Northern Michigan University has been recognized as a STARS Gold Institution by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS is the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. An institution's score is based on the percentage of applicable points earned across five main categories: academics; engagement; operations; planning and administration; and innovation and leadership.

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations will host "Northern Now: Talks with Tessman" at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 11. Alumni and friends of the Wildcat community are invited to join President Brock Tessman for a virtual chat. He will share campus updates and answer questions. The event will begin with a welcome from NMU Alumni Advisory Board President Chris Charboneau '93 BS.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host an opening event for a new exhibition, "Northern Tapestry: 125 Years of Stories," at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, in its Gries Hall gallery. In addition to a talk by Director/Curator Daniel Truckey, there will be light refreshments and snacks. The event and exhibit are free and open to the public.

As a renowned African freshwater crab expert, Northern Michigan University Biology Professor Neil Cumberlidge amassed a collection of more than 1,000 preserved specimens representing various species over his extended career. On the verge of his Sept. 1 retirement after 34 years as an educator and scholar at NMU, he recently transferred them from NMU to London to join the crustacean research collection at the National History Museum's Darwin Center.