By the late 19th century, the Upper Peninsula flourished with immigrants who had come to work in the copper and iron mining and logging industries. Their children needed an education, but 75% of teachers in the area had no formal training and were likely fresh out of secondary school. Notable Marquette residents including Peter White lobbied for the establishment of what was then called a normal school—a translation of the French term école normale—to train and certify teachers in the region. The state legislature refused the first few proposals, but on April 28, 1899, Gov. Hazen Pingree signed a bill authorizing Northern State Normal School in Marquette. The pen he used on that fateful day is stored at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center on campus.

Northern Michigan University's School of Art and Design has opened its annual exhibition featuring the works of graduating seniors at the DeVos Art Museum. A series of related events is planned on Friday, May 3: a screening of student digital art from 6-7 p.m.; a closing reception beginning at 7; and the announcement of gold, silver and bronze award winners at 8. The exhibition runs through May 4. 

Eleven Northern Michigan University faculty members selected to receive awards of excellence for teaching, scholarship, leadership and technology innovation were honored at an April 22 celebration on campus.

 group of Northern Michigan University students enrolled in the advanced field marine biology course spent spring break on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, learning about marine science and how to identify ocean organisms. 

Northern Michigan University is partnering with Saginaw Valley State University to enhance behavioral health care in the Upper Peninsula by expanding educational opportunities for advance practice nurses at a cost savings of nearly 85%. Through the BRIDGE UP program, SVSU is offering its psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) training in collaboration with NMU to 31 U.P. nurse practitioners annually. The program is funded with a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources & Services Administration.