Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011
Freshman Growth Counters Largest Graduating Class
Northern's 10th day enrollment report shows the number
of incoming freshmen pursuing bachelor’s degrees increased by 105 students, or
8.6 percent, over last year’s figure. The rise in new students helped counter
the exiting effect of the university’s largest graduating class on record last
spring. Full Story
Retention Critical to Enrollment, Degree Completion
Retention is increasingly important to the enrollment equation, as declining high school graduation rates expand the challenge and reach of recruitment efforts. And because degree completion is likely to factor heavily in the state formula funding model for higher education next year, all campus departments have a stake in the university's ability to retain more students across degree levels and disciplines.
The NMU Enrollment Management Network has recommended Academic Affairs create a retention committee that can help academic departments develop retention strategies, address high fail-rate courses and programs with low graduation, mandate placement of academically at-risk students in developmental coursework or implement a system to ensure placement in academic support courses, and revise and reissue the academic feedback system to ensure a higher rate of faculty participation. Full Story
McCommons Named Peter White Scholar
NMU’s 2011 Peter White Scholar, James McCommons (English), is using the $17,500 award to research and write a historical biography of George Shiras III (1859-1942). The book will combine elements of nature writing with a narrative of Shiras’ accomplishments as one of the pioneers of wildlife photography, father of the Migratory Bird Act and influential figure of the early 20th century conservation movement.
“After moving to Marquette several years ago and seeing the pool, planetarium and other things named for him, I was curious to learn more about Shiras,” said McCommons. “Then I realized I had previously seen his book Hunting Wildlife with Camera and Flashlight years earlier while vacationing in the area. His photos were among the first to appear in National Geographic and brought him to the attention of Teddy Roosevelt, who was also an outdoor sportsman and championed the U.S. Forest Service. The two became friends.” Full Story
NMU Sponsors Picnic Rocks Rescue Station
NMU has joined the effort to promote safety along Marquette’s Lake Superior shoreline by contributing $1,000 to sponsor a rescue station at Picnic Rocks. The station is equipped with two personal flotation devices, a torpedo buoy and a life ring. Pictured are (from left) Marquette Fire Chief Tom Belt, NMU President Les Wong and Eric Smith (Broadcast and A/V Services), who serves as vice chair of the Marquette Waterfront Safety Task Force.
There are three rescue stations at unguarded beaches along Lakeshore Drive. The university decided to support the one at Picnic Rocks, near the east end of Fair Avenue, because the site is popular with NMU students and also one of the most treacherous. Swimmers often confront strong rip currents as they attempt to reach the large rocks that protrude from the water and appear deceptively close to shore. There have been several drownings in recent years, some involving NMU students. A metal, angel-shaped memorial sculpture was erected at the edge of the adjacent park after two students died on the same day in 2005. Full Story
UNITED Conference Begins Sunday
The sixth annual UNITED Conference at Northern Michigan University will be held Sunday, Sept. 18-Thursday, Sept. 22. UNITED stands for Uniting Neighbors in the Experience of Diversity. This year’s featured speakers will address broad topics, including the architectural career of Marquette native and NMU alumnus John Lautner, efforts to aid military families, lessons in leadership, turning away from hate—as viewed by a former white supremacist—and eating well. Full Story
Melted Opens in Hedgcock
Melted, a dining option offering new twists on the classic grilled cheese and tomato soup meal, opened Monday at the former Temaki & Tea location in C.B. Hedgcock. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Melted features a variety of classic and creative grilled cheese sandwiches along with soup, grab-and-go salads, desserts and beverages.
The menu is inspired by college course levels. Customers will find everything from a plain grilled cheese, or GC 100, to a graduate-level meal. The latter includes Cheesy Mac and Swine with BBQ pulled pork, the Flying Dutchman with smoked Gouda, ham and roasted apples and a Cali Club with turkey and bacon. The dessert menu includes sweet melts served on brioche with flavors such as s’mores and strawberry New York cheesecake. For the full menu, visit Melted.
Offices Relocate
Some campus offices relocated for the start of the semester. Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, which had been the PEIF, is in the U.S. Olympic Education Center’s Superior Dome location with remaining USOEC staff. A previous reorganization integrated the USOEC into Athletics and Recreational Sports. Some of the vacated offices in the PEIF are being used by Health, Physical Education and Recreation department.
A merger of Continuing Education and Workforce Development was approved by the NMU Board of Trustees in July and the offices moved into renovated room 204 in the Jacobetti Center in early August (pictured). Continuing Education relocated from Cohodas Hall. Workforce Development previously occupied a different office in Jacobetti. Full Story
Students' Documentary Airs on WNMU-TV
Students in Dwight Brady’s (CAPS) advanced field production class last winter produced a documentary on a French-Canadian band’s visit to the area that will be broadcast on WNMU-TV. The premiere of Spellbound: Mauvais Sort in Marquette will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, in Mead Auditorium. Admission is free.
The program will be televised at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and again at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Full Story |
Pat Brown (Biology) started his undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University to become a medical doctor. But his academic path changed entirely after a duck-hunting trip with his brother opened his eyes to the possibilities of research biology. Full Story |
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