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.
- The Nursing Department hosted four site visitors from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for a continuing accreditation visit of the Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs. The visit occurred September 18-20, 2018. During this time, the visitors met with the President, Vice Presidents and administrators, twelve members from Student Services, all regular nursing faculty members, two general education faculty, nine administrators and educators at Munson Medical Center, and twenty-two students. During their tour at Munson, they also spoke with students, graduates, and unit managers. In addition to tours and meetings, they also reviewed several binders of requested materials, including all nursing meeting minutes, student and faculty files. During the exit interview, the visitor team chair shared the recommendation that the site visitors would send to ACEN. The ADN and PN programs were compliant with all six standards with the next visit in eight years. This is the maximum amount of time a program is granted between visits. The nursing faculty and staff did a great job preparing for this site visit!
- Cheryl Bloomquist organized an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Cohort for students to earn the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) 480 hours credentialing through a scholarship from Michigan TEACH that pays for 100% of their tuition. The students enrolled in the program are taking 9 credit hours (3 Early Childhood Education classes) each semester, fall and spring. The first class filled 120% with 28 students. These students are non-traditional and would not normally be seeking college credit. They are all currently working in the early childhood field and need the CDA credential to meet their minimum job requirements. The new ECE (CDA) Cohort will continue through the spring 2019 semester. Students completing the training/ECE courses will go on to meet the final requirements for the national credential. Michigan Association of the Education of the Young Child offers a TEACH scholarship which pays 80% or more of the costs for the college courses and the CDA credential. For many of these students this is their first college experience. The goal is that the students will find success and continue in the ECE Program and complete the Level II Certificate or the AAS degree. TEACH offers scholarships to students for early childhood associate, bachelors and master’s degrees. The plan is for this opportunity to be repeated each fall/spring semester. More information on the TEACH scholarship and the CDA council can be found here. (IE1)
- Mella McCormick co-presented with Sarah Wrangler at the Michigan Open Educational Resources Summit at St. Clair Community College in Port Huron, MI on Friday, September 21, 2018. The title of presentation was “Lessons from an OER Faculty Learning Community”. (IE1, IE2, IE5)
- The Records and Registration Office, in collaboration with Information Technology, has implemented eTranscripts for the delivery of NMC transcripts. We have partnered with Parchment, a leader in eTranscript exchange, to send transcripts electronically, securely and confidentially to anywhere the student designates. Working with Parchment, we have a new and improved system that is both convenient and efficient. The service is available online 24/7. This is a significant improvement in service to our students and alumni. (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4, IE5)
- The Advising Center, in cooperation with our University Center partners, is now offering weekly Transfer Tuesdays for students. Held in the Health/Science Building lobby from 11am to 2pm, this is an opportunity for current NMC students to meet with and plan for transfer to with an advisor from their intended transfer institution. The goal is to make students more aware of the transfer process, and encourage them to start working with their transfer advisor early in their academic career. Student and UC partner participation has been strong and feedback has been very positive! (IE2, IE3)
- NMC student Zachary Watson was recently selected as one of 25 undergraduate students nationwide to receive a $1000 World Affairs Council of America National Conference Scholarship. He will be traveling to Washington DC the day after the midterm elections to participate in the three day conference. The WACA Board offers these scholarships in order to fulfill their educational mission and to prepare future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Conference is a special occasion for participants to engage with many leading policy makers and analysts about critical foreign and trade policy issues and America’s role in the world. Zachary’s recommendation was written by Jim Bensley and Jack Segal and sponsored by NMC’s International Affairs Forum. (IE1, IE2)
Activities of Note: Tim
- On Monday, September 24, 2018, NMC celebrated two exciting events—the West Hall Innovation Center Groundbreaking and the Fine Arts Building Rededication Ceremony. Thank you to all attendees, including Representative Larry Inman and Senator Darwin Booher, who have been outstanding supporters of NMC and the West Hall Innovation Center project.
- Humanities Academic Area assisted with the rededication ceremony for the Shirley S. Okerstrom Fine Arts Building. Jeff Cobb served as MC for this event, and Mella McCormick delivered the opening address. Attendees also heard from Paul Welch, retired Fine Arts faculty member who shared some historical reminiscing.
- The 14th Annual Wayne and Terry Lobdell Scholarship Dinner was held on Friday, September 28, 2018. The dinner, which sold out earlier than ever this year, provides scholarships to NMC’s Culinary students. As is always the case, the food, the company and the conversations were fantastic. Many thanks to Wayne and Terry for their continued support of this important program.
- Paul Sorgule, from Harvest America Ventures, LLC, spent two days on campus this month performing an Operational Assessment and IDEATION process for the Great Lakes Culinary Institute. Paul met with faculty, staff, industry representatives, and students to help us think through the future of culinary education at Northwestern Michigan College. We will evaluate his report once it is received. I look forward to reviewing the work he did with us as we plan for the future.
Legislative Issues
State
- The Michigan Legislature is primarily on recess now until the election. We expect that post-election, there will be a “lame duck” session, which will could be active depending on the outcome of the election. Some of the issues that we are currently tracking in Lansing include HB 5697 which would extend bonding authority within the Michigan New Jobs Training Program out to December 31, 2023. Currently the authority is set to expire December 31 of this year. The bill passed the House Appropriations Committee and now awaits action on the House floor. We also continue to monitor activity related to retirement contributions for part time students employed by a community college who were not previously reported to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System. HB 6378 would open an election window for individuals that the State sees as erroneously left out of the retirement system to self-report. It also requires that colleges make payments for students that the State considers to be part time going back to 2001.
Federal
- Before adjourning for the pre-election recess period, Congress passed several of the federal funding bills including the Labor, HHS and Education Funding Bill. The FY19 Education Appropriations bill totals about $1 billion more than last year’s funding. Some significant increases include $100 increase in Pell Grant maximum awards, $70 million boost in Career Technical Education Basic State Grants, $25 million increase in adult education, increases for TRIO and GEAR UP as well as very small increases for institutional aid programs. While it does not appear likely that Congress will pass a Higher Education Act Reauthorization bill this year we will be monitoring activity in Washington post-election and into next year to determine what the chances are for legislation in the year ahead. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we are optimistic that the Higher Education Act Reauthorization can be achieved in the upcoming 116th Congress.
Miscellaneous
- October 24-October 27—ACCT Leadership Congress, New York City
- November 8 & 9—MCCA New Trustee Orientation & Trustee Leadership Institute, Lansing
- Glenn Wolff will be hosting a NMC Print Making Workshop for Local Area High School Teachers on Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 5:30-9:00pm.
- November 9—Mariners’ Memorial
- November 9—Humanities Academic Area Open House
- November 12—NMC Veterans Day Activities