Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Superior Edge? Other universities have leadership programs, but Northern Michigan University is the only university in the U.S. that packs community engagement, diversity awareness, leadership development and real-world experience into one life-changing program.  Watch this video to find out more.
• How do I get started?  After attending a one-hour orientation session, we will upload your information, and you will be free to log hours.
• Do I have to complete an edge/100 hours in a semester?  No, you have until you graduate from NMU.
• How long do I have to log my hours?  Starting in the 2008 fall semester, Superior Edge participants have six (6) months to log an activity.  Superior Edge participants who joined prior to the 2008 fall semester have until they graduate.
• Am I allowed to log back hours?  You are not allowed to log back hours.  You can start logging hours once you attend a Superior Edge orientation.
• Can I count hours from the college I transferred from or from my high school?  No, only the hours obtained while enrolled as an NMU student.
• Can I be registered for more than one edge?  Yes, you can work towards as many edges as you want once you are registered.
• Can I double count hours?  Unfortunately, you aren’t able to double count hours.
• How can I log particular activities that are ongoing and consume many hours every week?  Keep a running total during the week and then log the total hours at the end of the week will be the easiest.
• Can I use hours when I’m getting paid?  Yes, if your job has something to do with your major or minor, you can count it towards the Real World Edge.  If you’re a supervisor or manager at your job, you can count those hours towards the Leadership Edge.
• Does involvement in any student organization count?  It depends upon your role.  Is it a leadership position, pertinent to your major or minor, or is it a club or student organization that takes you outside your own comfort zone for diversity?  If so, then it would.
• Why can't I get into MyNMU to log my hours?  Please call the Superior Edge office at 906-227-6543 or e-mail edge@nmu.edu.
• What do I include in my reflection paper?  You need to write a reflection paper, which will be e-mailed to you, for each edge that you complete.  Please watch this video for more information.
• What is civic engagement?  Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.  Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation.  It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy.  (Pew Charitable Trusts)  Some examples of civic engagement include:  attending political, governmental, ASNMU, non-profit, or board (i.e., NMU Board of Trustee, etc.) meetings; attending public hearings; or volunteering for a political campaign/project, etc.  To see what civic engagement opportunities we have available now, please click here.
• What is service learning?  Equal emphasis put on meeting the community needs and learning through structured reflection activities, where both the student and community learn together.  To find out more, click here.
• What is diversity?  All characteristics which make people different from each other.  Relating to those outside the groups to which you belong (i.e., age, ethnicity, socioeconomic class/income, gender, physical abilities/qualities, mental abilities/qualities, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, gender expression, educational background, geographic location, marital status, parental status, work experience, housing locale, etc.).  Are you looking for some possible opportunities?  If so, click here to find out more.