CAMPUS

News for NMU Employees

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014

NMU Releases 10th Day Enrollment Report

Northern Michigan University’s 10th day enrollment report shows a decline in total headcount from last fall, but a closer look at the numbers reveals positive strides in key areas. Officials expressed optimism that initiatives underway or in the planning stages will counter the negative enrollment trends that have impacted NMU, most Michigan institutions and many universities nationwide.

NMU’s headcount is 8,592, a 3.3 percent decrease from last year’s 8,879. Despite the overall decline, the number of new graduate students has increased by 118, or 18.6 percent. ​Full Story 

 

U.S. News Ranks NMU in Top Tier

Northern appears in the top tier of Midwest universities in the 2015 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, which were released today. NMU rates 30th among public schools in the region. Among the highest-rated 109 universities—public or private—in the Midwest, NMU is in a four-way tie for 91st. The regional categories include schools that offer many bachelor’s degrees, some master’s and a few doctoral programs.  

 

Code Michigan Coming to NMU

NMU is one of three locations statewide that will host a Code Michigan civic coding event. Software developers, including NMU students and employees, are invited to build mobile/web applications for the opportunity to win cash prizes. NMU’s event begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in Jamrich Hall. Civic coding is the act of creating software that promotes government transparency, citizen engagement, government efficiency, public policy and economic development. The first-ever Code Michigan was held in Detroit last year. Full Story

 

NMU Planning for LTE Network

Next fall’s university-issued laptop computers will have built-in LTE (long-term evolution), the next generation of wireless that runs at speeds two to three times faster than WiMAX, handles more users and offers more equipment choices. Full Story

 

Nursing Selected for White Coat Ceremony

NMU’s School of Nursing is one of 100 nationwide selected to receive funding support to pilot White Coat Ceremonies, which are designed to instill a commitment to providing compassionate care among future health professionals. The selections were announced by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

White Coat Ceremonies have been an important rite of passage at medical schools for more than 20 years, but this new collaboration between APGF and the AACN marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at schools of nursing. Full Story

 

UNITED Conference Sept. 28-Oct. 1

The Uniting Neighbors in the Experience of Diversity (UNITED) Conference will be held Sunday, Sept. 28, through Wednesday, Oct. 1. NMU President Fritz Erickson will deliver the opening keynote at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. Other featured speakers and their topics are (all presentations in the Great Lakes Rooms): Motivational speaker Andres Lara (pictured), better known as the Cuban guy, who escaped from his native country at 16 and turned his life around within 10 years to become the person he is today. He will give a talk titled “How to Move Forward When You Feel Like Quitting” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29. For other keynote speakers and a link to the complete schedule, read the Full Story.

 

Dome Program Partners Gather

Representatives of NMU, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Marquette General Hospital-Duke LifePoint participated in a photo opportunity commemorating the fifth year of the Superior Dome Community Use program. The three entities split the $20,000 in funding required each year for staffing, utilities and supplies to provide free walking during Superior Dome open hours. Pictured are (from left): Mike Fedrizzi of BCBS, Ed Banos of MGH-Duke LifePoint, NMU President Fritz Erickson and Forrest Karr (Athletics). 

 

Homecoming Events Scheduled

Northern’s 2014 Homecoming celebration is built around the theme, "The Show Must Go On." The week will culminate with the parade and all-alumni reception at the Landmark Inn on Friday, Sept. 26, and the new Homecoming community tailgate party leading up to the football game against Michigan Tech on Saturday, Sept. 27. Employees are invited to participate in the festivities. For a schedule of alumni/community events, visit Homecoming

Jamrich Hall Dedication Sept. 25

The new John X. Jamrich Hall will be dedicated on Thursday, Sept. 25. The event is free and open to the public. It begins with a 7 p.m. program in the auditorium featuring a welcome from Paul Lang (Academic Affairs) and remarks from Board of Trustees Chair Rick Popp, ASNMU President Katerina Klawes, NMU President Fritz Erickson and NMU President Emeritus John X. Jamrich. The Haynes Carillon will play the NMU Alma Mater before attendees proceed to the hallway for the official building plaque unveiling and ribbon-cutting. Desserts and beverages will be served in the lobby afterward and facility tours will be offered until 9 p.m.

 

Shared Governance Presentation

The faculty battle for shared governance during the John X. Jamrich Administration and the role of the AAUP will be explored during a presentation by Marcus Robyns (Archives). The event is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, in room 126 of the Learning Resource Center. It is free and open to the public. ​

 

          

 

 

                    

A series of unique adventures fueled by “unrepentant wanderlust” preceded writer and poet Matthew Frank’s (English) arrival at NMU. Most revolved around food and wine—his way of rebelling against the microwaved meals favored by his parents. Frank left their Chicago home at 17 with a one-way ticket to Juneau, Alaska, and $300 in his pocket. Through fortunate timing, he was asked to run a breakfast café adjacent to a bowling alley that had “a puke-green, gold-flecked counter and stools held together by duct tape.”

Frank later worked the wine harvest in Italy’s Piedmont region while living out of a tent in the garden of a local farmhouse. He also served as a sommelier for two high-profile chefs and cooked at a seafood restaurant in Key West. He even helped to design menus for actress Julia Roberts’ private parties in New Mexico while again residing in a tent to save money for grad school. In a deliberate departure from the hospitality industry, Frank spent a season at a legal California marijuana farm after watching his mother reluctantly reap the herb’s medicinal benefits during her struggle with cancer. Full Story