Northern Michigan University will continue remote instruction through the end of the semester, including final exam week, and has postponed the May 2 commencement ceremony. NMU also has restricted some traffic on campus in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A recent example is the Admissions office's decision to suspend hosting in-person visits as part of its Campus Visitor Program.
“We still plan to offer virtual ways for prospective students and families to ‘get to know NMU,'” said Admissions Director Gerri Daniels. “This will be very much a concierge-style experience. We have always built individual itineraries for visitors based on their requests from a menu of options. We will continue to do this, but the options will be virtual versions in a variety of flavors.
Options being explored by Admissions include FaceTime live tours from student tour, video chats with campus visit staff assistants, phone or Zoom academic appointments with faculty, and pre-recorded video options such as residence hall room tours or a campus spaces montage. The menu of options will be advertised on the Admissions site and in its communications, Daniels said.
University facilities that typically draw campus and community members have been closed, per state guidelines. These include the PEIF recreation center, Forest Roberts Theater, Reynolds Recital Hall, Olson Library, the DeVos Art Museum and the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center.
NMU is complying with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's March 16 executive order and CDC recommended protocols in prohibiting in-person, on-campus gatherings of 10 or more individuals. While NMU residence halls and apartments remain open, meals are being served on a carryout basis from Northern Lights Dining and the Wildcat Den, and drive-thru only from Temaki & Tea.
“The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, keeping our primary focus on matters that keep the campus operational and safe,” said NMU President Fritz Erickson in a campus-wide email. “Other residence hall and dining service issues, including adjustments, will be considered at a later date.”
To further reduce traffic on campus, NMU is asking individuals to call or email before visiting campus offices to see if questions and issues can be resolved without the need for face-to-face interaction.