Northern Michigan University's fiscal year 2026 general fund base budget, approved today by the NMU Board of Trustees, will invest an additional $1 million in financial aid to support the university's strategic goal of removing barriers to student access.
Most of this support is associated with two award programs: Tuition Advantage, a “last dollar” scholarship that covers the remaining balance after federal, state and institutional funding is applied; and the Bridge Award, which fills the out-of-state tuition gap. Both are in their third year.
The total general fund budget is $137.6 million, an increase of $6.6 million from the previous year.
“The increase is attributed primarily to contractual compensation costs, inflationary expenditures and debt service on 2025 bonds,” said NMU Interim President Gavin Leach. “We built this budget around an estimated higher education appropriation increase from the state because their budget probably won't be completed until around Sept. 30. The executive, senate and house proposals were released earlier and those entities will work to finalize a budget. Last year, our appropriation came out below the three proposals. We will be prepared to adjust, if necessary, based on the outcome.”
The board approved three other budgets: auxiliary services, housing and residence life, and designated fund.
Trustees also approved NMU's five-year master plan and 2024-25 capital outlay request, both of which universities are required to submit annually to the Michigan Department of Management and Budget. The priority project identified in the capital outlay request remains the Northern Enterprise Center (College of Business) addition to Hedgcock, which was previously approved for planning but is awaiting construction authorization.
After receiving an update on the status of major facilities projects, including early-stage construction of two new campus apartments, trustees approved the following projects over $250,000: an additional $275,000 in design services through December for the impending Northern Enterprise Center (College of Business) addition to C.B. Hedgcock; and $500,000 for Phase II design services for the Harden Hall renovation.
In other action at today's formal session, the board:
-Agreed on the following calendar year 2026 NMU Board of Trustees meeting schedule (all Thursday-Friday dates): Feb. 12-13; April 30-May 1; July 9-10; Sept. 17-18; and Dec. 10-11.
-Designated Trustees Lisa Fittante, Steve Lindberg, Greg Seppanen and Greg Toutant as NMU Foundation Board liaisons, to meet with the Foundation Board's designees to discuss the provisions of the Dec. 15, 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between the university and Foundation on behalf of the university.
-Held a special recognition for the NMU Criminal Justice Department's cold case program, whose students provided an investigative lead that helped the Michigan State Police (MSP) identify the man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman in Delta County 39 years ago.
-Granted David Prychitko the status of Professor Emeritus of Economics;
-Approved appointments/reappointments to the boards of the following Public School Academies (all expire June 30, 2028): Wendy Warren, Burton Glen Charter Academy; Margaret Swegles and Patricia Moore, East Shore Leadership Academy; Diane Lichon, Yolanda Reynolds and Scott Hinojosa, Francis Reh Public School Academy; Ebony Jenkins and Jeffrey Arthur, George Crockett Public School Academy; Jacqueline Kang, Victoria Dowd and Matthew Kareja, Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy; Roger Zappa, North Star Montessori Academy; Susan Hollar and Tamika Burnett, South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy; and Kimberly Champion, Walton Charter Academy.
-Approved the university's Grief Absence and Bereavement Policy, along with the following external donations: 3D printers for both Engineering Technology and Art & Design, valued at $6,900; and an ultra-cold freezer for the Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory, valued at $8,500.