Living Our Brand integrates NMC’s brand platform directly into institutional decision-making, providing a unified framework to align college priorities, investments, and cross-departmental operations with the college’s core strengths. Driven by the central theme of transformative impact, this driver pairs “Anchor” strategies (purposeful education pathways and serving as a community cornerstone) with “Edge” strategies (a culture of innovation and distinguished academic programs). Key objectives under this driver include leveraging AI in instruction and operations, expanding experiential learning like the nEXt endorsement, embedding in-demand durable skills into curricula, and strengthening regional and national program outreach. Additionally, it encompasses brand management actions such as modernizing physical spaces through master-plan projects, executing the Dennos Museum rebrand, and establishing a data-informed enrollment ecosystem to support the student journey. July’s Board update focused on Living Our brand and the newly restructured Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, formerly known to most as OOPs, the Office of Possibilities.
Community Partnerships continues to build NMC’s collaborative framework to connect departments, align college goals with regional economic needs, and expand opportunities for lifelong learning. By evaluating and prioritizing mutually beneficial relationships, the college leverages key partnerships to deepen student experiences, support local industries, and optimize institutional resources. Key objectives of this driver include transformational economic initiatives—such as the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center, the NorthSky Consortium’s drone corridor, and the Northern Michigan Attainment Collaborative—as well as hands-on learning support through industry scholarships and entrepreneurship networks. It also enhances community vibrancy and campus life through programming with local organizations like the International Affairs Forum and wellness offerings for employees. August’s Board update focused on specialized training offered by the Northern Michigan Attainment Collaborative, a 10-county collaborative effort to cultivate a skilled workforce by increasing the percentage of people with a credential or degree to 60% by 2030. This initiative will expand the middle class, provide families with opportunities to thrive, and drive economic growth and stability across the region.