NMU Spared Major Cuts

Northern will receive $80,000 in restored funding under a tentative state spending agreement reached Friday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislative leaders.

But factoring in the base-budget implications of an executive order enacted last December, the university remains $724,000 below the state funding level of one year ago. Full Story

Enrollment, Credit Hours Increase

Fall enrollment has increased 3.6 percent and credit-hour production is up 3.1 percent from a year ago, according to 10th-day figures released by Institutional Research. Northern’s preliminary headcount is 9,379, compared with 9,055 in 2004.

“We were projecting a 1.4 percent overall increase, so we’re up more than anticipated,” said Paul Duby (Institutional Research). “The graduate numbers are very strong this year, thanks to an energetic dean and a concentrated effort to market the programs more effectively. It’s making a difference. Graduate student numbers are up 13 percent." Full Story

Campus Plots

Katrina Response

A capacity crowd of primarily NMU students filled the Peter White Lounge Sept. 7 to plot campus relief efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina. The NMU Volunteer Center facilitated the meeting.

Several ideas that surfaced through small-group discussions were divided into the following four categories and addressed in more detail: community drives for clothing, food and other supplies; fundraising campaigns that range from selling ribbons and bracelets to various methods of collecting donations; major events that could be coordinated to generate hurricane relief funds; and comfort kits for the Central U.P. Chapter of the American Red Cross that will contain toiletries and personal hygiene products. Full Story

NMU Marks 'Constitution Week'

Northern will recognize "Constitution Week," a federally designated celebration of the document that shaped the fundamental laws of the United States.

A showing of The Patriot Act Under Fire, followed by a panel discussion, will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, in Mead Auditorium. Olson Library will also participate by featuring a special exhibit. Full Story

Sweetgrass Film Fest Sept. 14-16

NMU will host an inaugural Native American film festival titled “Sweetgrass Cinema” Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 14-16. The festival will feature contemporary and classic Native American films, presentations, workshops, panel discussions and other events. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Participating guest speakers include Sherwin Bitsui, an Academy of American Poets award winner and Sundance Film Festival participant; Chris Eyre, the director of Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American; and Brent Michael Davids, a Grammy co-winner who has rescored Last of the Mohicans in native language and music. Full Story

Diversity Institute Reminder

The Sweetgrass Cinema film festival is timed to coincide with Northern's first-ever Domestic Diversity Institute. Conference booklets with information about sessions and room locations will be available in the Ontario and Michigan rooms of the University Center Sept. 14-16. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions, as well as keynote presentations from nationally recognized diversity consultants. Pre-registration is not necessary, except for those attending a free luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, in advance of a campus strategic planning session led by President Les Wong. To register for lunch or obtain more information, go to Diversity Institute.

Homecoming Reception for NMU Employees

A faculty/staff homecoming reception is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Peter White Lounge of the University Center. It is one of several activities planned for this year's celebration, which revolves around the theme "Old Hollywood Comes to Northern."

For a full schedule of events, go to Homecoming 2005.

Wildcats Hold Sports Festival

NMU athletes will lead family-oriented games and activities at the Wildcat Sports Festival, which runs from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Superior Dome. For more information, call 227-2105.