'Net Cost' of College Down

The net tuition cost for the average Michigan public university student decreased over a recent five-year period, according to a study issued Tuesday by the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.

Results show that increases in scholarships, grants and tuition tax credits have more than outpaced rising tuition rates after inflationary adjustments. This means that students, on average, paid a smaller percentage of the total “sticker price” for tuition and mandatory fees in fiscal year 2003 than they did in 1998.

At Northern, for example, the annual tuition rate for resident undergraduates increased by $1,358 over the five-year span. But the increase was offset by a combination of institutional aid, state aid, federal aid and federal tax credits that rose by an even greater amount – $1,411. Full Story

NMU 'Top 10' Numbers

Perhaps it has happened to you at the grocery store, restaurant or coffee shop: in the course of a casual conversation, someone asks you a general question about your employer.

It might be related to Northern's enrollment, or how many people are on the university's payroll, or how many academic programs NMU offers.

It can be challenging to keep up with the ever-changing data, but here are some current, rounded figures that might be helpful. They represent the "Top 10 Numbers to Know About NMU."

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Injury Clinic Opens

A new Injury and Evaluation Care Clinic is open on campus. Julie Rochester (HPER, pictured center) implemented the program.

She had been approached repeatedly in recent years by people asking for a service in her department where they could have their aching feet or injured knees evaluated. "I realized there was somewhat of a void in the health care system on campus," Rochester said. Full Story

Academic information services has been working on a program that allows departments to conduct course evaluations online.

The School of Nursing was the first to try out the program last semester, and NMU is planning to expand this service to additional departments on campus. Full Story

United Way Campaign Begins

NMU has kicked off its 2004-05 workplace campaign to support the United Way of Marquette County. There are 39 local non-profit agencies that rely on support from the United Way.

Community-wide care donations are allocated to programs that address one or more of the following areas of need: domestic violence and addiction services; elderly citizens and adults with disabilities; health awareness; unemployment and underemployment; and youth programs. Full Story

Academic Service Learning Project Benefits United Way

During the 2004 winter semester, students in Sandra Poindexter’s (Business) CIS 250-255 classes participated in a community service project that helped redesign the United Way of Marquette County’s office Web site.

Besides revamping the three-year-old site, students also worked with the United Way personnel, providing training for office software to maximize their proficiency. The students provided manuals for the on-line content changes as well as some of the other office programs that United Way uses. Full Story

HR Forms Due Dec. 10

Employees should watch for upcoming notices about human resources forms that must be completed by Dec. 10.

They are: open enrollment for Blue Cross-Blue Shield; open enrollment for flexible spending accounts (medical/dependent care); premium conversion forms (medical payback); and dependent verification forms for 19-25 year olds.

For more information, contact human resources at 2470.

Wolf Program a Collaborative Effort

What started out as a senior project for one NMU broadcasting student has turned into a feature television production. “Michigan’s Gray Wolf: Ghost of the Big Timber” will premiere at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, on WNMU-TV as part of its annual fundraiser.

The documentary, about the pros and cons of the wolf recovery in Michigan, was co-produced by former student Nick Van Court and associate professor Dwight Brady (CAPS), pictured right and left,

respectively. Full Story