Learn about the NMC October Conference and other upcoming professional development opportunities for you! Sign up now for these high-quality learning opportunities that won’t impact your budget.
Read more in the PDI September Newsletter!
What is NMC doing to hire with diversity front of mind for staff and faculty? Check out this article from NMC Human Resources to learn more.
Please fill out this DEI Intercom Post Feedback Form to be part of our conversation and offer feedback or suggestions on what is being shared.
Suicide Prevention and Awareness- Check out this newsletter from Ulliance.
Kudos to Julie Hansen and Deb Maison: Julie and Deb worked together to assist a student to register for two late-start classes. This prevented the student from losing her Frontliners Scholarship. Our student has been through several difficult situations in the past month, putting her education on the back burner. However, due to the quick work and understanding on behalf of Julie and Deb, our student can move forward with her education!
Kudos to Beth Norconk: Beth has been holding down the ship as many in the dept have retired or left. She fixes everyone else’s hardware and software problems and deserves a HUGE KUDOS !!!
Kudos to Jason Dake: Thanks for hosting the Introduction to Education class at the Dennos Museum. Observation and interpretation are skills that Jason typically teaches during our visit to the Museum. This year he not only taught those skills but reworked our entire visit to include the “Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories” exhibit. It was very powerful and Jason did an outstanding job as always.
Kudos to Lisa Blackford: Lisa presented at the August Board of Trustees meeting during the Faculty Report. Lisa showcased the importance of social responsibility and how she creates meaningful experiences for her students. Lisa is an awesome educator who not only teaches important theories in Social Work and Psychology but also aims to create engaged and emphatic citizens. Thank you, Lisa!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
I realized as I started this list that I wasn’t certain about the difference between Hispanic & Latinx. So, I did some research. Hispanic is a cultural identity of Americans who trace their roots to Spanish speaking countries. This is different from Latinx, though there is overlap. And that also means a lot of diversity! This short film is a quick primer about what it means to be Hispanic and a little info on the significance of HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH and how it came to be.
This list includes fiction, poetry and podcasting by Hispanic-Americans, as well as work that celebrates the myriad cultures they represent.
The Whole Island: Six Decades of Cuban Poetry, a Bilingual Anthology edited by Mark Weiss
Deeply rooted in Cuban culture, many of these poets have been at the center of political and social changes. The poems offered here constitute an essential source for understanding the literature and culture of Cuba. Presented in a beautiful Spanish-English edition.
Ameriscopia by Edwin Torres
Shattering the definition of Latino into a million little pieces, poet Edwin Torres reassembles identity into something that is more likely and at the same time unexpected, complex, and multifaceted. From conversations in cars to fast-beat lullabies, Ameriscopia is a collection that taps into rhythms both distinctive and dynamic.
The Real Horse by Farid Matuk
A sustained address to the poet’s daughter, this collection asks readers to think deeply about our place in the world, multiracial connections and intersectional feminism.
Buzzing Hemisphere : Rumor Hemisferico by Urayoán Noel
Imagines an alternative to the monolingualism of the U.S. literary and political landscape, and proposes a performance attuned to marginalized forms of knowledge, perception, and identity.
Twelve Clocks by Julie Sophia Paegle
This book consists of interconnected poems concerned with various modes of time and their relation to personal and historical events.
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
In 1960s New York, fifth-grader Ruthie, a Cuban-Jewish immigrant, must rely on books, art, her family, and friends in her multicultural neighborhood when an accident puts her in a body cast.
The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa
It is 1961. The Dominican Republic languishes under economic sanctions, the Catholic church spurs its clergy against the government from its highest ranks down, the country is arrested in bone-chilling fear. Vargas Llosa unflinchingly tells the story of a regime’s final days and the unsteady efforts of the men who would replace it.
Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Latinas of Indigenous descent living in the American West take center stage in this haunting debut story collection—a powerful meditation on friendship, mothers and daughters, and the deep-rooted truths of our homelands.
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd
Sixteen-year-old Emilia, secretly a dedicated gamer, competes with her elite team in a major tournament at the same time she and her best friend are running for class president and vice president.
