Dec 4, 2025 | Intercom
Greetings!
The Public Relations, Marketing and Communications team has created a fun holiday video for employees to share with their professional networks.
To share, drag your cursor over the entire message below, hit copy and then paste into your email program. You can edit the text to customize who the message is from.
Happy holidays,
NMC Public Relations
Wishing you boundless joy and unstoppable momentum in the new year.
President Nick Nissley & Northwestern Michigan College
Mar 2, 2026 | Student News
Have you had instructors this semester who you feel really excelled? NMC has a way for you to recognize those instructors: Nominate them for a Faculty Excellence Award!
Award criteria includes teaching excellence, supportive relationship with students, innovation in the classroom, sense of class community and dedication to the students/NMC.
Tell us what makes your instructors so great using this nomination form.
Submit your nomination by April 10.
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom
Faculty, department heads and office managers, it’s time to submit your Textbook and Course Material adoptions for the Fall 2026 semester. Be on the lookout for an email from nmc@verbasoftware.com with a personalized link to submit your course materials adoptions.
To ensure your students have access to the right materials on the first day of class, please submit your adoptions by March 20, 2026.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
In today’s digital age, it’s easy to get lost in screen time. The “analog bag” offers a simple way to step back and enjoy offline activities.
Picture a bag filled with hobbies that bring you joy. Whether it’s a sketchbook, novel, knitting supplies, or a puzzle, your analog bag is limited only by your imagination. The goal: provide a tangible alternative to mindless scrolling.
Creating your own analog bag is fun and rewarding. Here’s why every employee should try it:
- Boost Creativity and Productivity
Hands-on activities stimulate creativity and problem-solving. Doodling, writing, or crafting can spark new ideas that benefit your work.
- Enhance Focus and Mindfulness
Analog activities require focus, making you more present and reducing stress—improving effectiveness both at work and personally.
- Encourage Work-Life Balance
An analog bag helps set boundaries between work and personal time, improving mental health and refreshing your mind.
- Personalize Your Downtime
Your bag reflects your interests. Fill it with items that resonate with you, creating a personalized escape from the digital world.
To start, consider hobbies you’d like to explore. Gather materials and keep your analog bag near where you often use your phone. This way, when tempted to reach for your device, you’ll have an enticing alternative.
Create your own analog bag and enrich your personal and professional life by fostering a more balanced, focused, and creative mindset. Let’s embrace the power of analog and make room for meaningful moments.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Megan Bylsma, Ryan Deering, Carl Shangraw, Dan Goodchild, Shelly VanderMeulen, Jeff Fouch, Michael Nachazel, and Georgenia Hromada! This is the “it takes a village” kudos! NMC’s surveying program was honored for winning the NCEES Surveying Education Award grand prize in the two-year program category. The program was recognized last night at the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors conference. In addition to winning this program award, Ryan Deering also won the Ralph Moore Berry recognizing a non-licensed individual giving back to the profession. Couple this with our own graduates earning their professional surveying license and a scholarship recipient and it was a fulfilling event!
But what makes it special? This doesn’t happen without the support of the Foundation finding funding to support program growth, the college leveraging these funds for recruitment, a strong advisory board advocating to the State that this program is needed, strong faculty developing a 2-year program from scratch and industrial professionals continuing to teach these classes. And none of this happens without the support from the division to keep the program running, scheduled and available to students.
Great job!!!
Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford, Hannah Rodriguez, Maggie Miron, Tait Ricks, and Tali Morrison! Hats off to the Student Success & Retention team who pulled together NMC’s first ever “Fail Forward” week, meant to normalize setbacks, reduce fear of failure, and build resilience. Events and promotion for Fail Forward week helped students to reframe mistakes as learning opportunities through a series of events including an adaptability workshop, offered by Tait Ricks from Student Life, and a session on asking for help offered by Hannah Rodriguez and Maggie Miron, from the coaching and success team. Throughout the week students could contribute to “fail boards” to share times they failed but learned from their experience and moved forward. Faculty and staff shared their own testimonials via the NMC Student Success social media. The week of events culminated in a Success Fair where students could learn about the many help resources available at NMC. Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford and Tali Morrison for organizing, supporting, and leading the charge.
