The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees has approved room and board rates for the 2023-2024 academic year, along with three new academic programs: a master of science in applied sports and exercise psychology; a graduate certificate in applied clinical psychology; and a cosmetology hair culturist certificate.
The cost of a standard double room with the base required meal plan and comprehensive fee will be $5,946 per semester, an increase of $221. The full rate schedule will be available at nmu.edu/housing/rates.
“Some of the factors driving up housing and dining costs include an anticipated increase of 8% or more in food prices, annual utility rate increases, and personnel costs associated with rising student wages and increased staffing and compensation levels,” said Gavin Leach, vice president for Finance and Administration.
Both the master's in applied sports and exercise psychology and the graduate certificate in applied clinical psychology will be offered in the fall semester. The cosmetology hair culturist certificate
In other action at today's meeting, the board:
-Granted a posthumous associate of arts degree in general university studies to the parents of Carson Needham, an NMU student who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash downstate while returning to campus. The presentation followed a moment of silence for Needham. Read the full story, with comments from his parents and girlfriend—also an NMU student—here.
-Presented a signed resolution supporting NMU's adoption of the international Okanagan Charter, a framework for becoming a “health and wellbeing promoting” campus, to Abigail Wyche, assistant vice president of Wellbeing. NMU is one of only 17 higher education institutions in the U.S. and two in Michigan to sign the charter. “At Northern, we believe that wellbeing is multi-dimensional, and requires the attentive and intentional care of the whole person, including both students and employees,” President Brock Tessman said at an April 26 press conference. Read the previous story here. On a related note, trustees took Thursday tours of the newWellBeing Center, which combines physical and mental health services, and the NMU Food Pantry.
-Approved a five-pillar divisional leadership structure and related reporting changes. The existing divisions of Finance and Administration and Academic Affairs will be joined by three new divisions: Northern Student Experience; People, Culture and WellBeing; and Student Affairs and Success.
-Authorized $1.6 million in remaining design services that will advance the Harden Hall renovation to construction and move preparation.
-Agreed that Instructional Design and Technology be renamed the Center for Teaching and Learning, effective July 1.
-Approved a finance committee recommendation that university operations continue at budget levels no greater than the current fiscal year, except for negotiated contractual increases, until new general fund, housing and residence life, designated fund, and auxiliary operations budgets are approved.
-Approved the rental agreement between NMU and The State of Michigan, Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, for the Department of Attorney General, from June 1, 2023-May 31, 2024, located in Suites 1201 and 1202 of the Northern Center.
-Confirmed the annual purchase of 1,000 additional ThinkPad T14, model 21A5 and 70 ThinkPad P15s, Gen 2, model 20W—including warranty, engineering services, software imaging and shipping costs—for the Teaching, Learning and Communication notebook computer program, along with the purchase of 100 Apple MacBook Pro units.
-Agreed that the contract signing authority for articulation agreements be updated to include the provost and associate provost.
-Approved Board Chair Steve Young's recommendations to fold the Extended Learning & Community Engagement committee into Academic Affairs. The following new trustees were appointed to existing committees: Steve Lindberg and Greg Toutant, Academic Affairs and Ad-Hoc Policy Review; and Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham, Finance.
-Recognized James Haveman as a Trustee Emeritus. Haveman was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to serve the remaining term of a vacated position on the NMU Board of Trustees from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020. He advocated for the board's investment in creating a new NMU Center for Rural Health and later led a comprehensive review of the university's mental health services. Haveman will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary doctorate in public health degree at NMU's May 6 commencement. Trustee emeritus Mary Lincoln, who served on the board from 1997-2004, will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters at the ceremony.