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 you are doing and linkages to the Strategic Agenda, Strategic Directions and Goals are provided where possible.
- The executive staff attended this summer’s CQIN Institute on Accountability. CQIN is the organization that NMC belongs to that has a summer institute each year with non-higher education partners to learn about methods they use to achieve quality and success. The day typically starts at 7:30 with formal programs until 5:00 and then team work time after that. As anyone who has attended a CQIN in the past can tell you, our team time is productive and intensive. The topic of accountability was threaded through a discussion on the importance of organizational culture in achieving our goals and results. (SD3)
- New Employee Orientation was well done and continues to improve each year. The improvements are a direct result of the TALENT projects and I thank all who have been a part of those efforts. As I suggested at Opening Conference, take time to get to know the new members of our college community. (SD3)
- Thank you all for participating in Fall semester Opening Conference. It’s hard to believe that was my 23rd Opening Conference program. (SD3)
- The Pine Palooza student fair was great and gets better every year. All the tables were taken, the student flow was constant throughout the day and voting on a college nickname/mascot started. Thanks to all who helped. (SD4)
- The Mike McIntosh Memorial Truck and Car Show went off without a hitch, despite the overnight and early morning rain. About 80 vehicles entered and the flow of spectators throughout the day was constant. Thanks to the staff and volunteers who make this happen and for the scholarship dollars it raises. (SD4)
Activities of Note: Tim
It’s hard to believe we are about to enter our third week of the fall semester! As with each of you, time is flying by. Here are some of the recent activities that are important for the future of NMC and our communities.
- The NMC and TCAPS executive staffs have continued to meet to investigate ways in which we can align our strategic plans, better utilize resources and most effectively serve our region. I look forward to positive outcomes from these interactions.
- Marguerite Cotto, Linda Racine and I attended the annual Council of Government’s Beaver Island Retreat August 29-30. This year’s focus was identifying “big ideas” that could move the needle on economic development in our ten-county region. While notes are not yet available, I will tell you that a topic rising to the top involved educating our citizens and maintaining the talent capacities in northwest Michigan. When we receive the formal minutes, I will send those out.
- It was last October that we started the Global Opportunities Fund here at NMC. Nancy and I had an idea and quite a few other people found it attractive. So, eleven months later on September 4th we held a celebration and recognition picnic at the courtyard of the Great Lakes Campus. We heard from students who received $1000 scholarships that helped them to travel and learn abroad. We heard from faculty and staff who imbedded these experiences in their daily work and responsibilities. We heard from new international students who chose NMC. And, we heard from donors who are pleased and excited with what they saw their funds support. It’s just the beginning and it’s just one area of importance for NMC, and it was GREAT!
- I got to do something that I miss… play a “direct” role in learning by teaching a class. Each year, the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute invites me to run a two hour session with their ENV class. The students provide me with questions before hand and I attempt to weave their issues into the conversation. I will tell you that the class and the students were FANTASTIC! I know I tell people that my current job is still one of teaching and learning, and it is. There is something really special about being in a class with a group of curious and engaged learners.
- I had the opportunity to have lunch and talk with Denise Busley who has been a key leader in the movement for zero tolerance for child sexual assault in our region. Like many social issues, the magnitude of this one is at best underestimated and at worst ignored. I’m looking for ways in which we can support this movement and help our region. I’ll be back to you on that.
- Marguerite Cotto and I traveled to Midland last Friday to visit Northwood University. We met with its president Dr. Keith Pretty and our own former employee Dr. Kristin Stehouwer. Northwood is a private university with foci on both entrepreneurship and international education. It makes sense for us to investigate ways in which our mutual interests might be networked for the benefit of our learners. We will be designing some interactions focusing in those two areas and will be asking some of you to volunteer to engage. Thanks in advance to those who will play.
- I have spent quite a bit of time this week with the NMC Foundation consultant Kathy Cole. We engaged her to help us design our next steps to take our foundation and fundraising processes to the next level. I’m very impressed with her approach, her insights and her success rates. Unlike many consultants, she and her firm will not take on a client unless the client agrees to work with them to actually implement changes. This is kind of a “breath of fresh air” approach. I look forward to even greater things from our resource raising efforts. A message that I’ve been sending to some is that resource raising is not just the job of Resource Development. It will and must engage us all. We will be designing processes by which this will be accomplished.
- Nancy and I attended an evening with Dr. Marsh Rappley, Dean of MSU College of Human Medicine and other MSU staff and supporters. The evening was hosted by Chuck and Barb Benson at Brys Estate. The conversations with MSU were intriguing and I got to know Walter and Eileen Brys better and hope to engage them more actively with NMC.
- The NMC Board Study Session on Monday will discuss the Board level strategic goals and metrics. I encourage all of the campus to read the materials submitted to the Board.
- I will send out a longer email soon describing our participation in the AACC VELT program. During the end of October and the first part of November, we will be hosting six to eight Chinese college presidents and vice presidents to share how we deliver learning here.
Legislative Issues
- If you are in the MPSERS retirement system, you are aware that there are significant changes being implemented that require you to make some choices. You have been contacted by the NMC HR department and by MPSERS giving you options for learning about these changes. You also may be aware there are two law suits in process and a preliminary judicial ruling. Make sure you follow the developments as they are announced. We will do our best to keep you informed.
- The MCCA continues to pursue our legislative agenda and I am hopeful for action on a number of items during the lame duck session. I’ll continue to report out.
Miscellaneous
- The November election will have three board candidates for two vacancies—Incumbents Doug Bishop and Jay Hooper, and new candidate Kennard Weaver.
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