Thursday, July 12, 2012

Board Approves Tuition, VP Reporting Policy

The NMU Board of Trustees today approved a 2012-13 tuition and fees schedule. The annual cost for full-time resident undergraduates will be $8,709, an increase of about $148 per semester—or 3.5 percent—from last year’s board-approved rate of $8,414. NMU will maintain its longtime rank as having the second-lowest tuition and fees among Michigan’s public universities.

The board also approved a new policy statement on the reporting status for Martha Haynes (Advancement). For details on these topics and other action taken at this morning's meeting, read the Full Story.

Haynes' Agreement Approved

Based on an executive committee recommendation, trustees approved a three-year interim presidential employment agreement for David Haynes through June 30, 2015. Haynes receives the same wages and benefits paid to former President Les Wong, with a base salary of $201,995. He will serve the first two years as interim president and split the third year between assisting with special projects and/or consulting NMU’s new president, assuming a successful nationwide search, and taking sabbatical leave in preparation for his return to the faculty. Haynes also will be granted tenure in the political science and public administration department.

Lang Sets Top Priorities as Provost

Now that “interim” has been removed from his title and he has been asked to remain as NMU’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Paul Lang is moving forward with a heightened resolve on four top priorities. He wants to take a fresh look at the liberal studies program, continue with efforts designed to increase retention, work with International Programs to recruit more foreign students and develop a collaborative relationship with Duke LifePoint during its pending acquisition of Marquette General Hospital. Full Story

NMU Reactivates LPN Program

NMU is reactivating its practical nursing (LPN) program. “With the changes taking place in the local area’s health care systems, we were asked by Marquette General Health System and Duke LifePoint officials to consider offering the LPN degree again to help meet an anticipated need in the near future,” said Paul Lang (Academic Affairs).  Full Story

Archives Digitizes City and County Commission Minutes

The NMU Archives has digitally converted Marquette city and county historical records using the same equipment and procedures from an earlier project involving Cleveland Cliffs Inc. documents. The website features commission meeting minutes of the city (1868-1993) and county (1852-2004), links to recently archived minutes and a detailed historical timeline of Marquette with related photographs. Pictured center is Howard Taft, who became the first U.S. president to visit the city in 1911. Full Story

Governor Signs Capital Outlay Bill with New Academic Building

Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill authorizing more than $300 million in higher education construction projects across the state, including a new academic building to replace Jamrich Hall at NMU. The state will commit $25 million to the $33.4 million project, with NMU funding the rest. Full Story

Blueberry Classic Registration Deadline Friday

The second annual Blueberry Classic golf outing is scheduled Friday, July 27, at the NMU Golf Course in Chocolay Township. It is designed to raise scholarship funds for Northern students who encounter unforeseen financial challenges. The advance registration deadline is Friday, July 13. At right is a photo from the inaugural Blueberry Classic last summer.

An NMU Student Flexible Aid Fund created by the event is a resource to which students can apply for help in covering costs such as auto repairs, medical bills, child care and course expenses not covered by financial aid. Full Story

Students Enlisted for New Golf Course Signs

The NMU Golf Course has upgraded all 18 tee box signs through a collaborative effort involving the construction management and computer numerical control (CNC) technology programs.  Students designed and constructed signs designating each hole number, the yardage distance from four tee locations and a general image of the hole layout with bunkers and water hazards. They relied on laser imaging, GPS coordinates, several software programs and other technology to complete the task. Full Story

NMU Presence Prominent in Parades

NMU was highly visible and well represented in area 4th of July parades. A contingent of 126 administrators, faculty/staff, athletes, students and alumni marched down Washington Street in Marquette. Earlier that day, about 75 walked in the Ishpeming parade.

The delegation was accompanied by a couple of small floats and a large, inflatable Wildcat head on wheels. NMU cheerleaders launched T-shirts into the crowd and about 10,000 green “NMU Wildcats” wristbands were distributed along both routes. President David Haynes thanked participants for the impressive showing and said he has received much positive feedback from both communities.