Registrar's Update Page 1

President's Welcome

Dear NMU Students,

How was your summer? If it was anything like mine, it flew by. I hope you are returning refreshed and ready to experience all that Northern Michigan University has to offer. Whether you are a senior who is starting to plan for graduation or an incoming freshman just beginning your college career, I hope this year leads you down a path of discovery and fulfillment.

As those of you who are returning know, the first few weeks of a semester are both exciting and stressful – running into old friends and making new ones, starting classes, organizing your living space. You will need to find balance. To do so, prioritize well, manage your time and don’t compromise your values. It helps to figure out key deadlines as early

in the semester as possible. These include big papers and tests, add/drop/withdrawal dates, and events you already know you want to attend. Knowing these can help you stay organized and avoid unnecessary stress. If you do get to a point where you are feeling overwhelmed, ask for help. Numerous campus services are available to you, as well as faculty and staff who care about your success and well being.

This fall will be a busy one for Northern and I hope you’ll be right in the middle of all of the activity. NMU is developing a new master campus plan for our physical campus. You’ll have an opportunity to give your opinion on what NMU should look like 10 or 15 years from now. We’ll also be holding our second UNITED Conference with its focus on diversity awareness of all kinds. Additionally, NMU continues to explore ways to enable more of our students to study out of the country. We are also looking at our liberal studies requirements and contemplating if they all fit the needs of today’s college student. If you’re asked to share your thoughts about any of these efforts, I hope you will do so. We want to hear what you have to say about these matters.

This year also marks the second year of the Superior Edge program (www.nmu.edu/superioredge). About 900 students registered to participate in this exciting program last year, a fact that made me so proud. That’s nearly 10 percent of our student body! If you are not familiar with the Superior Edge program, I hope you take the time to learn more about it. The program’s most interesting characteristic is that a student designs it to fit his or her interests, schedule and career goals. It’s not something that is required to graduate, but it’s something that future employers will find impressive for those of you who are motivated to complete any or all of the four Superior Edge tracks: leadership, citizenship, diversity awareness and real world practice.

The Superior Edge motto is “Learning to live a life that matters.” That is sincerely what I hope for each NMU student. I know you can learn how to do that at Northern Michigan University. I challenge you to go over, under and through any limitations that stand in your way of conquering all possibilities that intrigue you. Be a ’Cat on the prowl for a life that is inquisitive, ethical and compassionate. Good luck. I’ll see you around campus.

Les Wong, President

Annual notification required by law
The Jeanne Clery Act-
Notice of Availability of Annual Security Report

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires the university to report certain crime statistics on a yearly basis. Northern Michigan University’s Annual Security Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Northern Michigan University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.

The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Department of Public Safety or by accessing the Public Safety and Police Services web site at http://publicsafety.nmu.edu/clery.htm.

Annual notification required by law
Policy Regarding Sex Offender Registration

In accordance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSPCA), of 2000, Northern Michigan University is providing a link to the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registration Web site: http://www.mipsor.state.mi.us/. A link to this registry is also available on NMU's Public Safety Web site: http://publicsafety.nmu.edu/.

This act requires Northern Michigan University to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement information provided by the state of Michigan concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in the state to provide notice to each institution of higher education in the state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation or is a student.

Equal Opportunity at NMU
The Equal Opportunity Office is here to facilitate an equal opportunity environment, educate the NMU community about its rights and responsibilities relating to non-discrimination and non-harassment, and handle civil rights and sexual harassment complaints.

For additional information regarding our services please stop by the office or contact:

Equal Opportunity Office

502 Cohodas Hall

Web site: http://www.nmu.edu/aaeo/

Cathy Dehlin

General Counsel/Equal Opportunity Officer

Phone: 906-227-2420 cdehlin@nmu.edu

Janet Koski
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 906-227-2473
jakoski@nmu.edu

All parents of Northern students can sign up to join the award-winning NMU Parent Partnership. This program features regular e-mail newsletters (or postal-mail copies when necessary) from President Les Wong to parents that highlight activities taking place on campus, discuss higher education issues, and answer questions sent to Dr. Wong from parents about how and why Northern operates the way it does. There is no cost to join the Parent Partnership.

So, ask your mom and dad if they’ve already signed up for the NMU Parent Partnership. If they haven’t, encourage them to do so. To register for the Partnership, they can go to www.nmu.edu/parents and fill out the brief sign-up questionnaire. If your parents need to register by mail, they can do so by writing to NMU Parent Partnership, Office of the President, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855. When signing up by mail, the information needed is parent’s name, address and phone number, as well as your name and NMU identification number.

If your parents have signed up for the NMU Parent Partnership newsletter but haven’t received any of the issues, there may be a firewall issue. Suggest that they put the Parent Partnership e-mail address, NMUPres@nmu.edu, in their e-mail address book, which sometimes enables them to work around firewall problems.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

If an individual has a need for disability related accommodations or services, please inform the coordinator of Disability Services in the Disability Services Office.

Reasonable and effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state and university guidelines.

Disability Services
(located in the Dean of Students Office)

C.B. Hedgcock,
Room 2001

Phone: 906-227-1737

E-mail: disserv@nmu.edu

Web site: http://dso.nmu.edu/disability/

Tuition and Fee Billing Statements Sent

Tuition and fee billing statements are available for viewing at https://ebill.nmu.edu/. The due date for tuition, fees, room and board is Friday, January 4.

The NMU Information Center will assist with questions about tuition and fees and other university issues. The center is manned by a full time staff member and NMU students who field telephone calls made to the Student Service Center and Financial Aid offices.

For questions about tuition and fees, financial aid or general “start of the semester” matters, call 906-227-1221.

Note: Students can access and/or pay bills on the Web at https://ebill.nmu.edu/.

Join Superior Edge!

"Maybe this is what Superior Edge is all about – taking chances.”

~Tyler Weber, Superior Edge graduate

Break away from what is comfortable and explore a part of yourself that you know very little about.

Take a chance and see how far you can go.

If you are new to NMU or did not enroll in Superior Edge last year, there is no time like the present! Nearly 1,000 students joined Superior Edge in the 2006-07 academic year, the first year of the program. We hope you consider taking advantage of this unique opportunity the way so many students already have.

You might be wondering what you will get out of participating in Superior Edge. First, you can design your involvement based on your interests, schedule, and career goals. In addition, you can participate at your own pace, since you are in Superior Edge until you graduate. Finally, if you complete any or all of the edges: citizenship, diversity, leadership, and real world, you will have a distinct advantage in your future endeavors. Potential graduate schools or employers will be able to form a clear picture of a candidate who has ventured beyond his or her comfort zone and shown compassion towards addressing the needs of others. Any participant completing one or more edges will be recognized with a student enrichment transcript!

For information about orientation sessions e-mail: edge@nmu.edu, phone: 906-227-6543, or stop in at the Superior Edge Office, 1206 University Center. The Superior Edge Web site is: http://www.nmu.edu/superioredge/.