Northern Michigan University's Health Center will conduct COVID-19 molecular testing for students, faculty and staff in advance of the Aug. 17 fall semester kickoff. Under clinical supervision, individuals will complete a shallow swipe of their nostrils and place the short swab in a test tube. The samples will be processed and sent to a Chicago lab capable of analyzing large quantities with timely results. After this initial mass screening, the NMU Health Center will be fully equipped to do in-house molecular, antibody and antigen testing and deliver quick results as the need arises.

As the number of COVID-19 cases trends upward in many locations, Northern Michigan University continues to offer 11 self-paced, online educational modules related to the pandemic free of charge.

NMU alumna Amber Libby ('10 BS) was recently appointed Cheboygan County's chief assistant prosecuting attorney, following the resignation of her predecessor. The Marquette native has been employed with the prosecutor's office since January 2019.

NMU alumnus Aaron Payment and NMU Native American studies professor Martin Reinhardt are quoted in a recent Detroit Free Press story on perceptions associated with the use of Native American nicknames by Michigan high schools. The article has been published in other state media as well.

The Northern Michigan University Foundation is pleased to report more than $6.1 million in outright gifts, pledges and expectancies for Fiscal Year 2020, a nearly 11% year-over-year increase. New outright gifts grew by 17.6% and new pledge receipts more than doubled, to over $1.3 million.