mental and physical health. Check out the latest newsletter from our Employee Assistance Program, Ulliance, for helpful tips on prioritizing self care and how to find time for yourself. Self care doesn’t have to be a large commitment. Check out some ideas that only take a few minutes a day. Find that time to treat yourself
Kudos to Embrace the Dream reading buddies! Here’s a shout-out to the students, staff and faculty who volunteered for one or more of the Embrace the Dream reading events hosted by the NMC Library. Without reading buddies, we simply couldn’t have made these programs happen! Volunteers spent time with children, reading and talking with them, completing a craft, and making each young person feel seen. This year, 117 children participated in the programming! I am grateful to work with you!
(Oh wow, I really hope I didn’t miss anyone because you all are the best!)
I’d also like to thank the leadership at NMC for fostering a culture of service and making DEI a priority. The TCAPS employees we meet during these events are really impressed with the number of people who give up their own time or are released from regular duties to show up for their students. Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service to our community puts action to our words and says a great deal about our institutional values.
And finally thank you to the DEI Committee and Student Life for sharing the cost of the books with the NMC Library. Each of the children who participated went home with a book of their own!
Kudos to Laura Korch! Thanks to ceramics instructor Laura Korch for bringing artist Chris Baskins to NMC! Chris gave presentations on his pottery career to ceramics students and brought pieces of his work to share. Chris was also invaluable in helping Laura and her students with the wood kiln which fired to cone 10!
Kudos to Bobbi Garner and Les Eckert! Les identified a scheduling issue for GLCI students that would have prevented them from taking a required human biology course in fall semester. This was a potential retention and completion barrier for culinary students. Les worked with Bobbi Garner in the Science & Math Academic Area; Bobbi’s quick attention and action allowed for a change to the fall schedule. This change will allow culinary students to complete their science requirement in fall 2025 if needed. Thank you to Les and Bobbi for coming together to problem solve for our students!
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!
Alexia Connelly recently started working at the college as a student Chemistry Lab Assistant. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
Ben Herman was recently promoted to Facilities Project Manager. Congratulations, Ben!
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, Feb. 24 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.
Join the Multicultural Club for a Lunar New Year Celebration from 5:30-7 p.m. on February 20 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107 (#9 on the Front Street campus map). Celebrate the year of the snake with asian cuisine! Bring a dish to share or just come for the celebration. Enjoy food and music in the company of new and familiar faces, make new friends or bring one with you. Everyone is welcome!
Mark your calendar!
The next pitch date is just around the corner and the OOPs team is looking for pitches from faculty, staff, and students that are focused on educational initiatives, including new programs, increasing enrollment in existing programs, accelerating college strategies, and implementing the campus master plan.
Pitches are open to NMC students, faculty and staff, so if you have a great idea or project that needs resources to reach its full potential, the Office of Possibilities wants to hear from you! Fill out this application to connect with an OOPs team member who will assist in planning your pitch. If you have any questions about the application or the process, please email oops@nmc.edu and someone will get back to you promptly. Meeting with an OOPs team member is required before entering a pitch so please plan accordingly.
The Office of Possibilities is grateful for the generous support from the NMC Foundation that provides funding for innovative projects across campus!
The OOPs team looks forward to seeing you there!