Addendum #2

President’s Report to the Board

Focus on Search Updates

February 23, 2006

 

Provost Search

 

The Provost Search is entering the screening phase.  Applications are being received and processed by our consultant, Shelly Storbeck of A.T. Kearney Executive Search, and we will continue to accept applications throughout the screening period. 

 

The Provost Search Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Professor Darlene Walch and Dr. Peter Goodrich, has been active during the past few months.  Before semester break the Committee updated the Provost Position Description and finalized the Advertisement which was publicized after the first of the year.  In January the Committee completed revisions to the more detailed Position Specification Document which is being used to provide candidates with information about Northern Michigan University and the Provost position.  With the assistance of the Consultant, the Committee will begin the screening process after February 24.  Initial screening should be complete by mid-March and a suggested list of semi-finalists determined.  Following reference checks by the Consultant and Committee, semi-finalist candidates will be interviewed by the Committee and the list will be narrowed further.  Following additional reference checks, a short list of finalists will be determined and campus interviews scheduled in late April/early May.  Following those interviews the Committee will make its final report and recommendations to the President.  Our goal is to have a new Provost on board by July 1. 

 

Faculty Searches

 

Academic Information Services:  One faculty search is underway with applicant review scheduled to begin in mid-March.

 

Arts and Sciences:  Seven faculty searches underway and in various stages of completion.

 

Business:  Three faculty searches underway, all currently in the process of conducting interviews.

 

Professional Studies:  Nine faculty searches underway and in various stages of completion. 

 

Proposed NMU Foundation Positions

 

The NMU Foundation Board is currently in the voting process regarding the Foundation’s Proposed Funding Plan.  If the Board supports the Plan, we will proceed with classifying the two new positions and posting the three gift officer positions in preparation for our next major campaign. 

 

Completed Searches in Communications and Marketing

 

Two recent searches in Communications and Marketing have been completed successfully.  Our new Web Systems Manager is Andrew (Drew) Quinn and Rebecca Tavernini is our new University Editor. 

 

Dining Services General Manager Search

 

The Dining Services General Manager search is in the final stages.  Campus interviews were held earlier this month and the committee will soon make a final recommendation.  

 

Enrollment Update:

 

Final fall 2005 enrollment was exactly 9,500 (our highest since at least 1980) and the target for fall 2006 is 9,700 (a 2.1% increase).  Preliminary winter 2006 headcount is up 1.7%, while credit hours are up 1.5%.

 

Public Broadcasting Awards:

 

Here are some details surrounding NMU’s recent success in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards competition.  A first place award went to Brandon Thomas and the Channel 13 Public Eye News Crew for their work in producing the Public Eye News that airs daily on our station.  A number of Michigan Universities have student news programs and this category is always competitive.  We are seeing the results of increased synergies between CAPS and WNMU.  Students take their work very seriously and many are involved in the news program for academic credit. 

 

Television

Newscast

1st Place

Brandon Thomas - Northern Michigan University

News Feature/Magazine Program 

Honorable

Jerry Hume - Northern Michigan University

 

Radio

Daily Newscast/News Feature

2nd Place

Kayla Rice/Gavin Telfer - Northern Michigan University

 

Honorable

A Olszewski/A Czarnecki/D Shannon - Northern Michigan University

Talk Show

Honorable

Edmund Brown/Matt Wellens - Northern Michigan University

 

In the station produced programs category Sports, Outdoor and Recreation, WNMU-TV took first place for the program produced by Dr. Brady and his BC 473-F advanced field production course entitled: “The UP 200: A Community Pulling Together”.  This program involved 14 students and as a class assignment, involved travel around the UP shooting footage prior to and during the UP 200 sled dog race.  The program was unique in that our students, in addition to shooting for their own production, provided footage for ESPN and a documentary they were producing about the races.  The experience resulted in one graduating senior, Tara Baker, accepting a job offer from ESPN for full-time employment.

 

WNMU-FM received a Special Interest & Cultural Programming award for their production of the “Marquette Area Blues Festival, 2005”.  The program was produced by former student Jane Cisluycis and was recorded last summer during the Blues Festival in the Lower Harbor Park.

 

These awards are especially meaningful because WNMU was moved out of our regional category and placed in competition with other public stations from Lansing, Grand Rapids and Mt. Pleasant.  Unlike the previous awards where NMU students are competing with other students at sister universities, we entered these programs in categories that places them in direct competition with professional broadcasters at other stations.  To put this into perspective, it would be almost the same as having the NMU Wildcats compete against the Detroit Red Wings.

 

Finally, these awards are very important to the students involved as a part of their graduation portfolio.  Employers recognize the significance of achievement within the Michigan Association of Broadcasters organization and resumes that include these awards increase the types of professional opportunities students can access after graduation.