Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
Notable Accomplishments provided by Faculty and Staff
This section recognizes the good work being done and linkages to the Strategic Directions (SD) and Institutional Effectiveness Criteria (IE) are provided where possible.
- In keeping with our donors’ wishes, the NMC Foundation has established two new endowed scholarships for NMC students: The Raymond and Julie Dean Scholarship for science or mathematic students; and, the Jerry Brief and Barb Largent Brief Scholarship for alumni of S Francis High School. (IE2)
- Thanks to the generosity of Foundation Board member Kim Hagerty, and her family, the NMC Foundation is pleased to announce the new Hagerty-Simao Family Scholar In its first year, the scholarship will support second year female students who demonstrate leadership skills or potential, recommended by faculty/staff in any program with a preference for students in aviation and the Commitment Scholarship Program. Additionally, the fund will provide direct support for Commitment Scholarships. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4)
- WNMC received its largest major gift to date and it’s already making a difference. Donor Dr. Bill Weiss is a longtime listener and widower of Shirley Weiss who was an NMC alumnae and dedicated WNMC volunteer. He has given a gift of $35,000 that is already being used in part for a transformational upgrade of the studio equipment as it plans for a temporary move soon and its future new space in West Hall. Bill was very earnest that his gift be used for studio capital expenditures and is pleased to know he has had a part in making this important NMC program even stronger. (IE1, IE2)
- Scott Goethals has completed training to become an official Palo Alto Networks Academy Trainer. He is now able to deliver curriculum to his students and the wider community based on the Palo Alto Networks firewall platform, which simplifies personal computer security to better equip users to protect their data. Scott also recently presented to the Grand Traverse Newcomers Club on the topic of Security Best Practices for protecting computer systems and personal data from theft. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4, IE5)
- Congratulations to NMC Faculty member Diane Clark on her recent literary accomplishments! Diane’s article titled “Retirement: The Grand Finale (Allegro Giocoso)” was recently published in the March 2018 Edition of The Choral Journal. A glowing review of her book So You Want to Sing Barbershop? was recently published in the March/April
- 2018 edition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Journal. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4)
- NMC is the leading community college in Michigan for study abroad and currently ranks 17th nationally for participating in short-term study abroad. NMC was also recently awarded a completion certificate from the Institute for International Education Generation Study Abroad Initiative, one of only a few community colleges to have reached the goal of doubling student participation in study abroad by the end of the decade. The Office of International Services and Service Learning recently concluded another successful study abroad travel season, with 60 students and 13 faculty and staff members participating in academic study abroad opportunities in Ireland (Humanities: Peace Studies/Conflict Resolution), Italy (Culinary Arts), Indonesia (Marine Technology, UAS & Water Studies), India (Humanities: World Cultures and Eastern Religions and Costa Rica (Water Studies and Early Childhood Education. Over the past six years, 333 students and 35 faculty and staff leaders have participated in study abroad experiences in 17 different countries through NMC. (IE1, IE2, IE4)
Activities of Note: Tim
- I traveled to the Denver area to participate in the AFIT (Alliance for Innovation and Transformation) Think Tank at Aims Community College May 29- Part of this meeting was spent planning for the 2018 Summer Institute, which will take place in Kansas City, MO, in the beginning of August. NMC is planning to send two teams comprised of faculty and staff. One team (the NMC Experiential Learning team) will focus on the Business Innovation Factory (BIF) early adopters track, and the other team on the transformers track.
- June 8-10 was filled with STEM related events and programming including the Space Expo Dinner at Black Star Farms, a panel of space industry experts held Friday at Parsons-Stulen, Mission One STEM Expo held Saturday, and a balloon-based satellite launch held on Sunday. All supporters believe there is a future in space business for the Grand Traverse area. Thanks to partners Atlas Space Operations, CASIS, Newton’s Road, NMC, Michigan Crossroads Council Exploring BSA, Bill and Phyllis Donberg and Family, Black Star Farms, Promethient, Ron and Marty Yocum, RJG, Inc., Bill Marsh Automotive Group, Aluminum Extruders Council and Aluminum Anodizers Council, Magnitude.io, Traverse Area Chamber, Fifth Third Bank and Dennos Museum Center.
- Saturday, June 16, was the formal grand reopening and dedication of The New De The recent expansion was made possible through generous gifts from lead donors Diana and Richard Milock, Barbara and Dudley Smith, Susie and Bill Janis, Edward and Sharon Rutkowski, Debby and Dan Edson, Chris Dennos, and Doug Bishop and Family. If you have not been in the Dennos since this renovation, you need to go. This has always been a world class facility and the new spaces are fantastic. One of the current exhibits is the National Geographic exhibition – Monster Fish. It is great for children and adults!
Legislative Issues
State
- The State budget process is in its final stages with House and Senate conferees voting out the FY19 Community College appropriations bill on June The full House and Senate have also acted, sending the legislation to the Governor for his signature. As expected, the bill provides a 1% increase in overall spending, which was distributed amongst community colleges in a two-part way: based on an equivalent of a 2% base increase through the Personal Property Tax distribution and, also, through the traditional community college funding formula. For NMC, as a result of this budget, we are expecting to see a 1.2% increase over FY18 funding levels, which equals an additional $116,500 ($50,800 in non-formula adjustments and $65,700 in formula distribution).
- In addition to acting on the State Budget, the legislature also responded to the submittal of signatures in support of repealing Michigan’s Prevailing Wage law (a citizen initiated state statute ballot initiative), and passed legislation last week that removes the requirement that union scale wages be paid to workers on public construction projects.
- Finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced legislation aimed at preventing and addressing sexual assault, passing similar legislation to the House passed legislation earlier this yea
- It is expected that State lawmakers will proceed to a summer recess period following the passage of budget bills this wee
Federal
- It appears increasingly likely that the S. House will take up immigration reform legislation before departing for their summer recess period.
- The immigration legislation votes would be the product of a so-called discharge petition, which if signed by enough members of the U.S. House, would compel the Speaker of the House to hold series of votes on four immigration bills focused on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- We are also tracking a vote in the House on the Higher Education Act (PROSPER Act). Unfortunately, this legislation is greatly concerning to community colleges, and we are urging our Congressional members to indicate their opposition to leadership. Impacts of the PROSPER Act would include billions of dollars in cuts to student aid and the implementation of institutional risk-sharing penalties. However, even if the act were to pass the House, its future in the Senate is bleak, potentially setting up a conference committee showdown at some point in the future.
Miscellaneous
- June 26 – Fellows Dinner, Dennos Museum Center
- July 24-27 – MCCA Summer Institute, Traverse City