Forum to Include Tour of Recital Hall

Who might live in Carey Hall in the future? What’s going to happen to Lee Hall when art and design moves out? How might the University Center change over the next decade? Will NMU use alternative utility sources someday?

Northern's next university forum is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the atrium of C.B. Hedgcock, near the newly opened Fieldhouse Food Bar. The focus topic is “Future Plans for NMU.”

The forum will provide an update on construction progress and serve as the start of a campus-wide discussion of proposed ideas for future projects. It will include a sneak preview of Reynolds Recital Hall, which is tentatively slated to open in January.

“We will also take a few minutes to celebrate the the past 20 months' effort to convert to Banner,” said President Les Wong.

AFSCME Ratifies Contract

Northern’s AFSCME Local 1094 has ratified a new three-year contract. The union, composed of about 143 maintenance, dining services and police employees, voted 86-9 Thursday in favor of the proposal.

The contract is retroactive to Oct. 1 and is subject to approval by the NMU Board of Trustees at its December meeting.

There will be a 1.04 percent wage increase in the current year, a 2.5 percent increase in the second year and a 3 percent increase in the final year of the contract. The agreement also includes increases in the university’s contribution to health insurance and the employee’s out-of-pocket cap for health care costs.

Retention Rises

A greater percentage of NMU freshmen are returning to campus for their second year of college study, according to Paul Duby (Institutional Research).

Nearly 73 percent of all first-time, full-time, baccalaureate-bound freshmen who enrolled in 2003 returned to NMU for the fall 2004 semester. This is a one percent increase over the previous year's comparison.

Duby cites various factors for this increase.

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Tate Writes

Flute Book

NMU students enrolled in a world music course this fall are the first to use a new book written by Elda Tate (Music) titled Native American Flute Song.

It features more than 100 flute transcriptions – a collection that parallels the work of Natalie Curtis in The Indians’ Book – and 12 of Tate's original compositions.

Tate became intrigued by the Native flute several years ago after attending a workshop led by R. Carlos Nakai. Full Story

Class Gets Hands-On Lesson in Election Year

NMU students received some hands-on experience in connection with this year’s political campaigns and the election process.

They are taking a special topics interdisciplinary course offered by the political science and communication and performance studies departments.

“Our goal was to examine the type and quality of information voters have available to them for their decision making,” said Chuck Ganzert (CAPS). “We looked at what the candidates and the parties were saying, how the other side answered, and what the media reported.” Full Story

Holiday Open House Nov. 11

Northern faculty, staff and retirees are invited to attend the third annual “Holiday Open House” sponsored by conference and catering services. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Charcoal Room of the University Center.

“A unique assortment of heat-and-serve entrées, decadent desserts and party trays will be available for sampling and can be ordered from conference and catering services,” said Rita Schultz Gordon (Auxiliary Services).

A 20 percent discount is available for orders placed before 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19. Those unable to attend the open house can visit www.nmu.edu/meet or obtain an order form at the conference and catering services office in room 2102 of the University Center.

CLS Programs Accredited

Both the cytogenetics and molecular biology programs within Northern's diagnostic genetics major were accredited in October by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science.

"Northern was the first institution to have both programs accredited at the same time," said Lucille Contois (Clinical Laboratory Sciences).

“We’re the only one right now, with another institution following our lead, that has both programs under the same degree program." 

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Light Opera Association Fundraiser Set

Fueled by enthusiastic response to productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore (pictured), Rob Engelhart (Music) recently formed the Superior Light Opera Association.

An SLOA dinner and concert fundraising event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. "Here's a How De-Do! An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan" will feature a cash bar at 5:45 p.m., dinner at 6:15 and a concert at 7:30. NMU and Marquette singers will perform comedic songs from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertory.

Tickets for dinner and the concert must be purchased in advance by Nov. 10. They are available at all EZ ticket outlets for $25. Concert-only tickets are available for $15. Full Story

Excellence in Teaching Nomination Deadline Approaching

Nominations for the Excellence in Teaching Awards are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19. In previous years, the process took place during the winter semester, but the new timeline is designed to better differentiate this honor from the Distinguished Faculty Awards. Full Story

Employer Forum Nov. 10

The JOBSearch Center will hold its annual Employer Forum from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the C.B. Hedgcock Resource Room. It is designed for employers of NMU students and will address topics such as rewards and recognition, discipline, retention and compensation practices.

Hot Zone Author to Speak at NMU

Richard Preston, author of the best-selling book The Hot Zone, will speak at Northern Michigan University at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, in the Great Lakes Rooms. Preston’s lecture will cover topics such as biological terrorism and the risks scientists are taking to protect civilians against it.

In addition to writing The Hot Zone and two other novels dealing with biological terror, Preston has also written books about astronomy and the human genome.

The event is free to NMU students and $1 for the general public. A brief reception and book signing will be held afterward.