Internal Promotion
Rob Rider was recently promoted to Telecom/IT Technician! Congratulations, Rob!
Open Enrollment for 2023 benefits begins Nov. 9
Open Enrollment for 2023 is November 9–17. Two meetings will be held on November 9, 2022 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. All employees should have received a calendar invite for these open enrollment meetings. If you did not, please contact Hollie DeWalt.
A recorded session will be available on the website for those who are unable to attend. An open computer lab will be available on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 12–5 p.m. for those who need to make changes to their benefits.
Changes to the nursing program will address regional workforce shortage
Stephen Siciliano and Tamella Livengood have spearheaded NMC’s effort to establish a BSN program on campus. We appreciate their ongoing efforts to help address the nursing shortage in northern Michigan and make healthcare more easily accessible for our community.
NMC has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for an ADN to BSN articulation agreement. Proposals are due November 14, 2022. A partner is expected to be identified by mid-December.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Media Mentions for October 31, 2022
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.
Blue Tech takeover
Record Eagle, Oct. 30
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IAF to host former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State to discuss Ukraine, Russia and NATO
The International Affairs Forum continues on Tuesday, November 8 at 11 a.m. EST. This virtual event will focus on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO with Ambassador John Kornblum, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for European affairs and former U.S. ambassador to Germany.
Ambassdor Kornblum has a deep record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he was U.S. assistant secretary of state for European affairs in the Clinton administration – a critical phase for Europe and Russia just after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He was special envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), deputy U.S. ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. Kornblum was born in Detroit, MI. He earned a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964 and has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria. He will connect with IAF from his home in Germany.
Jack Segal will moderate the discussion. Segal is a former senior U.S. diplomat and former IAF Board co-chair. In the Clinton administration, he was the National Security Council director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, and served ten years as senior political advisor to the NATO Commander where he was responsible for Afghanistan policy. He is an active instructor at NMC Extended Education on a variety of global affairs topics.
This virtual event will be available to livestream on Zoom. Registration is required with a suggested donation of $10.
All IAF regular season events are open to the public. Current students and educators receive free access with registration. For livestream registration and event details, visit TCIAF.com.
47th annual Mariners Memorial Service
TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC community is invited to attend the 47th annual Mariners Memorial Service. The service will take place in the courtyard of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus at 715 E. Front Street.
This Memorial Service, held to remember and honor mariners who have perished on the Great Lakes and oceans, is sponsored by the Student Propeller Club, Port 150, of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
The service begins at noon on Thursday, November 10, 2022. Guests are invited to enter the facility through the glass exhibition hall and proceed into the outdoor courtyard on the north side (harbor side) of the Academy.
For more information, call the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at (231) 995-1200.
Release date: October 27, 2022
For more information:
Scott Fairbank
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
sfairbank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
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-discrimination47th annual Mariners Memorial Service
TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC community is invited to attend the 47th annual Mariners Memorial Service. The service will take place in the courtyard of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus at 715 E. Front Street.
This Memorial Service, held to remember and honor mariners who have perished on the Great Lakes and oceans, is sponsored by the Student Propeller Club, Port 150, of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
The service begins at noon on Thursday, November 10, 2022. Guests are invited to enter the facility through the glass exhibition hall and proceed into the outdoor courtyard on the north side (harbor side) of the Academy.
For more information, call the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at (231) 995-1200.
Release date: October 27, 2022
For more information:
Scott Fairbank
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
sfairbank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
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-discriminationSuccess story: Police Academy anticipates enrollment boost
October 26, 2022
A new, $30 million state scholarship fund to train more police officers is coinciding with major changes to NMC’s Police Academy, setting up an enrollment to employment pipeline that will ultimately benefit community safety.
Announced last week, the Public Safety Academy Assistance Program was established to help address the critical need for additional police officers statewide by reducing or eliminating the cost associated with basic police training. Law enforcement agencies are eligible for up to $20,000 per recruit for academy tuition and other training costs.
Grand Traverse County Undersheriff Mike Shea (left) said that will be a boost to his department, which earlier this year had 10 vacancies in the patrol division. He just attended the Michigan Sheriffs Association conference and of the 70 counties represented, all but one or two were struggling with vacancies.
“We are bleeding police officers. They are leaving the profession at an alarming rate,” said Shea, a 2005 NMC Police Academy alumnus himself.
“It serves both the agency and the student,” NMC Police Academy director Gail Kurowski said of the scholarship. “There are a lot of people that might be considering a career in law enforcement that don’t have the financial wherewithal to put themselves through a program.”
Applications are now open for agencies who intend to enroll recruits in an academy session beginning on or after January 1. Next fall is also when NMC debuts a new, four-month structure for its academy. That cuts in half the current time needed to complete the program and will allow NMC to better compete for students it might have previously lost to condensed academies.
