An external auditing firm issued a clean opinion—the highest standard—on Northern Michigan University's fiscal year 2021-22 financial statements. The results of the audit by Rehman show that NMU continues to remain in solid financial shape and is well-positioned for the future. The NMU Board of Trustees approved the report and two other agenda items during a brief special meeting held this morning via Zoom.
Trustees also approved a resolution with the State Building Authority and State of Michigan related to NMU's Career Tech and Engineering Technology facility. The building is being renovated with capital outlay funding from the State Building Authority of up to about $20 million. The resolution includes a construction and completion assurance agreement, a conveyance of property, a lease, and an easement agreement, if necessary. This is a procedural requirement for boards to file on State Building Authority campus projects.
The final agenda item awarded Trustee Emeritus status to Steve Mitchell of West Bloomfield, who served from 2013-2020, including the last year as chair; and James Haveman of Grand Haven, who was appointed to fill a vacancy created by a resignation and served the remainder of the term from 2017-2020.
Mitchell is CEO of Mitchell Research & Communications Inc., a national marketing research, public affairs/public relations, political polling and consulting company headquartered in East Lansing. He graduated from NMU in 1967 with a double major in political science and history and a minor in speech. Mitchell received a Distinguished Alumni Award from NMU in 2004.
Haveman served two separate tenures as director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, retiring in 2014, after previously serving as director of the Department of Mental Health. At the federal level, he was appointed by the White House as the Coalition Provisional Authority senior adviser to the Iraqi Minister of Health in 2003. Earlier this year, he was enlisted by NMU President Kerri Schuiling to lead a comprehensive review of NMU's mental health services.
Trustee Emeritus is a formal designation that recognizes board members who have served with dedication and distinction. Recommendations are considered by the executive committee and recommended to the NMU Board of Trustees for approval.