Monday, November 8, 2004
Curriculum
for 21st Century Discussed
At the Oct. 27 university forum, faculty
and staff had an opportunity to learn more about the “Curriculum
for the 21st Century” that President Les Wong
mentioned in his convocation and investiture speeches.
The idea is to explore
ways that NMU might do more to enhance the NMU academic experience
so that students leave the university better prepared to thrive
in a global society.
Terry Seethoff (College
of Arts and Sciences, pictured) said economic and social issues
compel Northern to take a closer look at international education.
Full Story
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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.
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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.
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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.
Full
Story
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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
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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
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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.
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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."
Full
Story
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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
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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.
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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.
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