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
In the 1930s, civil war gripped Spain. Thousands are forced to flee over the mountains to the French border. Among them is a pregnant young widow who finds her life irreversibly intertwined with an army doctor. In order to survive, the two must unite in a marriage neither wants, and together embark with 2,200 other refugees in search of a new life.
Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner
In Havana, a cabaret dancer meets a French agitator whose seductive demeanor can’t mask his shameful past. Together they become enmeshed in the brewing political underground. When Fidel Castro leads a revolt from the mountains above the cane plantation, K.C. and Everly begin to discover the brutality that keeps the colony humming.
Explore movies in Kanopy for free. Go to nmc.kanopy.com and login using your NMC ID and password.
Wait, Hold Up!
Hosted by Jessica Molina and Yarel Ramos, the Wait, Hold Up! podcast brings a weekly interview with luminaries on the moments that changed their lives. Molina and Ramos also delve into the latest pop culture and politics with refreshing candor. Recent highlights include an episode on changing toxic relationship patterns, immigration reform, and fighting imposter syndrome.
Tres Cuentos
Carolina Quiroga-Stultz hosts this bilingual storytelling podcast that’s dedicated to the traditional narratives of Latin America. It explores the myths, legends, and folktales that are told in the Hispanic, Indigenous, and Afro-Latin American world. It’s a truly beautiful podcast, and lit lovers will enjoy their series interviewing Latino authors across different countries and cultures.
In The Thick
If you’re looking for a daring podcast that doesn’t hesitate to feature difficult conversations, try In the Thick, hosted by award-winning journalists Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela. They don’t hold back when discussing race, identity, and politics with episodes that feature topics such as domestic terrorism, the cycles of trauma, and census suppression
Good afternoon NMC community,
We are excited to welcome three finalists for the new Vice President of Strategic Initiatives to campus next week and hope you will take the time to meet them during a series of candidate forums.
Since the spring we’ve been looking at ways to reimagine the Lifelong and Professional Learning area of the college when Marguerite Cotto announced she would retire at the end of 2021. To advance this work, and the strategic plan we are co-creating, we launched a nationwide search for a new Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives in September. You can read more about the position in NMC Now and watch my video to welcome candidates to our college and this exciting opportunity.
Now thanks to the work of search firm Spelman Johnson and our NMC search team, we have narrowed down a competitive pool of more than 90 candidates to the top three to bring to campus and meet our community.
When: 2-3 p.m. on October 4, 5, and 6, 2021 (one candidate per day)
Where: Milliken Auditorium and livestreamed via Zoom (same link for each day)
Please watch your email for more information on these upcoming forums and opportunities to provide input. If you have any questions, please contact the President’s Office. I hope to see you there!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our comprehensive strategic planning process during the last six months. It has produced robust discussions, engagement and opportunities for input. Based on this participation, we’ve added some additional sessions along the way to give the strategic planning steering committee and work team adequate time to co-create these important draft mission, vision, values, and strategy statements.
As a result, we will move the all employee feedback session originally scheduled for October 6 to later in the month. We will share more details soon and look forward to advancing this work together.
If you have any questions, feedback or ideas, please email strategic-planning@nmc.edu. You can also find more information and updates at nmc.edu/strategic-planning.
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
In conjunction with the Marine Technology Society and others, NMC is sponsoring Lakebed 2030 Sept. 29–Oct. 1. This major international virtual conference brings together scientists and researchers, policy makers and government officials and industry professionals to map the Great Lakes. The event has over 275 registrants from 8 countries. Register for the free event here and view the event schedule here.
NMC President Nick Nissley will provide opening remarks for the conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, discussing the Blue Economy and NMC’s role as a leader in Great Lakes innovation.
Congratulations to Extended Educational Services for a successful 2021 College for Kids program led by Kristy Jackson. On key benchmarks of enrollment, safety, and of course, fun, the program excelled. Zero COVID-19 exposures were reported and 90 percent of seats were filled.
“NMC’s commitment to the human ‘learning span’ is one of our fundamental and enduring values — most happily illustrated in the energy of our youngest learners,” said Marguerite Cotto, Vice President for Lifelong & Professional Learning. “What a way to start a learning journey!”
