Cost-Reduction Options Announced

Dec. 8

The budget-reduction recommendations being developed by the President’s Council will be presented at the next university forum scheduled from 3-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in the Michigan and Ontario rooms of the University Center. The proposed options and related campus input will then be considered by the NMU Board of Trustees at its Dec. 11-12 meeting.

Employees who are unavailable for the afternoon forum have the option of attending a similar presentation for students at 6 p.m. in the same location.

The President’s Council was charged with finding $4.6 million in cost-saving measures, which would equal a 10 percent reduction in state funding for the current fiscal year.

The planning figure was a middle-ground assumption, based on early estimates of an executive order in the 5-15 percent range. But recent media reports have suggested the impact on higher education will settle at 6 percent. An official announcement from Lansing is expected shortly after the legislature’s Thanksgiving break.

Northern’s faculty union – the American Association of University Professors – has voted to ratify a new three-year contract. The final outcome of the Nov. 20 vote was 145-51 in favor of the proposal. AAUP represents 276 faculty members at Northern.

The contract includes across-the-board salary increases of 0.75 percent for the current year, 1 percent the second year, and 3.25 percent in 2005-06. In the latter two years of the contract, faculty would also be eligible for a base salary bonus of 0.25 percent for every 1 percent increase in student credit hours, up to a maximum of 0.75 percent per year. Full Story

Committees Formed for AQIP Projects

Work on Northern’s three Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) action projects continues, according to Leonard Heldreth (Academic Affairs). Heldreth said steering committees for all three projects have recently been appointed and the committees have begun work on goals and timelines.

The action projects include a campus-wide outcomes assessment process, a new student numbering system and interactive Web site, and revisions to the advising process. Full Story

NMU, FVTC Reach Transfer Agreement

NMU has reached its first credit transfer agreement with Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis. Under the agreement, graduates of the electrical engineering technology program and electronics program at FVTC can transfer their associate degree credits to NMU. The credits will be applied to Northern’s bachelor of science degree program in electronics engineering technology.

Upgrades Coming to my.nmu.edu

The Campus Pipeline portal, my.nmu.edu, will not be available on Friday, Nov. 28. The portal is being upgraded and will have a modified look when it comes back online Saturday morning. The new portal will have channel capability that will allow students, faculty and staff to personalize the information that is delivered to an individual’s portal. Full Story

Whitman Hall Dedication

Dec. 1

NMU will dedicate Whitman Hall during an open house from 4-6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. The dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. will feature drumming by the Center for Native American Studies, brief remarks and the unveiling of a plaque. Visitors will also be invited to tour the facility. Full Story

JOBSearch Posts Resumes Online

The JOBSearch Center is now offering an electronic resume-posting system through its Web site. Students and alumni can post their resumes at no cost. Employers, whose legitimacy has been verified by JOBSearch, can view, download and save resumes of interest at no charge. Employers will also have passwords for their section of the system. Full Story

Italian Researcher Receives NMU Grant

When Cristina Menghini decided to write her master’s thesis on Italian immigration to the Copper Country, she found some valuable resources at the Central U.P. and NMU Archives. Menghini had a chance to thoroughly review the materials as the latest recipient of a Grace Magnaghi research travel grant from NMU. She will give a campus presentation based on her findings in April. Full Story

Steam-Trap Savings

In a time of state budget deficits and related cost-saving measures, plant operations has found a way to save the NMU general fund $205,000 annually: by monitoring and fixing the university’s steam traps.

A steam trap is one of the most important parts of a steam heating and cooling system. Steam is an efficient heat transfer that transports energy from a central location—in Northern’s case, the Ripley Heating Plant—to any building that needs to be heated. Full Story

Snow Day Contest Set

NMU employees and students have a chance to win a $50 restaurant gift certificate by guessing the first day that on-campus classes are canceled due to inclement weather such as a snowstorm or severe wind chill. The 11th annual contest is sponsored by the snow day czar, Fred Joyal (Academic Affairs). Full Story

Lighting up the Holidays

The annual “Lighting up the Holidays” event will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the University Center.

Hayrides will be offered from 4-8 p.m. A brief tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on the university lawn with Interim President Mike Roy and ASNMU President Kyle Ortiz. Santa will arrive at about the same time.

A reception in the Peter White Lounge after the tree lighting will feature free pictures with Santa and free books for children under 8 years old, caroling by Mortar Board, cookies and hot chocolate, and dancing by New Attitudes.

Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food for the TV6 Can-A-Thon. The NMU Bookstore will also hold a holiday sale in conjunction with the event, staying open until 8 p.m.

“Lighting up the Holidays” is sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha, Copper Country PRIDE, Golden Z Club, Mortar Board, NMU public safety, auxiliary services and on-campus apartments.

NMU Faculty Contribute to Ethnic Book Series

Studying Italian immigration to the Copper Country (see related story above) is an easier task when someone else has laid much of the groundwork. Cristina Menghini benefited from related research conducted by Russell Magnaghi (History) in 1982-83.

He compiled more than 300 photographs, various artifacts, 250 oral interviews, documents and other materials on Italians in the Upper Peninsula. Magnaghi later expanded his focus to Lower Michigan. This led the editors of the ethnic book series, “Discovering the Peoples of Michigan,” to tap his expertise. Magnaghi wrote a volume titled, Italians in Michigan. It was released in 2001.

Other NMU faculty are also contributing to the project. Full Story