August 21, 2002
Issue12

Bailey Delivers Fall Convocation

In her annual address to faculty and staff, NMU President Judi Bailey said the university will have to navigate some challenging curves in the road ahead – from a bleaker state budget picture to rising health care costs and reaccreditation.

Higher education was held harmless in the state appropriation reductions last year, but Bailey said Fiscal Year 2004 might be a different story. “The silver lining is that all of the work done by the faculty and staff last year to prepare for possible reductions gives us a jump start for our planning this year,” she added. “I think we have a very good handle on our priorities as a university and within departments, which is the key to developing a budget.”

Bailey discussed two other challenges originating in Lansing: the Healthy Michigan Amendment, which would move tobacco money from the Michigan Merit Award scholarship program into the health care arena, potentially impacting 40,000 college students statewide who receive $91 million in Merit Awards and 885 Northern students who receive $1.8 million; and the turnover caused by legislative term limits, which might delay the higher education appropriations bill and make the budget planning process more difficult for each university.

On a campus level, Bailey said reaccreditation is a top priority. She explained the benefits of the AQIP method over the traditional NCA method: “The AQIP model's very foundation is on campus-wide input. The old way used a 10-year cycle; 10 years in this day and age is not a very practical method for quality improvement. AQIP demands that we focus on our processes and the outcomes of those processes across the campus, at every level, both academic and non-academic.”

Exploding health care costs is another issue confronting NMU. Bailey encouraged all employee groups to seriously consider the proposed change to a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Community Blue PPO plan, which would save an estimated $1 million a year.

As the administration continues to evaluate all new hires across campus based on whether the position is critical to increased enrollment, retention or safety, Bailey stressed the continuing need to find creative ways to do more with less.

“I’m sorry if the term cross-training makes anybody nervous,” she said. “But the fact of the matter is that with fewer people and more tasks, it’s impossible to think we can accomplish what we need to without everyone learning to multi-task and cross-train, or whatever you want to call it.”

In addition to discussing the road ahead, Bailey looked in the rear-view mirror and praised the following achievements over the last year: national awards and honors for individuals and programs; accreditation for Education, Business and Clinical Laboratory Sciences; some gains in retention; and a major increase in the number of student credit hours.

Road Project to Impact NMU Traffic

A Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and City of Marquette construction project will take place at the Tracy-Wright and Sugarloaf intersection from Sept. 3-9, and on Sugarloaf Avenue from Sept. 9 into November. In her convocation, President Bailey made it clear to faculty and staff that, while Northern did not control the timing of the project, the university community will be impacted by the delays and detours. She encouraged faculty and staff to get the word out to students to avoid the area as much as possible, especially for the week after Labor Day.

NMU to Offer New Programs

Northern will offer three new academic majors: earth science, geographic information science and entertainment and sports promotion. The NMU Board of Trustees approved the additions at its Aug. 9 meeting.

Earth scientists provide information for solving problems and establishing governmental polices for resource management, environmental protection and public health, safety and welfare.

The bachelor’s degree program in geographic information science will enable students to acquire not only basic operational skills but also broader information technology skills such as spatial database management, software development and project management.

It encompasses the theory and application of several technologies related to the collection, management and use of geographic information. These include remote sensing, computer cartography, geographic information systems, aerial photography interpretation and global positioning systems.

The Communication and Performance Studies department will offer a major in entertainment and sports promotion to supplement its existing public relations program. Career opportunities include publicist, concert promoter, sports information director and travel services specializing in tours for sports fans.

Welcome Weekend, Fall Fest Scheduled

Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in Welcome Weekend 2002 activities, particularly the Be a Part from the Start student rally. It begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at the Berry Events Center. A complete schedule of activities can be found at Welcome Weekend.

Also stop by NMU's annual Fall Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, on the University Center lawn. About 50 area businesses and an equal number of student organizations will be represented. Live entertainment includes musicians Jim and Ray and Mike da Roving Guy, who will maneuver through the crowd with balloons, stilts, magic tricks and juggling.

USOEC Boxing in Abercrombie Promotion

The latest video spot on the Abercrombie & Fitch promotional cable network (A&FTV) features a member of the USOEC boxing team.

According to Jeff Kleinschmidt (USOEC), the company sent a team of professional photographers to campus earlier this summer.

""USOEC boxer Sechew Powell talked with A & F reporters about the challenges of training for the Olympic Games," Kleinschmidt said. "He also demonstrated his boxing skills and gave them a few training tips. The reporters then sparred a few rounds in the USOEC boxing gym. It wasn't much of a bout, but it made an interesting sales ad."

To see the spot, visit A & F Promotion and click on "Watch the Fight."

Register for Wellness Run/Walk

Van Antwerp Hall and Marquette General Hospital are teaming up for Wellness Run/Walk 2002. It will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the NMU Pine Street parking lot. All proceeds support research in the cancer and disability units of MGH's Specialty Clinic.

The event, which features a one-mile fun walk or a 5K run, is for individuals and families of all ages and athletic abilities. Entry fees received by Sept. 14 are $10 for college students, $15 for ages 13 and up, and $5 for ages 6-12. All participants will receive t-shirts and top finishers will receive medals and ribbons. For more information, call 227-2396

CAPS Prof Travels to India

After a recent three-week trip to southern India, Chuck Ganzert (CAPS) will be able to add a global dimension to his communication and broadcasting courses at Northern Michigan University. He is pictured with his wife, Patricia "Pish" Cianciolo (Sociology/Social Work), by an elephant statue at a government craft shop in Trivandrum.

In the city of Cochin, Ganzert toured a media conglomerate and audio and video studios, conducted interviews and observed the filming of a soap opera for Indian television. His host was Sivaram Srikandath, a graduate school friend of Ganzert’s who is now director of programming at Manorama Vision, a division of India’s largest non-English newspaper. Srikandath was a featured speaker at the 2001 Great Lakes College Media Conference at Northern and invited Ganzert to return the favor by visiting his home country.

“His company produces traditional music CDs and movies," Ganzert said. "It also produces the most popular soap opera in Southern India, which translated into English, is Daughter and Daughter-in-Law.”

Indian soap operas tend to deal with more weighty topics than those in the United States, Ganzert added. They address social issues – from AIDS and poverty to overpopulation and birth control. That’s not to say the shows don’t delve into the usual interpersonal relationships that permeate American soaps; it’s just that they also serve as learning tools.

Because of Ganzert's involvement in Marquette’s Hiawatha Music Festival, his host arranged an interview with a talking drum master – or edakka.

“I was accompanied by a six-person video crew and we spent half a day interviewing and recording in the musician’s home,” Ganzert said. “He talked about his instrument, explained how drummers are trained and played several songs solo and with his temple band.”

The police chief in the city of Cochin owns audio and video studios. He gave Ganzert a tour of each facility. In the video production house, editors were piecing together the soap opera footage recorded the previous day. They also overdubbed the vocals and added sound effects. In the audio studio, Ganzert watched a crew edit and mix a CD project. He noted that the professionals use the same software that is found in the state-of-the-art audio lab at NMU. Ganzert also recorded an interview with the owner that focused on the Indian recording industry.

“I’m hoping to use both interviews this fall in my courses,” he added. “It presents more of a challenge when you give them a subject they don’t know much about. Everything I see about the media I always try to fold into my classes. It’s not only a lesson for me, but I try to share it with my students as much as possible.”

Ganzert’s trip was supported, in part, by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. In addition to his professional activities, Ganzert traveled with Cianciolo and their host family to an elephant and tiger game preserve, a McCormack spice plantation, the Ghandi Museum and Hindu temples, synagogues and churches.