Smoking Survey Results Announced

NMU President Les Wong announced the results of a recent online smoking survey at Thursday’s university forum, but said no decision has been made yet about whether to implement a campus-wide smoking ban. He said he will convene a small task force of faculty, staff and students to help determine the next step. Full Story

Wong Previews 'Roadmap to 2015'

Several topics in addition to the smoking survey were discussed at Thursday’s university forum. President Les Wong gave a preview of the “Roadmap to 2015” that he will share in more detailed form later. It is organized around four concepts: academic innovation, meaningful lives, leveraging campus attributes and community engagement. Full Story

Longtime Service to Literacy Education Honored

As an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist for nearly two decades before joining the NMU faculty, Suzanne Standerford (Education) learned that reading and writing should form the cornerstone of any elementary education program. “It is so important that those subjects are taught effectively in the early stages, otherwise students start out at a disadvantage and are far less likely to be successful after that point.”

Her teaching experience, scholarly activity and service to the profession have earned Standerford the Michigan Reading Association Teacher Educator Award for 2008. Full Story

Faculty Grants Awarded

Ten grants for faculty research and scholarly activity totaling $66,573 were approved by the faculty grants committee (information updated Feb. 21). For a listing of the recipients and their project titles, see the

Full Story.

Pless Prototype Featured at Cologne Exhibit

A chaise lounge prototype by Peter Pless (Art and Design) was featured in the “Fabulous 50” exhibit at the 2008 International Furnishing Show in Cologne, Germany. The annual week-long event showcases the work of established design stars and creative newcomers whose creations – ranging from production-ready designs to blue-sky speculative concepts – represent the “interiors of tomorrow.” Pless was one of only two Americans selected for the exhibit. Full Story

Students Learn through Service at U.P. 200

Many NMU employees and students will be on volunteer duty for this weekend’s U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship. Some will participate individually, but there are at least two examples of coordinated group activities.

One is a service learning management course that focuses specifically on the race. The other is a real-world application for students in a feature-writing class. Full Story

NMU Health Fair Feb. 19

The Wildcat Wellness Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center.

There will be displays and demonstrations by area health promotion organizations, free and confidential health screenings and nutritious food samples.

Attendees are eligible for door-prize drawings. Those completing an evaluation form will earn a spin of the "Wheel of Fortune" and a free prize.

All NMU employees are granted one hour of release time to attend the Wildcat Wellness Health Fair.

Darlene Walch (AIS) will be the eighth musher to leave the starting chute in Gwinn tonight for the Midnight Run. She will guide her team of eight sled dogs on the 90-mile trek to Wetmore.

Walch has competed in mid-distance races in the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, but she initially pursued mushing as a recreational activity, not a competitive venture. Full Story