Northern Michigan University Economics Professor Gary McDonnell was one of the featured expert panelists in a recent WalletHub piece comparing states' unemployment rates related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He addressed the impact of the $2.2 trillion federal emergency relief package and the accuracy of a conventional measure of unemployment.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today announced nine appointments, including NMU alumnus and former Wildcat basketball player Ryan Reichel, to the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. 

Northern Michigan University is featured prominently in a Forbes article titled "Cannabis Education Arrives (Virtually) At More American Universities." NMU recently announced its partnership with Green Flower to offer non-credit online certificate programs beginning July 1.

COVID-19 impacted instructional formats, with most universities initially shifting to online-only course delivery prompted by stay home protocols. It has also affected some college rankings, which now place more emphasis on distance learning options. Northern Michigan University is the only U.P. school in Michigan's top “Tier 1,” according to an Educate to Career (ETC) ranking adapted for the COVID-19 climate.

Northern Michigan University ranks 18th in the nation and first in Michigan for the “2020 Best Online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Programs” listing compiled by College Consensus.