Strategic Plan

In his first fall convocation as Northern Michigan University president, Brock Tessman said he wants to learn from and steward Northern's proud history while enacting new ideas and initiatives built around a central goal: promoting student success and narrowing equity gaps so that every student has an opportunity to “reach the finish line.” With the largest incoming class in years and a solid budget, he said the university is well-positioned to plan for the future with some stability.

Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman today announced a new partnership that will guarantee NMU employees and students priority access to high-quality child care at a reduced rate. Ann Arbor-based provider Gretchen's House, which operates 10 centers in the state, will open a facility with 35-40 available slots a few blocks from campus early in 2024.

Northern Michigan University's commitment to providing a comprehensive approach to wellness that revolves around intentional care for the whole person has taken a tangible step forward with the newly constructed WellBeing Center. The $6.5 million, 13,500-square-foot facility houses both the NMU Health Center and Counseling and Consultation Services.   

As part of the Student Affairs and Success administrative pillar identified by President Brock Tessman during his convocation, Northern Michigan University has revised its advising structure to better support the holistic needs of students throughout their time at the university. The goal is that most students will be assigned a dedicated adviser in the relevant program cluster who will attend to their specific needs from their arrival on campus to graduation.

Northern Michigan University has launched a new Aspire Summer Bridge & Scholars Program designed to help select incoming freshmen make a successful transition to college by jumpstarting their education before the fall semester. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today joined the Northern Michigan University (NMU) Foundation, Adamo Group, and the City of Marquette to commence demolition of the former hospital property adjacent to NMU's campus in Marquette.

David Nyberg, executive director of Business Engagement and Economic Development at Northern Michigan University, has been appointed to the higher education workgroup of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's “Growing Michigan Together Council.” The bipartisan group seeks to increase the state's stagnant population and bolster its economy.

The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives, located on the campus of NMU, recently received the Historical Society of Michigan's Superior Award. It was recognized for its leadership and service related to UPLINK, an effort to digitize and preserve Upper Peninsula historical records.

Northern Michigan University has created an open educational resource (OER) Faculty Learning Community representing a broad range of academic departments as part of a two-year pilot program to increase OER use across campus and provide related professional development opportunities. 

Northern Michigan University's most recent admissions viewbook, which is distributed to prospective students at high school and community college recruiting events and often serves as a “first impression” of NMU, has earned a gold award for individual student recruitment publication in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence Awards. NMU Admissions and University Marketing and Communications collaborate on the annual project, which drives the messaging for other NMU recruitment materials.