The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved housing and dining rates for the 2016-17 academic year. The annual cost of a standard double-occupancy room and the “gold constant meal pass” dining option will be $9,604, an increase of $534 to cover inflationary cost increases and maintenance needs for housing facilities. The board also approved a resolution for construction and operation of new residence halls through a partnership with EdR, a national collegiate housing developer and manager.

Trustees authorized continuation general fund and designated fund budgets until new versions are approved, pending a decision on state higher education appropriations. The budgets will not exceed the current level, except for any increases required by negotiated union contracts. The board will likely address tuition at its June meeting and budgets at its July meeting.

The board agreed to add a new academic program: a deaf studies certificate, effective fall 2016. 

In other action, the board approved the following: 

-Deleting the following academic programs, effective fall 2016: criminal justice graduate certificate; entertainment and sports promotion bachelor’s degree; and math education master’s degree;

-Proceeding with capital and long-term maintenance projects that each have a cost exceeding $250,000: Berry Events Center scoreboard replacement; campus wayfinding building sign replacement; NMU’s financial responsibility for new housing connectors and living/learning meeting space and classrooms; and the Payne Hall demolition;

-A quarter-acre parcel exchange to coincide with the sale of 1100 Wright Street to the City of Marquette;

-Donating old furniture being replaced in West Hall, with an approximate value of $39,000, to Marquette County Habitat for Humanity;

-The 2016-17 Faculty Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program;

-An increase in the pass-through fee for cross-country skiing from $4 to $5 to cover use of the Noquemanon Trail Network during class;

-A new $10 course fee for all students who take an on-campus 090, 100 or 200 level math course to support the math tutoring lab;

-The following organizational changes: restructuring Printing Services to move from business services under the Finance and Administration division to Marketing and Communications in the President’s Division; establishing the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, which became effective in February; and creating the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences to oversee programs formerly housed in the College of Health Sciences and Professional Studies, reporting to the vice president for Extended Learning and Community Engagement;

-The previously ratified agreement between NMU and the NMU Faculty Association, which covers the period July 1, 2016-June 30, 2021;

-Revisions to the ASNMU constitution;

-Awarding 2016 Board of Trustees Student Achievement Awards to the following: Lindsey Lieck, outstanding female graduating senior; Amer Mansoor, outstanding male graduating senior; Melissa Orzechowski, outstanding student (any class standing); and Trevor Case, outstanding nontraditional student;

-Reauthorizing both the Burton Glen Charter School Academy and the Walton Charter School Academy contracts for five-year periods ending June 30, 2021;

-Authorizing the following charter school board reappointments or appointments (terms expire June 30, 2019, unless otherwise indicated): Suzanne Menard, Bradley Pingle and Norma Castro, Bahweting Public School Academy; Pricilla Kidd, Burton Glenn Charter School Academy; Rev. Richard Hotchkin, East Shore Leadership Academy; Michael Kennan and Diane Lichon, Francis Reh Public School Academy; Ryan Heilman, George Crockett Academy; Rodney Lovell, Gloria Wandahsega and James Wandahsega, Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy; and Roger Zappa, North Star Academy