Around NMU

Northern Michigan University will open its Superior Dome to students when classes begin Monday, Aug. 17. Free community access to walk and jog in that facility, as well as the Berry Events Center, will be postponed until Oct. 1.

NMU's fall convocation, an annual gathering of faculty, staff and students that features a keynote address by the president, is typically held the Wednesday before classes begin. The kickoff to Northern's 121st academic year occurred a week earlier than usual and was presented for the first time in a virtual format. Both changes were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum has launched the first virtual edition of its annual "North of the 45th" exhibition because of COVID-19. The juried show features diverse works from artists living in the geographical area north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

Caregiver Incentive Project (CIP), a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of the cared for by supporting caregivers, has launched its scholarship program and is now accepting applications from Northern Michigan University students. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees on Thursday received updates on the extensive planning invested in COVID-19 safety protocols that are being implemented across campus before face-to-face instruction resumes for the fall semester.

Northern Michigan University is reconfiguring most classrooms to align with six-foot social distancing guidelines and installing plexiglass barriers in others to enhance student safety in advance of the fall semester.

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.