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
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.
NMC set to kick off first esports season
TV 9&10, Sept. 20 (more…)
TRAVERSE CITY — Military veterans can now convert active duty sea service into credit toward an engineering officer bachelor’s degree at NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
Coast Guard Capt. Bradley Clare signed the approval letter for the Academy’s Military Veterans Program (MVET) on September 23 at the American Merchant Marine Veterans annual convention. MVET will allow student-veterans to transfer sea service and training completed while on active duty into the GLMA engine officer program before GI education benefits expire.
“I am excited to approve this program for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy which greatly supports providing a pathway for military members to integrate into the maritime industry,” Capt. Clare said. “The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center is very committed to ensuring the success of our transitioning military members.”
More credentialed engineers graduating sooner will also help the merchant marine industry, whose workforce is aging.
Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, a trade group representing the U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo fleet, echoed the importance of the MVET program to the shipping industry.
“As a veteran and the son of a Vietnam veteran, who benefited from the G.I Bill, I can personally attest to the value of the GLMA program and the need to make it as cost effective for our veterans as possible,” Weakley said. “Our commitment to veterans should not end with their service. We need to honor their time in uniform and expedite their transition to good paying jobs. They can continue to serve our nation in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Our national security, homeland security and economic security will continue to benefit from their skills and work ethic.
GLMA Superintendent Jerry Achenbach said the (MVET) program is the result of more than four years of work involving several members of the Academy’s faculty and staff and USCG officials. It is expected to improve recruitment to the Academy’s engineering program.
In addition to allowing cadets to bypass redundant training, the approval will allow student veterans to complete the engineering program within the constraints of GI bill benefits. Due to sea service requirements, the current GLMA program exceeds the 36 months of benefits awarded to veterans by the GI bill.
Approval is good for five years, until 2026.
Jerry Achenbach
GLMA Superintendent
gachenbach@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
TRAVERSE CITY — Military veterans can now convert active duty sea service into credit toward an engineering officer bachelor’s degree at NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
Coast Guard Capt. Bradley Clare signed the approval letter for the Academy’s Military Veterans Program (MVET) on September 23 at the American Merchant Marine Veterans annual convention. MVET will allow student-veterans to transfer sea service and training completed while on active duty into the GLMA engine officer program before GI education benefits expire.
“I am excited to approve this program for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy which greatly supports providing a pathway for military members to integrate into the maritime industry,” Capt. Clare said. “The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center is very committed to ensuring the success of our transitioning military members.”
More credentialed engineers graduating sooner will also help the merchant marine industry, whose workforce is aging.
Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, a trade group representing the U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo fleet, echoed the importance of the MVET program to the shipping industry.
“As a veteran and the son of a Vietnam veteran, who benefited from the G.I Bill, I can personally attest to the value of the GLMA program and the need to make it as cost effective for our veterans as possible,” Weakley said. “Our commitment to veterans should not end with their service. We need to honor their time in uniform and expedite their transition to good paying jobs. They can continue to serve our nation in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Our national security, homeland security and economic security will continue to benefit from their skills and work ethic.
GLMA Superintendent Jerry Achenbach said the (MVET) program is the result of more than four years of work involving several members of the Academy’s faculty and staff and USCG officials. It is expected to improve recruitment to the Academy’s engineering program.
In addition to allowing cadets to bypass redundant training, the approval will allow student veterans to complete the engineering program within the constraints of GI bill benefits. Due to sea service requirements, the current GLMA program exceeds the 36 months of benefits awarded to veterans by the GI bill.
Approval is good for five years, until 2026.
Jerry Achenbach
GLMA Superintendent
gachenbach@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
NMC’s Rotaract Club will be holding their first meeting Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in West Hall Room 107 and THERE WILL BE FREE PIZZA!!
Wondering what exactly the Rotaract Club is? Rotary International has some incredible causes that they focus on, such as supporting education and protecting the environment—two very significant interests for NMC and within the Northern Michigan region.
The purpose of Rotaract Clubs is to bring together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.
We are very excited for this opportunity. It will do a lot of good for our school and community, and we are thrilled to begin this new endeavor! Thank you for being a part of it.
