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.
- Diana Fairbanks, Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communication, was chosen as a Michigan Community College Association Leadership Academy graduation speaker for 2018. She addressed board members, presidents and other attendees during the awards ceremony at the MCCA Summer Conference held at the Grand Traverse Resort on July 26. (IE2, IE3, IE5)
- Current Surgical Technology student Amber Jewell-Clay was awarded a $1000 scholarship from the Foundation for Surgical Technology. Amber was one of only 34 students nationally chosen for this scholarship through an essay writing application. Amber is featured in the August 2018 journal for the Association of Surgical Technologists for the scholarship and her biography can be found at ffst.org. (IE1)
- Ryan Bernstein and Terri Gustafson (Educational Media Technologies) completed the 3- week Educause Learning Initiative Course, “Badging and Employer Engagement”. The course built on a foundation knowledge of digital credentials and strategically took participants through the process of designing a credential system based on workforce and employer needs. Ryan and Terri stepped through the process of identifying a target industry, a faculty partner, a business partner and designing a mock-up of a digital credential path for students in an existing certificate path. (IE1, IE5)
- Evan Martzial, Global Sales and Bathymetric Product Manager for Edgetech, Inc., provided a no cost loan of equipment valued at $175,000 that was utilized in the WSI 310 and WSI 440 courses at the Great Lakes Campus. Evan conducted lectures on the equipment operation for the students in both classes and is working with NMC for future collaborations supporting our Marine Technology programs. (IE1, IE2, IE3)
- Dr. Rick Sauve of Leica Geosystems, the largest provider of survey equipment in the world, is providing NMC with over $668,000 in equipment at no cost for the 2018/19 academic year in support of our Marine Technology bachelor’s degree and the development of a survey technician program. We have been working with Rick and his team very closely over the past year. This equipment will directly benefit all students in the Engineering Technology areas and will enhance NMC’s unique position as a global leader in air, land, and sea mapping, and surveying training programs. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE5)
- Mike Brissette, Technical Sales Engineering for R2Sonic, LLC provided a no cost loan of equipment valued at $230,000 that was utilized in the WSI 310 and WSI 440 courses at the Great Lakes Campus. Mike also conducted lectures on the equipment operation for the students in both classes. Mike is highly supportive of NMC and our BS in Marine Technology degree. He looks forward to working with our students each year. (IE1, IE2, IE3)
- Kari Kahler was re-certified in the Leadership Studies curriculum developed by Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters during a week-long training this summer. She is excited to share her knowledge, skills and abilities with both students and staff. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4, IE5)
- During the month of June, Joelle Hannert, library technical services coordinator, oversaw the library’s migration to Koha, an open-source software package. The library’s previous system had become too expensive and out of date. Koha will give users the ability to place holds, view their checkouts, and renew books online. During the month of July, library staff applied radio frequency identification tags to all of the library’s print books in order to implement self-checkout this fall. The tags will also serve as a security system in the new library in West Hall and will enable the library to stay open 24/7. (IE1, IE3, IE4, IE5)
- NMC recently shared the wonderful news that long-time NMC supporter and local philanthropist Casey Cowell with his wife, Dana Cowell, have committed to a gift of one million dollars to support the work of the college, through the NMC Foundation. This gift will provide financial assistance to advance the college’s current work in several key areas. This includes:
- considering the community’s economic future in decision making throughout the organization;
- improving regional healthfulness through providing wellness opportunities and education specifically for NMC students, faculty and staff as well as for our greater community at large;
- expanding career training, leading to higher paying jobs and increased skill levels of workers in our region;
- attracting high-paying companies to our region by leveraging NMC programs and faculty expertise;
- extending our reach to new and broader audiences through technology; and
- strengthening our region as a destination for experiential and professional learning.
This is a reflection of the confidence and appreciation that members of the community have in the great work happening each and every day on campus, in classrooms, and around the world. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4, IE5)
- Ann Hosler, office assistant in the Communications academic area, recently had her photography piece entitled, “Agate Thunderegg,” selected to be published in the next issue of Dunes Review. The issue will print in October and be celebrated with a launch reading in Traverse City on October 21. Ann was a photography student at NMC. She also volunteers with the NMC magazine and is currently managing editor of The White Pine Press. (IE1, IE3, IE4)
- NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy completed three training phases over the summer on board the T/S State of Michigan.
