Board Approves Budget
The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved an operating budget for the current fiscal year. It is $105.7 million, up $2.2 million or 2.1 percent from the previous year.
The board also approved the fiscal year 2012 operating budget request, which public universities are required to submit annually as the first step in the higher education appropriations process.
Full Story |
 Jamrich Becomes Priority
A plan to modernize Jamrich Hall,
the primary classroom facility on campus, has become the top priority on
Northern's rolling five-year master plan. It will be included in a soon-to-be
finalized version of NMU's capital outlay request.
Universities are required to submit
their priority projects annually to the state in the event funding becomes
available. The last capital outlay NMU received was in 2005 for C.B. Hedgcock,
Art and Design and Thomas Fine Arts. Full Story |
 Telescope Mount Makes Science Possible
The telescope in the NMU observatory
on the roof of West Science has a new mount, enabling it to follow the sky’s
motion more accurately—within small fractions of a degree—so it can be used to
take time-exposure photographs. Mark Jacobs (Physics) is
pictured between physics student Amelia Shirtz, who assisted with the project,
and freshman fellow Andi Shepherd.
“We’re actually able to do science
with this now,” said Jacobs, who teaches astronomy and spent a one-year
sabbatical working on the project. “In its previous state, it was only good
enough for observations by eye—more for entertainment value than science. But
the most interesting things in the sky are not visible to the eye, even with a
telescope, and no one practices professional astronomy that way anymore." Full Story
 New Study Abroad Options
Offered
Northern is in the process of
signing an agreement with a new study abroad program provider. Living Routes
offers experiences in ecological villages around the world, teaching students
about environmental issues, sustainable development, organic agriculture and
green building practices.
The company bills itself as “carbon
conscious” and demonstrates that commitment by participating in many study
abroad fairs and other events through videoconferencing to limit environmental
impacts and save on travel costs. It also uses Skype extensively to
communicate with faculty and staff in the field. Living Routes will unveil its
programs to NMU students via a “virtual table” at the fall study abroad fair,
which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, in the Whitman Hall
Commons. Full Story
 Homecoming Highlights Since 1935
A temporary world record in musical chairs and the largest pasty ever baked and eaten have marked NMU Homecoming celebrations over the last 75 years. The tradition might have started more than a decade earlier, but little came of the first attempt to encourage alumni to attend the NMU-Michigan Tech football contest in 1924 and make it “a homecoming game.” It wasn’t until President Webster Pearce announced plans for the first traditional celebration in his 1935 fall assembly address that Homecoming launched into an annual event. Full Story
   Alumni Honored This Weekend
As part of Homecoming 2010 activities this weekend three NMU alumni will be recognized for their achievements.
Pictured left to right are: Clifford Luft of Marquette, who will receive the Alumni Achievement Award; and James “Brig” Sorber of Lansing and Stephen DesJardins of Ann Arbor, recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards. Full Story |
With the football, soccer and volleyball teams all playing at NMU this Homecoming weekend, one might be inclined to think it will be an especially busy time for Jim Winkler’s (Intercollegiate Athletics) crew. 
