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Teaching and Learning NMU

Teaching and Learning Advisory Council (TLAC)

The mission of the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee (TLAC) is to help stimulate the creation of a campus culture that truly values, promotes, recognizes, and rewards excellence in teaching and learning.

The TLAC  co-sponsors the Excellence in Teaching Award and offers a TLAC conference grant that assists faculty in attending conferences on pedagogy.

The TLAC website maintains a resources page with links to teaching and learning materials from other institutions and locations. TLAC also schedules workshops throughout the academic year, enabling faculty to keep abreast of innovations in pedagogy.

Course Technology Alliance

The Course Technology Alliance consists of technology-related departments on campus that coordinate with one another to provide faculty with support that allows them to develop technology-rich, hybrid and online courses.

The Center for Instructional Technology (CITE) is located in the lower level of the Learning Resources Center with staff to support faculty use of technology in the classroom. Under the Teaching, Learning, and Communication (TLC) initiative, faculty and staff are issued a new mobile device including software, technical support and maintenance insurance. All classrooms on campus have wireless access, enabling faculty and student use of mobile devices for classroom instruction and group exercises. 

Online education, a 2008 NMU AQIP action project, has increased awareness of opportunities for distance education and quality in course delivery.  Faculty TLC awards recognize exemplary faculty use of mobile devices in teaching, research, or community service. Separate TLC awards are also available for staff and students. 

Student Experience

The Olson Library provides librarian liaisons to academic departments. These liaisons provide library instruction in the classroom on research methods and library services, create online customized library support guides for each course, and aid students with research assignments.

Many students take advantage of faculty led study abroad courses, which take place in another country, and usually occur early in the summer semester. For three summers,  nursing and health education faculty Eileen Smit and Mary Jane Tremethick have led students to Honduras for a course in global health care (pictured to the right). Criminal justice professor Bob Hanson led a group to South Africa with studies focused on criminal justice practices in the rich context of social change and race relations.

NMU provides many programs that enhance student learning. The Honors Program is designed to meet the needs of academically talented students with interdisciplinary and department-based courses. The program offers small class sizes and research opportunities. NMU offers up to 40 research fellowships in the Freshman Fellows Program, a competitive program that pairs freshmen with faculty mentors.

The Superior Edge Program provides opportunities to learn about community engagement, diversity awareness, leadership development and real-world experience. Upon graduation, students receive a Superior Edge enrichment transcript along with an academic transcript.

Broadcasting NMU

“I like [service] projects because so many people benefit from the work. Students try harder when they know their projects mean something. The community participants enjoy the chance to share their work with young people and get assistance on a project. As a faculty member, it is more fun to come to work when you know you can make a difference in your town.”

   Prof. Charles Ganzert

2008 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient