Students Prepare for CLEA in Mexico

Twenty-one NMU students will have a fully immersive experience in Spanish conversation and Mexican culture when they spend a month in Chihuahua this semester through a partnership with URN, Mexico's “Regional University of the North.”

The students are earning 16 Spanish credits this semester – 12 on campus and four in Chihuahua. "What better place to take the Spanish conversation course than in the heart of Mexico, where you’re surrounded by people who speak it fluently and regularly?" said Tim Compton (Modern Languages and Literatures). Full Story

Art and Design is a School

The NMU Board of Trustees voted at its February meeting to change Art and Design's designation from a department to a school to better reflect its size and the breadth of programs offered. The decision conforms to similar name changes previously approved for the Schools of Nursing, Education and Technology and Applied Sciences.

Wong Gives House Testimony

President Les Wong gave his annual testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education on March 6. University presidents are invited to present yearly updates as an early step in the legislative budget process. The testimony typically responds to questions submitted by the subcomittee in advance. It covers programs and partnerships, economic impacts and future directions.

Public Safety Secures MCOLES Grant     

Public Safety and Police Services has received a $337,000 grant to offer in-service training programs to Upper Peninsula law enforcement personnel. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, or MCOLES, provided the funding.

“Michigan currently doesn’t require annual update training, but Northern’s been doing it since the mid-'80s,” said Mike Bath (Public Safety and Police Services). “Departments in the U.P. feel the need for refresher training because they don’t have as much experience with felony stops. That’s fortunate, but because it’s not something they do on a regular basis, they want to stay on top of it.”

Bath said the grant will cover instructor fees and supplies needed to provide training to departments within the NMU Public Safety Institute consortium, which covers 15 U.P. counties. Full Story

Pow Wow This Weekend

The 15th annual “Learning to Walk Together” Native American pow wow will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18, in Vandament Arena. The public is invited to attend. Grand entry times are 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for a weekend button and $3 for a day pass, both of which are available at the door.

A pow wow feast featuring the sixth annual hand drum competition will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the NMU Jacobetti Center.

Wildcats Make NCAA History

Three members of the women’s cross country team made history last week in New Hampshire. They became the first group of women skiers from one school to sweep two events in an NCAA Championship.

The photo shows Lindsay Williams atop the podium after the 5K freestyle race. She's joined by teammates Morgan Smyth and Lindsey Weier, who finished second and third, respectively. In the 15K classic race on March 9, Weier crossed the line first, followed by Williams and Smyth.

"This is unbelievable,” said Sten Fjeldheim (Athletics). “These women have trained so hard and so well. They are just so professional about it. They balance their academics and athletics so well. As a coach, this is just something that you dream about and it is something that may never happen in a coach's lifetime. I have them to thank for it."

Steve Reed has been a sports enthusiast since he was a kid.

As the associate director of operations in Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, he gets to work with each of the athletic teams and many of the events occurring in the sports complex.

“There’s a lot of variety in the position I have and that is the feature that makes my position challenging and interesting,” he said. Full Story