Strategic Plan

At Monday's university forum, attendees received a budget and facilities update before learning about the priority projects identified within each of the five new administrative pillars. President Brock Tessman led off with an introduction and said a forum each semester is among the planned strategies to enhance transparency and communication on campus.

Northern Michigan University dedicated the new Presque Isle Avenue location of its Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center on Thursday. The university clinic and research facility provides behavior and learning support to children, adolescents and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury. The $2 million renovation of the two-story building features new and expanded space to accommodate treatment, observation, workroom and classroom functions.

The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health is partnering with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan to offer Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training on Monday, Nov. 13. The training runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Northern Center's Peninsula II room. It's free and open to the public, thanks to funding from the Michigan Pediatric Epilepsy Project, but a reservation is required.

Northern Michigan University is seeking student applications and community project proposals for the newly created Rural Leadership Fellowship Program, which is designed to support immersive project-based learning for students while also supporting Upper Peninsula economic and community development projects. The fellowship is a paid and scholarship-supported applied learning experience for students interested in rural economic development and public sector careers.

High school seniors who reside in the Upper Peninsula and plan to pursue studies in a healthcare-related field at a college or university next fall are invited to participate in the fourth annual National Rural Health Day Essay Contest. The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health is coordinating the contest with the Michigan Center for Rural Health and the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan. The essay submission deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Northern Michigan University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and the task force dedicated to realizing that goal is seeking campus input on the draft plan for how to get there. While NMU has already reduced its carbon footprint by more than 30% since 2010 and has one of the smallest footprints among the state's public universities, it is striving for further reductions. Remaining information sessions on the plan are scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 (via Zoom), and 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Jamrich 1322. A flipbook and feedback survey are also available online.

Northern Michigan University has welcomed 40 new international students this fall, including exchange program participants and new freshmen, transfers and graduate students. Combined with returning students, the total international enrollment is 88 from 40 countries—the most NMU has had in recent years. While all of these students help to enhance diversity on campus and contribute their unique global perspectives, seven are employed as graduate assistants who actively support NMU faculty in various departments.

Northern Michigan University's School of Clinical Sciences is hosting its second annual Open Lab Day. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, and takes place in rooms and labs around The Science Building.

Northern Michigan University's Carbon Neutrality Task Force is gathering input on its draft plan outlining NMU's path to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner. A flipbook of the plan and feedback survey are available online at nmu.edu/president/carbon-neutrality-task-force. Also, information sessions are scheduled as follows this month:

North Carolina-based artist, curator and author Endia Beal will visit Northern Michigan University, where she will give a keynote presentation at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in Art & Design room 165. Those who register to attend can also sign up to participate in a two-hour workshop with Beal at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the Peninsula V room at the Northern Center.