Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
Activities of Note: Faculty and Staff
I hope to recognize the good work you are doing in this new section of the update. Linkages to the Strategic Agenda, Strategic Directions and Goals will be made where possible.
• Visual Communications Instructor Caroline Schaefer-Hills and 3 NMC students attended the Economist’s Future Cities Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Over 200 authorities in urban planning, design, construction, energy, transport, architecture and smart technology gathered to discuss the future of cities. Caroline and the students met with former NMC Visual Communications graduate Andrew Sekora, who is now Art Director for Zound Industries in Stockholm. Andrew provided a studio tour that exposed the students to the global realities of the design industry. While in Sweden, Caroline also met with both the Berghs School of Communication and Beckmans School of Design to investigate possible international connections between the schools and NMC. (SD1 and SD2)
• Health Occupations instructor Linda Walter, RN, MSN, is a reviewer for a Pearson/Prentice Hall Medical Dosage Calculations 10th edition text, and is listed in the acknowledgements. (SD2)
• Health Occupations instructor Alison Collins, CDA, MS, is on the editorial advisory board for Lippincott Williams and Wilkins’ Comprehensive Dental Assisting text, and is listed as such in the text. (SD2)
• Health Occupations instructor Beckie Wooters, CDA, RDA, is responsible for Dental Assisting student internships. Currently, dental assistant students are partnered with two local agencies, Traverse Health Clinic and Northwest Michigan Health Services, through the University of Michigan Dental School. Within these internships and partnerships the students help provide dental services to low income and migrant patients. (SD1 and SD2)
• Darby Hiller and Sue DeCamillis were invited to present NMC’s Program Review process to the academic leadership of Ferris State University and Kellogg Community College. NMC has received positive feedback on this process, which has been touted as a national best practice by individuals at various institutions around the country. (SD 1 and SD 2)
• NMC’s Communications and Public Relations department was honored at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District III Medallion Awards ceremony in Detroit on September 26. NMC won silver awards in two categories, “Promotional Campaign for a Special Event” and “Outdoor Advertising.” The promotional campaign materials were for the college’s 60th anniversary and included the “Thank You” impact brochure, the bronze lapel pins featuring the college’s seal, the 60 year banner featuring the names of donors to the NMC Foundation and a pair of “wrapper” ads in the Record-Eagle. The award for outdoor advertising was for the WNMC headphones wearing dog billboard. NCMPR is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges and is dedicated to the advancement of marketing and public relations at community and technical colleges. NCMPR has more than 1,500 members from 650 colleges. District III is made up of every community and technical college in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Ontario and Wisconsin and has the most members of any NCMPR district. (SD2, SD4)
• Congratulations to Instructor George Beeby and our student “Accelerate Michigan Competition” team. Their project presentation, “Extended Bike Rental During the Summer”, was judged 15th out of 298 entries! Considering they were competing against MBA level entries, this group has, as they say, “DONE US PROUD!” (SD)
• The Dennos Museum Center was cited in USA Today as one of Ten Great Museum Stores to buy gifts. Congratulations to Terry Tarnow and the entire Dennos Team. (SD2, SD4)
Activities of Note: Tim
• I had an interview with Mardi Link who is researching and writing the 60th Anniversary Book (NMC: The Third Twenty Years). She will be contacting Trustees and others for their perspectives on this important reflection.
• Stephen Siciliano, Marguerite Cotto, Jean Rokos and I met with leadership at Munson Health Care for a strategy meeting to discuss our mutual needs and potential approaches to meeting them. This is a continuation of the work we have done with the Health Education Institute. I will continue to report as we develop agendas.
• I was fortunate to be one of 300 people invited to attend the Futures of Entrepreneurship Education Summit in Washington, DC. World renowned leaders in this field were on hand to share their expertise and perspectives. Perhaps one of the most interesting sessions was a panel of four young (20ish) entrepreneurs who have already developed companies with national and international reach. It is one thing to read about what these folks are doing and quite another to engage them in a conversation. As always, I have a black book full of notes that will create new work for NMC.
• I attended the kick off for BBQ. A room full of energetic and enthused volunteers is ready to make this, the 56th annual BBQ, the best yet. Thanks to all involved.
• Nancy and I attended the opening of the new exhibition at the Dennos. The artist won the Grand Rapids Art Prize two years ago. I encourage you to make time to see it.
Legislative Issues
• November 30 testimony in support of Community College Baccalaureate. Ed Ness, President and CEO of Munson Healthcare; Jerry Achenbach, Superintendent of GLMA; and Ed Wiltse, Vice President of Operations for Grand River Navigation joined me in Lansing to testify before the Senate Education Committee in support of this legislation (HB4496).
They all did a great job representing our interest in these programs. Also testifying were Representative John Walsh, the sponsor of the bill; Dr. Gail Mee, President of Henry Ford Community College and two of their Nursing students; and Dr. Conway Jeffress, President of Schoolcraft College and the CEO of their local hospital, Garden City Hospital. Universities were scheduled to speak in opposition to the bill, but time expired. They will most likely testify on December 7. I remain hopeful that we can get this legislation approved in this legislative cycle. Written versions of our testimonies are attached.
• December 7 is the MCCA Day of Advocacy in Lansing. I have attached a pdf of the agenda. Stephen Siciliano, Andy Dolan and I will attend and schedule meetings with Senators Booher and Walker and Representatives Schmidt, Franz, and MacMaster. We will also attend the Senate Education Committee hearing, if it is held.
• Other legislative issues that could affect NMC and other community colleges include proposed changes to the dual enrollment regulations and modifications in the performance funding formula.
Miscellaneous
• As a reminder, NMC will host two AQIP reviewers January 25-27, 2012, for our AQIP Quality Checkup Visit. Staffs are working on preparing for the visit. One component of our pre-work in accordance with the Federal Compliance Program is for NMC to publicly announce the visit and invite comment, which will be submitted directly to and compiled by the Higher Learning Commission. We have yet to develop the agenda for the visit and it is possible the reviewers will want to have a conversation with members of the Board of Trustees.