Tawni Ferrarini (Economics) is Northern's Sam M. Cohodas Scholar for economic development in the Upper Peninsula. She will work with the campus community and regional organizations to research economic activity for others to use to develop plans for enhancing the U.P. economy.

“My professional passion and my personal love for the area made me want to pursue this assignment,” said Ferrarini. “There is so much potential for growth here." Full Story

NMU Purchases Space, Scheduling Software

Northern has implemented a centralized software system that provides an inventory of campus space and academic equipment, automates course and event scheduling and analyzes how facility resources are being managed.

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Single-Sort Recycling Phased In

Northern’s recycling efforts have expanded with a new “single sort” program, which allows acceptable paper, glass, plastic and metal to be mixed in one bin.

“It used to be that you had to keep those materials segregated,” said Carl Pace. “This program makes it easier for collection. When custodians come through, they can put all of the recyclables into one container and deposit them in the appropriate dumpsters outside each building. Waste Management transports the recyclables to facilities in either Green Bay or Milwaukee for processing.”

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Transfer Tool Unveiled

NMU is participating in the Michigan Transfer Network (MTN), a Web-based resource that enables students to determine course equivalencies before they change universities or enroll in a class at home during the summer. The Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers recently unveiled the network at its annual meeting in Grand Rapids. Full Story

Freshman GPA Sets Record

The fall 2007 baccalaureate new freshman cohort achieved the highest first-semester GPA in NMU history, according to Paul Duby (Institutional Research). The GPA was 2.76, compared with the previous high of 2.70 earned the previous year.

"The percentage of baccalaureate new freshmen achieving a first-semester GPA of at least 2.00 was 82.7 percent, which wiped out the previous all-time high rate of 80.5 percent," Duby added. "Of the 874 baccalaureate new freshmen included in that number, the first-semester clear academic standing rate was a whopping 84.4 percent."

Plants pervade the life of Donna Becker (Biology). Not only do they fill her office and home, but she also teaches about them and works with them in the laboratory and greenhouse. Full Story