Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
Activities of Note: Faculty and Staff
This section recognizes the good work being done and linkages to the Strategic Agenda, Strategic Directions and Goals are provided where possible.
- When senior management from The Interlake Steamship Co. visited GLMA on 03 Feb 15, Fred Laughlin, director of Great Lakes Culinary Institute (GLCI) gave a presentation. Interlake has recently hired a GLCI graduate to serve in the steward’s department on one of their vessels, and they are extremely pleased with her perform GLMA will continue to work with GLCI in an effort to ensure those culinary who are students, who are interested, are able to obtain requisite Merchant Mariner Documents, and ideally an internship on a commercial vessel prior to graduation. This will provide them with the opportunity to sail on a commercial vessel immediately after graduation. (SD1, SD3)
- On March 24th, the First Annual Jobs For Vets Hiring Fair at the Hagerty Center. The event was coordinated and initiated by Scott Herzberg and sponsored by NMC, who partnered with NW Michigan Works! and Bill Marc Nearly 175 veteran job seekers were in attendance to meet with 55 employers with over 200 available jobs. Some being offered a job on location and many offered formal interviews. This was a community supported event with local businesses donating their products and services. (SD3, SD4)
- April 6-9 was Sexual Assault Awareness Week with a series of events on our campus designed to bring awareness and education to our campus community about the concern of sexual assault on college cam The week is culminated with an event in East Hall on April 8 that addressed the warning signs of unhealthy relationships and gave information on being an advocate for self and others to promote healthy relationships. On April 9 there was a documentary shown in Scholars Hall following the life of four college student sexual assault survivors, with a candlelight vigil and student dialogue following the documentary. (SD3)
- Sweet Earth Arts and Music Festival is an all-day event on Saturday, April 18, that is a student and community festival featuring live music, workshops, and food and demonstrations related to Earth Day and the importance of our environm This event promotes a number of community collaborations with musicians, vendors and workshop presenters. (SD3, SD4)
- NMC’s Director of Financial Aid, Pam Palermo, was nominated by the Director of the Michigan Student Financial Services Bureau to serve on the newly created Advisory (SD4)
- Leanne Baumeler (Disability Services Specialist) accepted an appointment to the MiAhead (Michigan chapter of the Association of Higher Education and Disabilities) Board in January and is currently helping them plan their Spring Conference for May 14-15 in Lansing. (SD4)
- On Friday, April 24th, our Native American Success Coach Todd Parker will be hosting the fifth Bead Work Social and a meeting for those interested in helping with planning a Pow Wow for Saturday, October 10th (partially funded by the NMC BBQ Board) as a lead up to the First Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 12th, First Indigenous Peoples which will culminate with a Night of Native Music in Milliken Auditorium. (SD1, SD3, SD4)
- On Saturday, April 11, GLMA held its second annual Captain’s This was a fundraiser for the following student groups: Women on the Water (WOW), Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), and the GLMA Sailing Team. There are two seatings of 75. Both seatings sold out in advance. At this time the gross revenue is $10,500. That number does not include what was raised from the silent auction. The Great Lakes shipping industry contributed $4,500 to this event. (SD4)
- GLMA faculty members Ben Minor and John Biolchini, and Karen Ruedinger from NMC ORPE observed the USCG audit of California Maritime Academy’s program. GLMA will be audited in Sep 2017. The maritime expertise provide by the GLMA staff, and the knowledge of quality assurance auditing provided by Karen will (hopefully) ensure GLMA is ready for its audit. (SD1, SD2)
- GLMA Admissions Specialist Judy Druskovich safely escorted nine GLMA female cadets to/from the S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point where they attended the WOW Conference. GLMA will host this conference in the fall of 2017. (SD1, SD2, SD4)
- Working from a template provide by D Weber, GLMA complete the first Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for an alumni that wished to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. The PLA process, combined with the credits he earned at NMC/ GLMA twenty years ago, resulted in a determination that he was three credits short of the BSMT degree. We anticipate many GLMA alumni will be interested in using the PLA process to earn an NMC Bachelor’s Degree. (SD5)
- Brian Heffner officially became the new director of the NMC Police Academy and is working hard on new strategies to help boost the program enrollmen (SD3)
- A new student group—Students for Human Rights—has been formed with John Zachman as the faculty The group works to raise awareness of human trafficking and sexual slavery in the US. (SD3)
- The Early Childhood Education AAS degree program has been implemented, along with the two new certificates for Childhood Development Program cred (SD5)
- Keri Schneider, 2014-2015 NMC Dental Assistant student, was selected as a recipient of the Robert Mitus scholarship award from the Michigan Dental Association Foundation (MDAF). The award is for $1,000.00. (SD1)
Activities of Note: Tim
- I attended the reception and round table sessions for the two finalists of the TCAPS superintendent search that were held the evenings of March 18 and 19. As you are most likely aware, Paul Soma was the successful candidate for TCAPS Superintendent.
