Around NMU

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 held a dedication ceremony for a memorial display case and named annual scholarship honoring the legacy of Carl Holm, an NMU alumnus who worked 42 years in Housing and Residence Life, retiring as its director. A committee of colleagues, friends and family raised more than $15,000 for both projects.

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. 

Lake Superior and Marquette factor prominently in a newly published poetry collection, Inland Sea, by Northern Michigan University English Professor Lynn Domina. The title not only reflects content about the natural environment that has provided ample creative inspiration since she moved to the area eight years ago. It is also a metaphorical reference to humans' spiritual and psychological inland seas. 

The 2023-2024 Siril Concert Series at Northern Michigan University will open with “An Evening at the Opera,” featuring soprano Tara Jamshidian and tenor Adam Lowe. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Northern Michigan University will host a statewide wood energy workshop from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. This interactive workshop will bring together leaders from Michigan's forest products industry, policy makers, researchers, conservation officials, engineers, economic development experts, loggers and others interested in forest-based renewable energy technologies.

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.