Kudos to Stephanie Liss! The Ed Tech department is giving Stephanie heartfelt kudos for the work she does to keep all the areas of the TJNIC building sparkling clean. Every morning, we enter the basement to the sound of a vacuum or the wooshing of the tables or whiteboards being cleaned in a learning or study space. We appreciate her dedication to keeping TJNIC a welcoming, clean environment! Thank you, Stephanie, for modeling NMC’s values of stewardship and excellence.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Kelsey Tornga, supplemental employee – Hagerty Center Banquet Server
- Harrison Willow, student employee – Tutor
- Evelyn Harden, student employee – Maritime Assistant
- Colin Burris – Supplemental Aviation Maintenance Technician
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Remembering Jack Segal: Diplomat, veteran and champion of students
TV 7 & 4, Feb. 27 (more…)
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
NMC is hosting several upcoming training opportunities for employes. Seats are limited! Register for all courses through NeoEd Training using these instructions. For questions, contact professionaldevelopmentinstitute@nmc.edu
CPR-AED Training
Tuesday, February 17, 5–6 p.m.
Osterlin Building, room 205
Instructor: Eric Darling, Fife Lake Fire Chief
Learn how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. This is a non-certification training that will provide attendees with hands-on learning opportunities. For questions, contact Garrett Croon at gcroon@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1747.
AI Prompting: Crafting Conversations with AI
Wednesday, February 18, 3–4 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
Are you curious about AI and how it can help you? Learn about working with the AI Large Language Models (LLM’s like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.ai) to brainstorm, summarize, explain topics, find information on the web and respond to complex prompts. Come to this session where you will see a demonstration and get hands-on practice in AI Prompting!
Exploring the Evolving AI Landscape
Wednesday, February 25, 3–4 p.m.
Instructor: Alison Thornton
This advanced workshop is designed for employees who are already familiar with AI LLM’s and basic AI prompting but want to deepen their understanding of the newest developments in AI. Participants will explore powerful new tools and features—including Gemini Flash 2.5 Image, ChatGPT-5, Study and Learn, Agent Mode, storybooks, real-world applications that are reshaping education and productivity and other new launches. (Please take AI Prompting before signing up for this class or ask athornton@nmc.edu for a waiver, if you are familiar with AI Prompting.)
Canva Graphic Design Basics
Tuesday, March 3, Noon–1 p.m. (Zoom)
Flyers, newsletters, presentations, infographics, mind maps—you name it, Canva can help you design it. With thousands of beautifully crafted templates and intuitive drag-and-drop tools, Canva makes it easy to bring your ideas to life. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to customize layouts, edit images, work with text, and make the most of Canva’s built-in magic. Whether you’re designing for your classroom, your team, or your next big idea, you’ll walk away with creative tools and confidence to match.
Canva Graphic Design Presentations and Canva AI
Tuesday, March 10, Noon-1 p.m. (Zoom)
Focusing on presentations and the use of AI, you will learn to apply the skills you have learned in Canva Basics to develop graphically pleasing presentations including video and audio, as well as using features such as drawing, resizing designs, magic features, text-to-image features, instant styles, and layouts. You will learn how to use AI to start the development of your presentations and how to upload existing presentations for further development in Canva. This is for use in class, on Instagram, on campus monitors, and more!
Using Headings in Google Workspace for Accessibility
Friday, March 13, 11 a.m.–Noon (Zoom)
This course focuses on mastering document architecture within Google Workspace by moving beyond manual formatting and into the power of semantic styling. You will learn to establish a logical hierarchy by choosing the correct heading levels, utilize the “Update to Match” feature for instant global styling, and determine master heading settings to create a consistent, accessible resource. By the end of this session, you’ll be able to leverage automated Tables of Contents and document outlines to create professional, accessible, and easily navigable content with minimal effort.
AVIRT (Active Violence Immediate Response Training)
Monday, March 16, 4–6 p.m.