Traverse Health Clinic will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on NMC’s main campus Monday, Sept. 27 from noon to 3 p.m. in the West Hall Innovation Center.
NMC students: Remember to register for NMC’s Win Big drawing after getting your vaccine! Prizes include a semester’s worth of free tuition and fees or free NMC housing, $500 NMC Bookstore gift cards and $100 Amazon gift cards! Enter now through September 30.
Please read this article and reflect: What are you actively doing (or could you do) to advance these topics in and out of the workplace?
*Please fill out this DEI Intercom Post Feedback Form to be part of our conversation and offer feedback or suggestions on what is being shared.
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)
Kudos to NMC Grounds and Maintenance: What haven’t these folks done?! They have all gone above and beyond to help me out in getting the Art Department ready for the semester. Work order after work order every one of these individuals have made the transformation of our department possible. I can’t say thank you enough.
Kudos and a Shout out to the entire Audio Tech team! Brady, David, Patrick and Jonah are especially generous with the support they provide to Audio Tech students. They not only taught me the skills to be successful as an audio tech, but gave me the confidence to dive in to a significant project this summer, which turned out to be a huge success for everyone involved, and provided an important service to our local community. I am super grateful, and couldn’t have tackled the work without their help. I can’t wait to see what this semester has in store for Audio Tech!
Kudos to John Biolchini: Outstanding lecture in MDK 431 (ECDIS)
Kudos to Kerry McPherson: Kerry took the time to call us after her shift (we’re closed during her normal working hours) to let us know about a package that was left in the old library space in the Osterlin building. This type of care is typical of what we saw from Kerry when we were under her custodial care at Osterlin – always so thoughtful and considerate!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Instructional Technology Specialist Justin Guillard has been promoted to Client Systems Administrator.
Congrats to Social Sciences office manager Cindy Duby who finished tenth in her age group at the Half-Ironman World Championships Saturday in Utah. Duby finished the 1.2 mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run in a total time of 5 hours, 49 minutes, 43 seconds. Department chair Sean Ruane says Duby’s IM performance is only equaled by her performance on campus. The 20-plus year NMC employee is adept at shifting priorities, staying positive and focused on problem-solving, even when working remotely.
“As Cindy states in her own words, ‘I believe staying healthy makes me a better employee, and is essential for the mind & body to better handle the demands of a busy work environment,’” Ruane said.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
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.
NMC students to receive fourth round of federal COVID funds
TV 9 & 10 News, September 15 (more…)
Need a Study Break? Let’s have some Cretivi-tea!
Come join the NMC ambassadors Wednesday Sept. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. to rejuvenate your mind and body!
We’ll have improv, healthy snack and lots of tea!
The NMC Esports Varsity program is still recruiting full-time students to participate as a member of the Varsity Overwatch team. If you are a new NMC student in good standing or a returning student with a minimum 2.0 GPA, you are eligible to participate. The team practices once a week and has matches every Friday at 6 p.m. Interested students should contact Terri Gustafson at tgustafson@nmc.edu, (231) 995-1076, or send a DM in Discord to DirectorTerriGus#3031.
In addition, the NMC Esports Club is open to all NMC students to participate in either casual or competitive game play. Students who join the club are encouraged to form teams to compete online, play casually against other students, or even do an on-campus tournament in the Esports lab in the West Hall Innovation Center. All club communication is done through Discord. Please use this invite link to join and get involved!
Join us at the Hagerty Center on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus Thursday, Oct. 28 from 7:30–9:30 a.m. for a free community discussion on healthy aging in northern Michigan. Panelists from across the community will share information on local resources, why healthy aging is important for our community and how to start planning.
This is great for students interested in healthcare, individuals who have aging family members or those wanting to be prepared for the future.
Keep up with what’s happening at NMC by signing up for NMC Now, an email newsletter highlighting NMC success stories, upcoming events, and news articles about the college! New issues are sent out every other week during the fall and spring semesters, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Recent issues have included the story of Afghan alumnus Edris Fana, whose parents were unable to attend his wedding following the Taliban’s takeover of his home country, and NMC’s search for its first-ever vice president of strategic initiatives.