“The 16-week program is going to be huge,” said Shea, who already has a candidate in mind as Grand Traverse County’s first employed recruit to start next fall.
“We’re not only not going to lose the people we have in the past to other academies that are condensed, but hopefully we’re going to attract others because of what we have to offer,” Shea said.
NMC is the only academy to offer drone certification to its recruits, for instance. NMC also far exceeds the minimum requirement for scenario training, which simulates real-world situations, set by MCOLES, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.
“We are going to have over 60 hours of scenario training,” she said.“That is huge. There is no academy in Michigan that’s going to have that.”
The $20,000 per recruit would more than cover NMC’s tuition. NMC is also the northernmost academy in the state, making it an attractive option for agencies from the UP and northern lower peninsula. Shea said another plus is that NMC’s instructors are all either law enforcement officers or attorneys.
“There is no one better to teach than those who are living it,” he said.
The combined impact of NMC’s condensed program and the new scholarship should increase the ranks of those seeking to enter what Shea called “a noble profession.”
“I’m very hopeful that that pendulum will change,” he said.
Changes to the Admissions team
Good afternoon NMC community,
We have some important changes ahead with the admissions team at NMC. After many years as Director of Admissions, Cathryn Claerhout has made the decision to transition to become the Customer Relations Management specialist within the Admissions Department. Cathryn has been a valued member of the Enrollment Services team who worked with many departments across the college toward our common goals. During her leadership she:
- reshaped and modernized the college’s approach to recruiting, helping to introduce strategic enrollment management practices at the college.
- implemented the college’s current CRM platform managing communications with prospective students.
- presided over a large increase in early college and dual enrollment initiatives with local high schools.
- served in leadership roles in numerous professional associations around the state.
- has been a lead for two of the college’s strategic plan objectives.
- served within college governance as a member of the Planning and Budget Council, AP Council, and the Employee Recognition Committee.
Cathryn will stay on as Director of Admissions until the College hires her replacement. Please take a moment to thank Cathryn for her leadership and accomplishments and wish her well in her new role.
—
Todd Neibauer
Vice President for Student Services and Technologies
Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1671
Performance Evaluation of President Nick Nissley
The NMC Board of Trustees recently completed an evaluation of President Nissley. This year the Board of Trustees contracted with the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to coordinate its review process. The process included a core leadership competency evaluation, an evaluation of progress toward the strategic plan and ACCT-facilitated interviews with each trustee.
Overall, the board agreed President Nissley is meeting expectations. They pointed to several 2022 successes, including the successful negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with the Michigan Education Association, the development of new maritime certifications in the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, and the focus on the implementation of the strategic plan, NMC Next. The Board of Trustees also complimented President Nissley’s leadership skills in improving morale at the College, specifically with the faculty, and serving as an advocate for NMC in the community and in government affairs.
Media Mentions for October 24, 2022
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.
Cheers to the Student Success Center
Record-Eagle, Oct. 22
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Textbook heroes offset book fees
There are over 40 courses at NMC where instructors use open educational resources (free and low-cost textbooks) which has saved students an estimated $230,000 this semester alone and almost $3 million since 2015. Thank you for helping to offset these costs so that education can remain affordable and accessible to our community.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Check out the NASA Kiosk during the Holiday Artist Market
Stop by the Holiday Artist Market at the Dennos Museum on November 4–5, 2022 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and enjoy the Observing With NASA Kiosk during open hours. Admission is free.
Employee Anniversaries – October
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Kudos!
Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford, Duane Dodge: Katie did an outstanding job of organizing our Fall 2022 Transfer Fair. She stepped in and took full leadership of this student-focused event including coordinating the date with MACRAO and our admissions team, to creating promotional materials, organizing day-of logistics, and welcoming the college/university representatives and students — Katie did it all! She had great support and collaboration with Duane Dodge at our front desk as well. Kudos to both of you for pulling off a seamless event that helps our students plan their next steps with transfer.
Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford, Lindsey Dickinson, and Advising Team: Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford, Lindsey Dickinson, and the Advising Team for organizing creative events around spring registration!
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!
Welcome our newest hires
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC Community!
- Andrew Johns, Supplemental – Front of House Food Service
- Randi Nelson, Student Employee – Switchboard Operator and Welcome Desk Attendant
- Samuel Benjamin, Supplemental – Front of House Food Service
- Samantha Fewins, Student Employee – Reader/Scribe
- Alexis Lockey, Supplemental – Front of House Food Service
- Austin Grzeszak, Student Employee – Aviation Line Crew
- Kelsey Duflo – Adjunct Flight Instructor
- Jared Seward – Adjunct Flight Instructor
- Grace Fyke, Student Employee – Aviation Line Crew
- Pheonix Knipe, Student Employee – Chemistry Lab Assistant
- Monica Cole – Adjunct White Pine Press Design Advisor
- Michael McCorkendale, Supplemental – Back of House Food Service
Internal Promotions
The following NMC employees were recently promoted. Congratulations!