Osterlin Building, room 205
Instructor: Eric Darling, Fife Lake Fire Chief
When acts of violence occur, you can’t always wait for EMS to arrive. AVIRT Training was developed with law enforcement and medical experts to empower everyone to become an immediate responder. This course is designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively to active violence and emergency situations. AVIRT teaches both active shooter response skills and emergency bleeding techniques. Certification period: 2 years. For questions, contact Garrett Croon at gcroon@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1747.
AI Prompting
Tuesday, March 17, 3–4 p.m. (Zoom)
Are you curious about AI and how it can help you? Learn about working with the AI Large Language Models (LLM’s like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.ai) to brainstorm, summarize, explain topics, find information on the web, and respond to complex prompts. Come to this session where you will see a demonstration and get hands-on practice in AI Prompting!
Advanced AI Prompting
Wednesday, March 25, from 3–4 p.m. (Zoom)
Elevate your prompt engineering skills with this focus on advanced skills designed to teach you five distinct prompting styles. You will move beyond simple queries to master the RODE framework for structured role-based output and the Ask Gemini dialogue method for iterative refinement, while also learning industry standards like Chain-of-Thought, Few-Shot, and Prompt Chaining. After briefly reviewing these AI prompt engineering skills, there will be dedicated time for hands-on practice.
Exploring the Evolving AI Landscape
Tuesday, March 31, 3–4 p.m. (Zoom)
This advanced workshop is designed for faculty and staff who are already familiar with AI LLM’s and basic AI prompting but want to deepen their understanding of the newest developments in AI. Participants will explore powerful new tools and features—including Gemini Nano Banana, ChatGPT-5, Study and Learn, Agent Mode, storybooks, and real-world applications that are reshaping education and productivity. (Please be familiar with AI Prompting before signing up for this class. Please email athornton@nmc.edu if you have questions.)
Crucial Conversations for Accountability
Friday, May 15 AND Friday, May 22, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (on campus)
While Crucial Conversations for Accountability may sound like a “gotcha” approach, it is exactly the opposite. The training provides practical tools grounded in mutual respect, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving.
Priority will be given to new supervisors, academic chairs, or program coordinators, but all regular employees are welcome with supervisor approval!
NOTE: This is a 2-day course, so please plan to attend both days!
What recent participants said….
It provides tools to utilize in my personal life and professional life that I believe will be effective for problem solving.
The entire training was great! I liked the structure. the way the course was broken up between video, discussions, and peer group sessions. It was applicable to my workplace issues.
Very good course. I learned so much! This is the best course I’ve ever taken.
For questions, email professionaldevelopmentinstitute@nmc.edu
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom
Did you know that your tuition waiver benefits extend beyond credit classes? Take a fitness class, learn a new hobby, or even enjoy a date night with your partner. Check out these exclusive employee passes and browse classes for you and yours this winter!
Get ready to explore a rainbow of healthy ingredients! From fluffy grains to crunchy veggies, protein-packed options to sweet and tangy dressings, we’ll have it all. Master the art of bowl building and learn the secrets to creating visually-stunning and flavor-packed bowls. Read more about Chop, Mix, Power Up! Fun With Whole Food Bowls.
Saturday, March 14; 1–3 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $46 for two people (public price $149)
Northern Michigan has more than 100 different species of trees. Learn to draw some of them in this introductory course from a local artist who is inspired by the natural beauty of our region. From sugar maples to yellow birch, create the perfect composition of a forest scene. Read more about Drawing Trees With Charcoal & Graphite.
Saturday, March 21; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $22 per person (public price $99)
Join us for a flavorful adventure in the world of salsas! This hands-on culinary class will introduce you to the vibrant and diverse realm of Mexican sauces. Discover the secrets behind creating the perfect salsa, from balancing sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors to mastering knife skills by chopping fresh ingredients. Read more about Date Night: It Takes Two to Salsa.
Thursday, April 9; 6–9 p.m.
