The personal, social and intellectual maturity of NMU students is the ultimate benchmark of the achievement of the university's mission. A high-quality university education creates lifelong learners, contributing citizens and thoughtful neighbors. NMU will develop those programs and employ those practices that maximize the opportunity for all students to succeed in their university experience and to lead a productive, meaningful life.

 

Goal. A Liberal Studies Program that provides students with the abilities and knowledge necessary for lifelong learning and effective citizenship in a challenging and rapidly changing world.

 

Priorities:

• Complete the process of creating a Liberal Studies Program that aligns with the mission, goals, skills and abilities approved for the program by the Academic Senate (2007).
• Provide professional development opportunities for faculty that will assist in the implementation and effectiveness of the new Liberal Studies Program.
• Create an infrastructure that integrates the Liberal Studies Program with the First Year Experience and other student support services that improve retention.

Goal. Develop a new academic advising system that integrates the advising assets of academic departments and student services to contribute to a new, effective retention management network—similar to our enrollment management network.

 

Priorities:

• Develop and implement a quality advising system in each college that will meet the needs of students, enhance retention and lead to increased graduation rates.
• Establish articulation agreements with community colleges that effectively evaluate and improve the transferability of liberal studies and other courses and credits and that will be attractive to transfer students.
• Identify and utilize quality assessment measures to improve the effectiveness of academic advising.
• Utilize the Center for Native American Studies, the Multicultural Education and Resource Center and the Office of International Programs to recruit, retain and grant degrees to students.
• Implement recommendations for the improvement and expansion of the NMU Honors Program.
• Increase access to and understanding of financial aid by creating new online interactive tools that simplify the financial aid process for prospective students, parents and others.

Goal. Integrate the highest possible level of information technology skills and competencies throughout the university.

 

Priorities:

• Provide a wide variety of professional development opportunities to expand the information technology skills of faculty, staff and students.
• Provide new opportunities for faculty and staff to develop and implement high-quality online academic programs.
• Establish a "think tank" to encourage new ideas and pedagogies that will leverage the university's technical expertise and high-tech corporate partners in order to bring external resources to the university.
• Establish benchmarks for technology literacy for all NMU graduates and develop a plan to achieve them.
• Create an enhanced infrastructure that will continually expand the availability and variety of new technological tools and services for NMU students, faculty and staff.
• Develop a "virtual" campus that provides reliable, convenient access to online courses and other essential student services.