We continue to make steady progress on the action steps across our strategic objectives. Strategy 1 was presented in depth during Monday’s Board Study Session and Board Meeting—you can view the full Strategy 1 memo here for reference.
Strategy 1 is robust, and finding the right balance to highlight every objective within our allotted presentation time is an ongoing effort. We could dedicate an entire board meeting to Strategy 1 alone!
Key highlights presented from Strategy 1: Future-Focused Education:
AI Goals & Progress: Ryan Bernstein and Terri Gustafson led a two-hour Board Study Session overviewing NMC’s AI goals, current progress, and future opportunities, fielding questions and scenarios from Trustees. Board Chair Mark Keely noted how reassuring it was to have Terri and Ryan leading this charge. Hats off to them both!
Tip: Check out the last few pages of the Strategy 1 memo to view the AI infographic. It was very well received by both the Board and President Nissley and may serve as a helpful model for your own work.
Mission & Values in Action: Marine Technology student Gary T. highlighted his hands-on experience aboard the E/V Nautilus, where he participated in Exploration 178 mapping from Hawaii to Guam. His story beautifully demonstrated the reach of our distinguished programs, the strength of our community partnerships (like the Marine Technology Society), and the impact of our outreach efforts in drawing students to NMC from beyond our region (tied to Objective 3).
Durable Skills: During the faculty report, Brandon Everest and Kristy McDonald shared a timely update on how experiential learning from NMC Next has evolved into a broader focus on durable skills in our current strategic plan. They detailed course- and program-level work to equip instructors with resources, as well as outreach encouraging students to pursue the nEXt endorsement. The Board remains enthusiastic about how this work supports regional employers, differentiates the NMC experience, and balances our AI initiatives (tied to Objective 1).
Supporting At-Risk Students: Joy Goodchild provided a detailed look into Objective 4, highlighting our targeted efforts to support at-risk students through Week 3/Week 8 outreach, expanded interventions, and course redesigns. The Board engaged deeply, asking great follow-up questions about expanding reach, potential participation models, the role of the Osterlin redesign, and even options for students to designate a mentor or parent to receive support updates. Expect this discussion to continue as our outreach expands.
Additional Updates & Upcoming Schedule:
- Strategy 1 Dashboards Complete: Joy and the ORPE team finalized the Strategy 1 dashboards late last week, and we are working to integrate them into the landing page. Dashboards for Strategies 2 and 3 will be developed this month. Thank you, Joy and team!
- Strategic Plan “Cheat Sheet:” We created a summary graphic that directly links NMC’s mission, vision, and values to our strategic plan objectives. Feel free to use this helpful reference when speaking with community members or external stakeholders.
- October Look Ahead: Tony Sauerbrey will lead presentations on the Northsky Consortium and the Uncrewed Aerial Systems program. There will be no additional strategic plan updates in October.
- November 23, 2026: Strategy 2 Presentation — Enrollment and Student Success
- December 14, 2026: Strategy 3 Presentation — Vibrant College Community