Tuition Waiver Price: $46 for two people (public price $199)
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Menu
Monday, March 2
General Tso’s Popcorn Chicken & Broccoli Bowl with spinach and mandarin oranges served with rice & potstickers
Tofu & Broccoli Bowl (V) with spinach and mandarin oranges served with rice & potstickers
Tuesday, March 3
Carne Asada Pulled Pork Tacos with cheddar, sour cream and salsa served with Mexican street corn & Spanish rice
Jackfruit Tacos (V) with cheddar, sour cream and salsa served with Mexican street corn & Spanish rice
Wednesday, March 4
Spaghetti & Meatballs with marinara and parmesan served with garlic bread & broccoli
Tri-color Tortellini (V) with pesto cream sauce served with garlic bread & broccoli
Thursday, March 5
Breakfast for Dinner!
- Quiche Lorraine
- French Toast Sticks with Syrup (V)
- Sausage Patties or Links
- Hashbrowns (V)
- Fresh Fruit (V)
Friday, March 6
Beer-Battered Cod Sandwich with tartar sauce served with French fries & green beans
Roasted Sweet Potato (V) with kale served with French fries & green beans
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom
TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC Commitment Scholarship is vastly expanding the ranks of eligible first generation college students this spring, increasing the impact of a unique college access opportunity that began more than thirty years ago.
Starting with the high school class of 2028 (current high school sophomores), prospective first generation college students in the six-county area can self-nominate for a Commitment Scholarship.
Previously students had to be nominated by their high school counselor as freshmen. Eligibility was limited to 18 regional public high schools, each of which could nominate only three students. Charter, private and homeschooled students are also now eligible.
The scholarship provides $2,000/year for up to three years. First-generation is defined as neither parent having earned an associate degree or higher.
The goal is to expand access and have more students take advantage of the scholarship, which was established by NMC donors in 1993. Students must also participate in two preparatory events prior to starting at NMC and maintain a 2.0 GPA in high school.
Gillian Lovett, a 2023 Bellaire High School graduate, is a Commitment scholar currently enrolled at NMC. She will graduate this May. She said the scholarship helped make college a realistic prospect for her.
“I was definitely pretty surprised. College wasn’t on my radar yet. I felt pretty lucky to be nominated, and I felt grateful that I did have an opportunity ahead of me to go to school and not worry about the money,” Lovett said.
2024 Mancelona High School graduate Kai Collins also received the Commitment scholarship. By combining it with dual enrollment, he earned a UAS certificate from NMC. Now he’s a sophomore at Michigan Technological University majoring in mechanical engineering, and has landed an internship at Milwaukee Tool this summer. In addition to the financial benefit, Collins said the scholarship gave him a big confidence boost.
“Being a Commitment scholar felt like I was being treated as an adult. I had to learn management skills,” Collins said. “It’s made me a lot more confident in my college journey. I know I can use opportunities I’m given to their fullest.”
Apply online at nmc.edu/commitment.
Release date: MARCH 2, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Feb 25, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
NMC will host two mobile food pantries in March. The first one will be held on Monday, March 2 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. Over 5,000 lbs of food will be available including potatoes, Pop Tarts, peanut butter, pasta, apples, oranges, grapefruit, cantaloupe, and cheese.
A second distribution will occur on Monday, March 16.
While our program is designed for NMC college students and their families, it is open to all in the community who are in need of food.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Feb 25, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Mona Lisa Smile will screen at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18 in the Dutmers Theater as part of NMC’s Global Cinema Series.
Admission is FREE and is open to students, staff and the community, although seating is limited. Doors open and 5:30 p.m. and films begin at 6 p.m. in the Dutmers Theater at the Dennos Museum on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
Feb 24, 2026 | Student News
Class of 2026—have you applied to graduate?
If this is your last semester of classes, now is the time to apply to graduate if you haven’t already! All students are required to submit this application to receive their credential. The graduation application is available in NMC Self-Service. Select “Apply to Graduate” under the “Student Records” tab to submit your application. Submit your application before April 15 to ensure your name will be listed in the Commencement program.
Those who have already applied to graduate should check their NMC student email to RSVP for Commencement. The deadline to RSVP for Commencement is April 20. Don’t forget to purchase your cap and gown from the NMC Bookstore!
If you have any questions, email records@nmc.edu or call (231) 995-1049.
Feb 24, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Versiti is holding a blood drive from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105 on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Do your part to help save lives during a vital time of need!
Make sure you eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Walk-ins are welcome, though scheduling an appointment is recommended.
