President’s Update, December 26, 2012

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.

• Classes are complete, grades are in, and everyone is working already to prepare for the next semester. Thank you for all you have done and are doing to make our learners succeed. (SD1-SD5)
• From GLMA: One cadet has passed all licenses and pilotage by sitting early to facilitate a job offer from a tank ship company, and another will sit week of December 9 to be able to sail with CONOCOPHILLIPS/ POLAR Tankers for a final sea project. This is the first time in several years that CONOCOPHILLIPS/ POLAR Tankers has given us a cadet berth, and it can be directly tied to the requirement that deck cadets earn Great Lakes Pilotage. The piloting skills are valued by the tankers that transit the Prince William Sound, and our graduates are earning non Great Lakes Pilotage endorsements at much faster rates than the graduates of the other academies. Another 20 engine and 20 deck cadets are scheduled to sit for their Merchant marine Officer’s licenses in January. Exams will be given at GLMA. (SD2, SD5)
• We provided a tour and lunch to a delegation from Chengsha, China, who have been on an extended visit at Ferris State University. They were from a poly-technical school and seemed impressed by everything they saw and by the fact we have so many partnerships with businesses and other educational institutions. (SD1)
• Stephen and I both attended the final presentation of Kristy McDonald’s students in BUS 231, along with community members that have been involved in the food drive. This is the class that conducted the Food for Thought food drive active learning project that was presented to you at the October board meeting. The final presentation was well done and moving. As you’ve heard me say, our primary purpose is to provide our learners and communities with skills, experiences and values that help them to create social and economic wealth during their lifetimes. This certainly accomplished that and more. The presentation was recorded and when it is available, I will let you know. (SD1, SD2, SD5)

Tim’s Activities of Note: 

• I met with Mike Hill (TBAISD), John Stephenson (Community Action Agency), Sid Van Slyke and Jim Moore (PRI) on November 28 on the Poverty Reduction Initiative (PRI) to address poverty prevention. Education is recognized as one of the key factors to success in this area and our discussion was to create a better understanding of the issue and how we can help strengthen our community to keep people out of poverty.
• Karen Ruediner and I have been meeting with the planning team of the 2013 TEDx Traverse City. The event is scheduled for May 15, 2013, to be held at the NMC Dennos Museum Center again. Additional locations are being planned for streaming the event. If you recall, last year, it sold out in 2 hours. We are working with the State Theatre and the new Hagerty Insurance conference and training room. The program is shaping up to be great!
• Nancy and I attended a “burger” barbecue on December 1 at the home of Mike and Terry Tarnow to visit with Wei Cao and Koji Iwamoto and Wei’s parents visiting from Beijing. Both Wei and Koji are former students of NMC. Thank you to Terry and Mike for hosting.
• Stephen and I attended the annual GLMA holiday luncheon aboard the TS State of Michigan on December 4. Current cadets and alumni were in attendance and continue to show their support for the program.
• On December 5, Doug Luciani and I met with Aero Industrial Park Association members to explore innovative ways of reducing the cost of power within the park. This could influence our current exploration into the potential for NMC to generate its own power with a gas plant. I’ll keep you informed.
• I met with NMC’s Student Government Association on December 7. They had provided me with some thoughtful questions that prompted a good discussion. These included questions about the CCB, the potential for expanding access to international travel and study for students and questions about the NMC Strategic Plan’s impact on students. Great questions!
• On December 10 I had lunch with Greg Lyman and Wendy Steele. Wendy is a member of our Foundation Board and Greg is a former Vice President at the Kellogg Foundation. As you know, I’ve asked that I be introduced to members of our community that should hear the NMC stories of today. Thanks to Wendy.
• That same evening I met with Joe VanderMeulen from the Land Information Access Association (LIAA) to continue investigating ways that we might work more closely for mutual gains.
• Andy Dolan and I met with Anne Stanton from the Record-Eagle who has recently been assigned to cover NMC. We shared information on where NMC is going, our strategic plan and answered questions that she had about the College.
• I met with a local agricultural entrepreneur on December 11 regarding his interest in playing an active role in our viticulture program. This individual is active in a vast worldwide network that he is excited to share with NMC. These connections could greatly enhance our value-added agriculture initiative. I will keep you posted as to what our next steps are.
• On December 11 I also met with Luke Haase, publisher of the Ticker and the Business News to discuss a possible new speaker’s series in the region. We have talked many times over the past few years about establishing a series that would address “controversial but important issues” in our region in a balanced format. We hope to come to some agreement in the next month.
• I attended the Leadership Grand Traverse Alumni Reception and Graduation. Congratulations to Andy Dolan as NMC’s most recent graduate of this beneficial professional development opportunity provided by the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce.
• On December 17 I met with TCAPS superintendent Steve Cousins, and then Dan Wolf joined us. We continue to make good strides toward a more collaborative approach to the learning needs of our community. Three primary areas of interest are aligning our math and English curriculum, investigating the establishment of a TCAPS STEM early college, and determining how we might align our on-line delivery of programming (potentially combining that with a STEM early college.)

Legislative Issues 

• I am preparing a spate memo outlining the legislative actions taken during the lame duck session that I believe might affect NMC and community colleges. The community college baccalaureate bill was passed and has been sent to the Governor for his signature. He received the bill on December 20, 2012 and has 14 days to sign it. The State Universities Presidents Council has indicated they continue to lobby the Governor hoping he will veto the bill. Should he not, sources have told me they believe there is a high probability they will sue claiming that it is unconstitutional. In legal opinions we had prepared last year, we do not believe this to be the case. As you are aware, the four degrees in the final bill are maritime technologies, energy production technologies, culinary, and cement technology. Nursing was removed from the bill as part of the final compromise to move it to the Senate floor for a vote. As I’ve said before, our University Center partners and programs continue to be extremely important to the region and we look forward to continuing and expanding these relationships. The CCB does not lessen our need for these programs.
• We are currently working with the Higher Learning Commission to firm up the process for seeking accreditation for appropriate baccalaureates here at NMC. Thanks to all who have helped in this process.

Miscellaneous 

This is the last update for 2012. It’s been an important year for NMC. Thank you for making it a great one. See you at the Opening Conference on January 7, 2013 in the Hagerty Center!

Dates of Note * Please contact the President’s Office if you would like to attend.