NMU Board Meets

The NMU Board of Trustees today approved three finance-related items: a revised general fund operating budget, a 2008-09 state budget request, and a bond issuance proposal to fund the renovation of Hunt Hall. Full Story

Faculty Honored

Several NMU faculty members were honored for excellence in professional development and teaching, and for their effective use of technology, at the Celebration of Scholarship Ceremony held Dec. 6.

For a full overview of the award receipients and their projects, read the Full Story

Students: Then and Now

Changes in the NMU student population – from demographics and campus life to curriculum and time required to complete a degree – were addressed during a focus discussion at today’s NMU Board of Trustees meeting. Full Story

Trading Lab Opens

The College of Business hosted a formal opening Tuesday night for the Financial Trading Lab, which is located in the University Center across from the Wildcat Den. The lab replicates a stock broker's office. No actual trading will take place, but students can simulate the purchase and sale of stocks and bonds, perform financial analysis and research firm performance using continuous-feed financial data. Full Story

Students Test Soil Around Power Plants

Physics students have analyzed soil samples collected over the past two summers from 18 sites in Marquette County to determine if they contain elevated levels of radioactive contaminants from sources such as power plants.

Initial results show a slight elevation in the regions of interest, but researchers classify it as “definitely not approaching dangerous levels.” According to Will Tireman (Physics), the dose level detected is about a million times less than a standard chest x-ray. Full Story

Soldner Honored by Sister City

Laura Soldner (English) received a special award certificate from the mayor of Higashiomi, Japan, to recognize her decade of service as the academic adviser for the Sister City Scholars program. Northern annually offers a full one-year scholarship for a Higashiomi student to attend NMU. Many of the scholars have elected to stay in Marquette for additional years at their own expense.

Full Story

ArtWorks Passes One-Year Mark

ArtWorks, which showcases and sells original items crafted by NMU students, faculty and alumni, recently celebrated its first anniversary. The store has recorded about $2,000 in sales since its inception. ArtWorks is located near the DeVos Art Museum in the form of a cubical display case. It holds a variety of pieces, from ceramics to framed paintings to jewelry. Officials have started advertising the store's existence and purpose in the hope of generating additional interest beyond the campus community and museum visitors who happen to pass by it. Full Story

Students Decorate Kaye House Tree

NMU culinary arts students used their skills in the kitchen to help craft "consumable" decorations for the Kaye House holiday tree.

They made gingerbread ornaments and dried-fruit garland. They even removed the silver centers of old floppy discs and replaced them with marzipan candles. Phyllis Wong coordinated the project with Deb Pearce (TAS) and Nathan Mileski (Dining Services).

As the account clerk for the School of Art and Design, Andrea Wrubel has first-hand exposure to a unique collection of original student and faculty pieces displayed throughout her working environment. It appears the job has started to rub off on her. Full Story