Feb 23, 2026 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to the Advising Center, which has filled the employer slots for the Career & Majors Fair April 10. It is the region’s largest career fair and offers a valuable service to both students and community members.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom
The NMC Board of Trustees Policy Committee will meet Tuesday, February 24 at 1:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 14. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
From a coal dock to a Blue Tech hub
Northern Express, Feb. 21
(more…)
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC is hosting a Curling Night at the Traverse City Curling Center, 1712 S Garfield Ave., from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6.
This event is open to the first 50 NMC participants that register. Participants can expect to be on the ice for 2 hours of instruction and play. Children under the age of 8 will not be able to participate in this activity. For those that bring a child between the age of 9 to 13, the child will be required to wear a helmet when on the ice.
To join the fun, fill out the registration form.
For questions, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab (MVE-Lab) is a free entrepreneurial accelerator program tailored for military-connected individuals in Michigan. This program is developed and led by the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
Participants will cover relevant topics each week and will leave with actionable takeaways. Topic examples include:
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- Knowing your customer
- Marketing and messaging
- Financial modeling
- “Ask the Lawyer”
- Planning for growth
- Funding streams
The MVE-Lab cohort 17 will run in Traverse City from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays from April 7 through June 9 at GVSU’s Traverse City Regional Center located in the James Beckett Buildng on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Participants can join in-person of via Zoom. Dinner is provided. The program will conclude with a Final Pitch and Showcase event on Monday, June 15 to celebrate the end of the cohort with an opportunity to pitch for $15,000 in cash prizes.
To apply, visit gvsu.edu/mve. Applications will close on April 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Feb 23, 2026 | Student Events
Northwestern Michigan College’s STEM community is coming together for an inspiring and informative evening designed to connect students with accomplished women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Women in STEM Community and Career Night will feature six presenters sharing their career journey as well as time for general mingling and networking, giving students the opportunity to ask questions, explore career paths and build connections with professionals in their fields of interest.
This event will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107. Snacks will be provided.
Questions? Email zalews6@mail.nmc.edu or zburks@nmc.edu
Feb 23, 2026 | Student News
Want a place to work on homework from your STEM classes with peers? Join STEM Study Nights! STEM Study Nights are open to all students who want to work on STEM homework and collaborate with others. Meetings are held weekly from 7-9 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 14. Snacks will be provided!
Questions? Email zalews6@mail.nmc.edu
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Take the first step toward your medical career by joining Grand Valley State University at the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Preview Day at their Traverse City Campus in the James Beckett Building from 1–3 p.m. on Friday, March 20.
This event offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with the Assistant Program Director, Traverse City PA faculty, and Grand Valley advisors who can help navigate your path to enrollment. You’ll gain firsthand insights from current PA students and receive a guided tour of our new facilities. Whether you have specific questions about the admissions process or simply want to learn more, this session is designed to provide the overview and clarify you need. This event is open to all prospective students and community members.
Please RSVP for this event at gvsu.edu/traverse/pa.
Feb 20, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom, Student Events
Bring your team and join us in February for these Food For The Soul events as we continue to Embrace the Dream and celebrate Black History Month.
Thursday, February 26, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 4:30–6 p.m.
Hawk Owl Café
$6.00/NMC staff & students; $12.00/community members
- Shrimp and Grits or blackened tofu (vegetarian)
- Collard Greens (with and without ham)
- Corn bread (Jiffy)
- Cherry cheesecake
- Drink option (sweet tea)
For full details, to add events to your Google Calendar, or to watch for new opportunities, visit the NMC Embrace the Dream calendar.
If you have an event or activities to add, please contact lhodek@nmc.edu. Thank you for supporting inclusion and community at NMC!
Feb 20, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Step up and join the fun! Compete in our upcoming cornhole tournament for a chance to win the trophy and a free one-year membership to the NMC Fitness Center. Gather your colleagues and get ready to toss your way to victory!
Sign up here today and let the games begin!
Feb 20, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Lynne Moritz and Terri Gustafson! Kudos to Lynne and Terri for co-organizing the Curling Watch Party! What a fun way to celebrate the Olympics and to learn more about curling.
