Strategic Plan

Hyeonji Noh, an international student from Seoul, South Korea, came to Northern Michigan University to study English and multimedia production, with the eventual goal of returning to her home country to teach English as a foreign language. Jumpstarting her career with online content, Noh uses her social media presence to create a community of English as a Second Language learners whose native tongue is Korean. She has amassed more than 30,000 Instagram followers with her videos and educational language content.

Northern Michigan University athletic training students are getting hands-on experience at the Injury Evaluation and Care Clinic powered by the Health and Human Performance Department. The clinic also provides the campus and community with a healthcare opportunity that specializes in the assessment and primary treatment of sport and physical activity-related injuries.

Northern Michigan University's UNITED Conference will feature workshops and presentations that revolve around a "Continue the Conversation" theme as it relates to the intersection of well-being and diversity, equity and inclusion. The main conference runs from 8:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the Northern Center. Keynote speakers are: Patrick Yankee from Corktown Health, on affirmative healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community; and Stefanie Foo, author of "What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma," this year's selection for NMU's Diversity Common Reader Program. All events are free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center is scheduled to host the annual Michigan Region I tournament for the 2024 Science Olympiad from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in NMU's Science Building. About 300 Upper Peninsula students typically compete in 46 events. The top-placing middle school and high school teams at this event will go on to compete in the state tournament at Michigan State University in April.

Two Northern Michigan University undergraduate students are engaged in immersive, project-based internships with Marquette and Manistique city governments as part of NMU's new Rural Leadership Fellowship Program. They receive a paid, scholarship-supported applied learning experience that will enhance their career prospects in rural economic development and public sector fields, while the municipalities benefit from fresh perspectives and assistance in advancing key community priorities.

Northern's outdoor recreation leadership and management program (ORLM) hosted a delegation from Detroit Outdoors, which aims to inspire the city's youth to spend more time outside in local natural spaces. The groups spent Feb. 3 together on campus and at Marquette's Presque Isle Park. NMU students gained career-preparation insight on facilitating more diversity and inclusion in nature. The Detroit Outdoors youth gained a greater appreciation for the U.P.'s pristine environment, and learned about NMU and its related program.

Northern Michigan University will host a student-focused “Making it in Michigan” event that will highlight the value of work-based learning as part of the college experience. It is scheduled from 2-3:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in the Northern Center Grand Ballrooms. The agenda includes opening remarks by NMU President Brock Tessman and panels of business/industry partners and students.

Northern Michigan University's Biology Department will host Diversity in STEM Week Feb. 5-9. Several events and activities will be presented that “highlight and celebrate the many, often unacknowledged, ways that people from diverse walks of life contribute to the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The department will also display entries in the Diversity in STEM Art Contest in the 2nd floor atrium of Weston Hall from noon, Feb. 7 through Feb. 9.

EcoReps, Northern's peer-to-peer sustainability education student organization, embodies one of the university's core values and emboldens students to strive toward equitable sustainability on campus. EcoReps is made up of more than 200 registered members, and hosts activities such as the on-campus Zero Waste event planned for the upcoming hockey game against Michigan Tech on Friday, Feb. 2.

Northern Michigan University's “Path to Carbon Neutrality by 2050” plan is now finalized, outlining the strategies for achieving that goal and targeted reductions in carbon emissions for each decade along the way. The completed plan aligns with NMU's core values and strategic priorities, which include a focus on building a culture of sustainability.