- Jeremy Heinlein – Director of Annual Giving
- Esther Nance – Food Services Office Manager
- Kim Gourlay – Business Academic Area Office Manager
- Natasha Williams – Health Occupations Instructor
Facilities Director Transition
Mike Chrypinski, NMC’s Director of Facilities, is retiring from NMC at the end of October. Mike managed several key projects during his 2+ years here including the opening of Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center and The Greenspire School’s relocation to the University Center. Mike oversaw a wide variety of roofing, painting, HVAC, and infrastructure improvements across campus. He also helped keep our students, faculty, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring proper signage and ongoing availability of PPE across the College. Please take an opportunity to thank Mike for his service to NMC, and wish him well in his retirement down in Florida!
Mike is replaced by Patrick Quinlan, a US Air Force veteran and Traverse City native who brings strong facilities expertise and leadership to the College. Patrick most recently served as the Director of Engineering at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Patrick is also an NMC and University Center alumni, and was a former math tutor during his time here as a student. Welcome, Patrick!
Are you eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness?
Individuals employed by a US federal, state, local or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for student loan forgiveness and cancellation opportunities. There are an estimated 154,000 public servants in Michigan who may be eligible for student loan debt relief.
The Biden administration is offering a temporary waiver to allow previously ineligible borrowers a second chance at student debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. You must apply for this waiver by October 31, 2022. NMC qualifies as an eligible employer for purposes of this program. Every public servant with student loans should check to see if they qualify for PSLF debt relief by visiting the Federal Student Aid website.
On August 24, 2022, separate from the PSLF waiver described above, the Biden Administration announced a one-time cancellation of debt for eligible borrowers in the amount of $10,000 (if borrower did not receive Pell) to $20,000 (if borrower received Pell). The Department of Education is still developing the application process for this program, which is expected to be released in October. Borrowers should visit and monitor the following link for more information on this debt cancellation opportunity: One-Time Student Loan Debt Relief. Borrowers have until Oct 31, 2022 to apply.
Board of Trustees regular and special meetings
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 prior to its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Both will be held in in Room 106/107 at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on NMC’s main campus. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Good Vibes event
Join the Student Life Office, Student Success Center and Health Services for FREE coffee, cupcake, coloring pages, and more! Stop by and color or just swing by to grab food! Learn more about the ways our teams can support your physical, mental and emotional health!
When: November 3, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center lobby
Reminder: Set up your voicemail!
We rolled out a new voicemail system in March and we have noticed that a lot of people have not set up their personalized messages. Follow these directions to record your personalized greeting from your home or campus office and send a warm greeting to those who are trying to contact you.
If you have any questions, please contact the NMC Technology Help Desk at (231) 995-3020 or start a chat at nmc.edu/help.
Faculty Excellence Award nominations due December 16
Faculty Excellence Award nominations are due by Friday, December 16.
Award criteria includes teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication.
Nominate your favorite instructor now!
Fill out the nomination form
NMC students plan to feed 150 families this Thanksgiving
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College Professional Communications students are assisting local families by putting on the ninth annual Food for Thought Thanks-for-Giving project.
By helping to feed 150 households this holiday season, the students’ objective is to enhance their communication skills through experiential learning. With the help of local organizations, the students are raising funds and food donations in order to provide dinner boxes containing a turkey and all the sides to serve a family of six. The box includes a pan to cook the turkey in and an activity for the family to help make Thanksgiving even more memorable.
Meal boxes will be distributed on Monday, November 21, to 100 households identified by the NMC Food Pantry and to 50 Big Brothers Big Sisters families.
Community members can help by donating $10 or more to win a variety of prizes; including Red Wings tickets, a one-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge with water park passes, a one-night stay at the Delamar Resort, passes to Bay Meadows family golf course (including cart fees), and other local prizes.
Donations can be made online at nmc.edu/give (Choose the amount, select “designate my gift to others,” and type in “Food For Thought.”) In addition, a private donor has pledged to match monetary contributions up to $5,000. Any additional local companies interested in becoming sponsors of this project are encouraged to contact the students.
Release date: October 18, 2022
For more information:
Michael Wittman
Marketing Team Leader
(231) 866-1386
wittmam@mail.nmc.edu
Kristy McDonald
Business Area Instructor
(231) 995-1059
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
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-discriminationMedia Mentions for October 17, 2022
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.
What A New Strategic Plan Could Mean For The NMC Foundation
Ticker, Oct. 16
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