- In addition to carrying 67 cadets from GLMA, we carried 13 cadets from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. During the first underway phase NMC Instructor Tom Gordon sailed on board the vessel. Tom was an outstanding shipmate and his participation allowed nine engine cadets to complete a group one history class (The History of the Vietnam War) while underway. Thus facilitating the cadets’ retention and completion. (IE2)
- For the third consecutive year the ship carried three Great Lakes Culinary Institute (GLCI) Interns. The interns did a stellar job, were critical to the vessel’s operations, and were a testament to the quality of the training they receive at GLCI. Among the three chief stewards who rotated through the ship’s Chief Steward position was Jeff Hansen, a recent graduate of GLCI who sailed on board the State of Michigan as an intern last summer. Two GLCI graduates who served an internship with GLMA were hired by Crowley Maritime in 2016, one of the largest operators of U.S. Flag Merchant vessels. Crowley Maritime has been so impressed with their performance that when they hold recruiting sessions for GLMA cadets this October they have arranged for two sessions solely dedicated to recruitment of GLCI students for underway positions on board their vessels. (IE3)
Activities of Note: Tim
- This year’s MCCA Summer Institute was held July 24-27 at the Grand Traverse Resort and we appreciate trustees Kennard Weaver, Chris Bott, Janie McNabb, Doug Bishop, Ross Childs, and Michael Estes who were able to attend portions of the conference.
- Two teams from NMC traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in the AFIT Summer Institute. The “early adopter” team was comprised of members of the Experiential Learning AQIP project team, and the “transformational team” consisted of executive staff members to learn more about the business innovation factory concept to utilize with the Clarification of Shared Governance AQIP project, as well as other college processes and projects.
- I attended the grand opening of 20Fathoms, a technology hub and startup incubator, located in downtown Traverse City. NMC has become a sponsoring partner with this group in order to improve coordination of our services provided to the community.
- On July 30 and 31 NMC welcomed guests from Manado State Politeknik in Indonesia. Mareyke Alelo, director, along with a former student, traveled here to explore opportunities between our two schools. NMC’s Marine Technology program also recently traveled to Indonesia to conduct coral reef surveys as their capstone project, which has been presented to both the NMC Board of Trustees and the NMC Foundation Board.
- Thank you to all those in attendance at the opening activities held on Monday, August 20. Two separate Experiential Learning sessions were held that morning, with four other sessions scheduled between now and the fall professional development day on October 9. I provided a brief college update and everyone in attendance enjoyed an indoor picnic barbecue lunch.
- The college lost a good friend with the unexpected passing of Dudley Smith III, on August 6. Dudley and his wife Barbara have been loyal supporters of NMC and the Dennos Museum Center, most recently making a major gift to establish the Barbara and Dudley Smith Wing for Inuit Art. Barb and Dudley were named NMC Fellows in 1997 and were recognized in 2009 with a regional Benefactor Award from the Council for Resource Development. Dudley was a true philanthropist; the joy, caring, and humor he brought to life will be missed by all.
Legislative Issues
State
- The Michigan Legislature continues to be on recess until after the Labor Day holiday. With the August primary now behind us, the stage is set for at least 1 new face to join the Northern Michigan legislative delegation. In the 101st State House District, covering Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason counties, both Jack O’Malley (R) and Kathy Wiejaczka (D) are newcomers who have advanced to the November general election.
- Governor Snyder announced plans to provide universal access to high-speed internet for every Michigan resident, business, region and community. Under this plan, a Michigan Consortium of Advanced Networks (MCAN) would be created under Executive Order 2018-2 that was signed in January to solidify a vision for a connected state along with a roadmap to guide the state’s goal of universal broadband access. According to the state, Michigan currently ranks 30th in the nation for broadband access and more than 350,000 households in mostly rural areas, lack access to vital high-speed internet service, with another 2 million more households having access to a single terrestrial internet service provider.
Federal
- Before adjourning for a brief August recess, Congress passed the Perkins Reauthorization Bill sending it to the President for his signature. The bill seeks to better align career and technical education programs with the needs of business and industry. It also provides more authority to the state and updates reporting requirements to correspond with those required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Funding allocations remain largely the same and the state would still determine how to divide grant funding between secondary and postsecondary programs.
- Following the August primary election, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman will have a Democratic challenger after Democrat Matt Morgan launched a write-in effort after he was disqualified from the primary ballot due to a filing error. Morgan’s campaign says that at least 32,000 people wrote in Morgan’s name as the Democratic candidate for U.S. House, which is more than the roughly 3,500 write in votes needed to secure the Democratic nomination.
Miscellaneous
- Save the date of Monday, September 24 – West Hall Groundbreaking Ceremony and Fine Arts Building rededication
- Friday, September 28 – Lobdell’s Scholarship Dinner