- The morning of March 19, most of NMC’s executive staff and several trustees attend the Board Member Basics training hosted by the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office. Those in attendance found it to be a very beneficial session and materials provided are being made available on the Board’s web portal.
- Nancy and I have enjoyed attending Great Lakes Culinary Dinners, including the Middle Eastern Dinner on March 20 and the Italian Dinner on April 10.
- As a Michigan Tech alum, I was visited by their advancement officer Connie Scott on March 24. It was great to reconnect and receive an update from her, both as a graduate studies alum and past faculty mem
- I attended the MPSERS Board meeting in Lansing on March 26, as well as the Health Insurance Committee meeting prior to the full MPSERS board m
- Rebecca Teahen, Courtney Sorrell and I had lunch with Foundation Annual Fund co-chairs Bill March, Jr. and Sara Harding on March 27.
- The afternoon of March 27 most of the campus community attended a farewell reception for Aaron Beach, which was his last day as NMC’s Human Resource Director. We wish Aaron well as he begins a new chapter in his professional life that will also increase his family time, working closer to hom
- We held a small signing ceremony at GLMA on April 1 to sign a memorandum of understanding with the US Coast Guard for continued cooperation in meeting our mutual training needs.
- I participated in an orientation session for new Foundation Board members to provide an overview of NMC, the Foundation, and their role as a Foundation Board me
- I continue to have one on one meetings with new NMC hires from all departm It is proving to be a great opportunity to informally meet with each new employee to learn more about them as they join the NMC community.
- I, along with many NMC faculty, staff and trustees attended the annual scholarship luncheon hosted by the NMC Foundation staff. I was personally touched by the stories shared and know that donors enjoy this opportunity to personally connect with recipients of their generosity.
- I had a short visit with Congressman Benishek during his recent visit to Traverse City. The Congressman has continued to support a number of NMC interests in Washington D.C.
- Saturday, April 11, was an eventful day for NMC. That morning I participated in the Big Little Hero Race put on by NMC’s Professional Communications class as a fundraiser for Northern Michigan’s Big Brothers Big Sisters. Community members of all ages were invited to dress up as their favorite superhero and run, or walk, for a good cause. The event was well attended with participants in three different categories—the free, untimed one mile fun run/walk; the timed 5K, and the timed 10K.
- At noon I attended the funeral of Sally Malone, wife of NMC Fellow and Foundation Board member Terry Malone.
- The evening of April 11 Nancy and I attended the Captain’s Dinner, along with trustees Kennard and Judy Weaver and Ross and Helen The event is a fundraiser hosted by several of the NMC GLMA student groups.
- Ross and Helen Childs and Nancy and I attended the NMC International Club’s International Dinner and Fundraising this past Tuesday evening, April 21. It was an evening featuring global cuisine, performances from around the world and opportunities to connect with our NMC International Club mem I want to thank Lindsey Dickinson and the International Club students for all their work in hosting such a wonderful event.
Legislative Issues
- See Attached MCCA Update
Miscellaneous
- Many positive comments have been received pertaining to the process used to select new Trustee Chris M. Bott to fill the Board of Trustee vacancy due to the March 23 resignation of Cheryl Gore Follette. The appointed Trustee Search Committee of Kennard Weaver, Ross Childs, and Steve Rawlings did an outstanding job of of creating an efficient process to attract 10 excellent candidates and the full Board conducted an interview and selection process that primarily took place at a special meeting the afternoon of April 20 and finalized the selection of Chris Bott at their regular meeting that evening.
- Honors Convocation is next Friday, May 1, from 4:45 p.m. until 7:00 p. at the Dennos Museum Center.
- Commencement is next Saturday, May 2, at the Traverse City Central High School Gym The Board should arrive no later than 1:15 p.m. I will send more information separately pertaining to these two events.