Strategic Plan

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved 2019-20 room and board rates that are less than 1 percent higher than last year, despite inflationary cost adjustments and maintenance needs.

Northern Michigan University is planning a week of service activities around the theme, “Empowering Community through Action,” beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20. The overarching goal will be to assemble and donate winter care kits to Room at the Inn to support those in need during the cold-weather months, but additional daily programming is scheduled as well.

Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor Jongeun You has been awarded one of nine Future Shocks Challenge Grants for his case study on the integration of land use and water planning in Colorado. The Future Shocks initiative, led by the IBM Center for The Business of Government and the National Academy of Public Administration, is designed to help governments identify and develop core capabilities critical to building resilience.

The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team, led by head coach Lindsey (LeMay) Majkrzak, volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Marquette at 9 a.m. on a recent snowy Saturday to help sort and package can-a-thon donations. 

Northern Michigan University successfully applied to host a member of the MI Healthy Climate Corps, a service program dedicated to developing an enduring, capable network of climate professionals committed to serving communities and building a more sustainable future for the state. NMU 2015 alumna and Negaunee native Anna Solberg has returned to campus to serve as MHC Corps climate action coordinator through October 2025. She will work with Assistant Vice President for Sustainability Jes Thompson to keep NMU aligned with its “Our Compass” strategic plan and carbon neutrality plan action items, as well as broader Michigan climate targets.

Northern Michigan University and InvestUP will launch a new program in January that will empower participating students through professional internships and mentoring, while also focusing on their leadership development and academic success. By creating a clear pipeline from education to employment, “The Wildcat Collective: Leaders of Honor and Ambition” program is designed to address critical, shared goals such as local talent retention and population growth to benefit NMU and Upper Peninsula communities.

Well-being, which is embedded in Northern's “Our Compass” strategic plan and core values, has become an increasing focus in higher education. NMU alumna McKenzie Mathewson can attest to its importance. She serves as associate director of community wellness at Western Colorado University, and said her Northern experience helped to launch her career.