Strategic Plan

Nine-year-old Oskar Alan of Marquette had a strong desire to pursue Nordic skiing, but his balance, coordination and strength are compromised by cerebral palsy, preventing him from engaging in the activity from a standing position. Undeterred, and with support from the Superiorland Ski Club (SSC), he tested a borrowed commercial sit-ski last winter and was hooked after his first run. Now more children with disabilities have an opportunity to participate in the sport, thanks to the efforts of Northern Michigan University Engineering Technology faculty. They built four sit-skis for the SSC, saving the nonprofit money and advancing its initiative to promote inclusion and belonging among youth skiers.

Northern Michigan University has assumed oversight of a $2.5 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate an intervention approach that provides wage supplements—contingent upon documented drug abstinence—as a way to combat drug addiction, promote employment and reduce poverty among people living with opioid use disorder. The project is a collaboration involving NMU's Department of Psychological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and REACH, a substance abuse recovery program in Baltimore, Md.

National Hospice Month is an appropriate time to highlight Northern's partnership with Trillium House of Marquette, which offers a peaceful, homelike environment for individuals receiving hospice services. NMU social work and nursing students are gaining related field experience and valuable insight into providing end-of-life care to Marquette community members from Trillium staff members, who include NMU alumni.

Northern Michigan University's Criminal Justice Department will double the number of students working directly with the Michigan State Police (MSP) to analyze U.P. homicide or missing persons cold cases in the hope of generating new leads. The recently approved state budget includes a $200,000 funding boost for the collaboration, which launched in fall 2022. 

Northern Michigan University and Michigan Technological University are collaborating on an Entrepreneurial Fellows Program, which gives students practical experience in identifying customers, strategic partners and suppliers critical to the success of early-stage Upper Peninsula companies.

Northern Michigan University's enrollment report for the winter semester that began in January shows an increase of 330 students, or 5.3%, compared with the same time last year. The overall headcount is 6,657. Improved persistence—the percentage of students who re-enroll after the fall semester—is also encouraging, particularly among freshmen.

Three new leadership appointees at Northern Michigan University will advance NMU's core values and strategic priorities related to inclusion and belonging, sustainability and academic excellence. Shawnrece Campbell, previously at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is assistant vice president for Diversity and Inclusion. NMU professor and alumna Jessica Thompson is assistant vice president for Sustainability. Anne Dahlman, most recently at Minnesota State University Mankato, will begin as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs on April 1.

In a continuing effort to advance conversations surrounding mental health, WNMU-TV will host a “Facing Suicide: Town Hall” at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Sept. 27, in NMU's Northern Center. A panel of Upper Peninsula mental health professionals will discuss suicide awareness and prevention. The public is invited to attend in person or virtually at no charge. 

Northern Michigan University's fall convocation featured several speakers who addressed new wellbeing initiatives for students and employees, the budget outlook, updates on facilities projects, the strategic planning process and the presidential search.

The $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package that passed the U.S. House and Senate and was signed by President Joe Biden last week includes $1.2 million in congressionally directed spending that will enable Northern Michigan University to expand LTE broadband service to rural communities in the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Lower Peninsula through its Educational Access Network (EAN).