The Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute at NMU was unveiled May 2 during a well-attended grand opening celebration in The Northern Center (formerly University Center). 

The grand opening of the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute at NMU—the only facility of its kind in the U.P. and one of six statewide—will be held Thursday, May 2. The institute offers non-degree and industry credentials relevant to emerging careers in cybersecurity. It also augments NMU's existing cyber defense bachelor's degree and provides additional career exploration and training opportunities with U.P. K-12 school districts and postsecondary institutions.

Middle Eastern studies expert Benny Morris will present "A New Look at the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the Creation of the Palestinian Refugee Problem” at Northern Michigan University. His presentation begins at 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, at Reynolds Recital Hall. NMU's Jewish Student Union is sponsoring the event. Admission is $2 for community members and free for NMU students with a valid ID.

Two representatives of the da Vinci Center at Virginia Commonwealth University hosted workshops this week on how design thinking and entrepreneurship can help Northern overcome projected enrollment challenges. They also met with a number of academic departments seeking to transform programs.

More than 3,500 Upper Peninsula residents have subscribed to Northern Michigan University's Educational Access Network. NMU administrators marked the milestone recently by honoring staff members involved in the effort and distributing 3,500 pieces of candy to match the number of subscriptions. The EAN provides broadband internet service through the university's high-speed LTE wireless broadband network to learners of all ages in a growing number of Upper Peninsula locations.

Shiza Maryam is studying at Northern Michigan University this winter semester through the Global UGRAD Pakistan Program (IREX), which allows students from the country to study abroad. Maryam will give a cultural presentation on Pakistan at 4 p.m. Monday, March 25 in 1311 Jamrich Hall. The presentation will include facts about the country's tourism, language, art, music and special ceremony customs.

NMU President Fritz Erickson recently testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges as part of the state budget process. The subcommittee is comprised of mostly new members this cycle. It requested that university leaders address formula funding, first-generation students, enrollment trends and unique attributes of their institutions in their formal remarks.