Strategic Plan

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates that maintain NMU's competitive rank as second-most affordable among the state's public universities, allow for investments that align with the university's strategic plan, and preserve long-term financial stability.

Despite its relatively small population of about 22,000, Marquette is home to three medical device manufacturers that have created a globally competitive industry cluster in the upper Midwest. NMU's Engineering Technology Department has partnered with Able Medical Devices, EXALTA Group and Mount Mfg to develop innovative approaches to training and retaining a pipeline of qualified employees who will fuel the companies' growth. A recent example of this collaboration is the Work Scholars program. This story is one of several innovaton-related features in the summer issue of Northern Magazine. 

Two Negaunee High School students were among the national winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognized at a June 10 ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Miles Spaulding won the American Visions Award in art for his painting, “Photographic Memory” and Reese Collins won an American Voices Award for her poem, “The Blooming of Difficult Times.” They had advanced from a regional competition sponsored by the U.P. affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a partnership between the Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project at Northern Michigan University and NMU's DeVos Art Museum.  

Nearly $73,000 in Green Fund-supported, student-led sustainability proposals have been approved for implementation this year. The six projects include enhanced access to public transportation; native plant signage; “feather-friendly” window dots to reduce bird collisions; an outdoor air quality monitoring sensor; bike station repair at the Wildcat Trailhead; and a nontraditional lawn test plot.

Northern Michigan University will host a series of summer camps for K-12 students. Programs range from day camps for young children to specialized residential experiences for high school students, with options focused on recreation, STEM, health careers, performing arts and athletics.

Northern Michigan University will host the 2026 BIPOC Outdoors Summit & Rest Retreat July 27-31. While the events are designed to center the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color in outdoor spaces, everyone is welcome to participate. The emphasis is on creating an environment that fosters belonging, reflection and engagement with nature.

Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health Director Elise Bur has been selected as one of 20 statewide members of the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Advisory Council. The group will provide insight on rural health priorities, review program progress and offer recommendations to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) leadership.

Northern Michigan University senior Elise Crossman is one of 65 students nationwide selected to receive a highly competitive fellowship through the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). After graduating in early May, she will spend the 2026-2027 academic year in Germany studying, interning and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. The accounting and international studies major from Charlotte, Mich., is the second NMU recipient in two years.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees has approved room and board rates for the 2026-2027 academic year, along with seven new degree programs that will go into effect this fall.