October 2020

The Center for Rural Health at Northern Michigan University is bringing together U.P. universities to “Fight the Flu" this season. Students, staff and faculty from Finlandia University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University are competing to see which school can get the highest percentage of its total population vaccinated against the flu.

The DeVos Art Museum at Northern Michigan University is holding a free juried art competition that will give Upper Peninsula artists the opportunity to have their work displayed on a banner outside the museum building. Artists will also receive a prize of $250 if selected. 

Northern Michigan University has received an A grade for its Safe on Campus dashboard, which provides updated statistics on current and cumulative positive Covid-19 cases, quarantine/isolation counts and on-campus testing results, along with Marquette County's weekly tallies and links to related resources. The team at RateCovidDashboard.com reviewed 245 college and university sites nationwide.

Northern Michigan University nursing students are partnering with the U.P. Regional Blood Center to host a blood drive on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. The annual event falls in the midst of a critical shortage and will include additional safety precautions because of the Covid-19 virus. 

Northern Michigan University's Department of Social Work has received a grant of nearly $450,000 over three years to support Walking the Path Together, a program designed to reduce barriers to hiring and maintaining staff in tribally run victim services programs in the Upper Peninsula.

Northern Michigan University's STARS rating, determined by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education as a measure of universities' performance related to sustainability, advanced to silver in 2020 from bronze three years ago. The rating system factors in academics and research, operations, administration/planning and engagement.

Northern Michigan University's EcoReps student organization has planned a series of events to mark "Sustainability Week: Facing the Future" Monday, Oct. 12 through Friday, Oct. 16.

Northern Michigan University Provost Kerri Schuiling and her Tennessee-based colleague Francie Likis, both nurse practitioners and midwives, recently published the 4th edition of Gynecologic Health Care: With an Introduction to Prenatal and Postpartum Care. The award-winning text is billed as “the gold standard in evidence-based” care and advocates a holistic, person-centered approach. NMU nursing professors also contributed content to the updated edition.

Northern Michigan University English professor and visual artist Russell Prather is showcasing his work in a solo installation-style exhibition titled “Layers and Light” at the Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA). As the recipient of NMU's 2020 Peter White Scholar Award, Prather received funding to create new works, participate in three solo and three group exhibitions—MMA included—and complete a two-month artist's residency. 

The next presentation in the Your Health Lecture Series will be titled “Immunizations and Respiratory Infections: Pertussis, Influenza and COVID-19.” This free community webinar will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Dr. Keith English of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine will present the information.