In preparation for the fall semester, NMU facilities staff members are applying a unique antimicrobial coating with hospital-grade disinfectant to high-touch areas on campus. The product creates an impenetrable barrier that permanently bonds to any surface and retains its full strength in providing reactive protection against microorganisms, including COVID-19.

Northern Michigan University has implemented a centralized ordering and distribution system for personal protective equipment (PPE) to obtain bulk quantities of critical COVID-19-related items at a significant cost reduction.

Northern Michigan University has relied heavily on internal Information Technology (IT) support to streamline several procedures associated with returning to campus in the context of COVID-19.

NMU Native American Studies Professor Martin Reinhardt and his Decolonizing Diet Project are referenced in an article by Civil Eats, a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. The article asserts that recent recommendations from an advisory committee that will help shape the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans don't reflect the nation's growing diversity, or the particular health and dietary risks faced by communities of color.

Upper Peninsula inventor Brenden Jacques partnered with the Invent@NMU program for 18 months to launch his product, The Lime Key. The dual-purpose bar tool is made of stainless steel, with a bottle opener on one end and a lime extractor on the other.