Grand Challenge 1: Supporting our People
The wellbeing of our people, our place, and our planet are interconnected and foundational to NMU’s mission. We embed holistic wellbeing across our campus culture and honor Indigenous perspectives to build a community where every Wildcat can flourish. When our people feel genuinely supported and valued, they stay, and they inspire others to join them.
STRATEGY | SUCCESS OUTCOME(S) | LEAD(S) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1. Embed holistic health, sustainable environments, and proactive support networks into campus culture across administrative, operational, and academic mandates to ensure all Wildcats can navigate life's biidaashkaa (waves), cultivate purposeful resilience, and grow into their full well-being. | Living the Okanagan Charter: Earn recognition as a leader among our U.S. and International Health Promoting Campus Network (USHPCN; IHPCN) peers for operationalizing the shared aspirations of the Charter. | Angie Stebbins Assistant Vice President, Wellbeing |
| 1.2. Nurture Indigenous perspectives, programs, and peoples at NMU in order to honor, learn from, and partner with the tribal communities that have thrived in our region for many generations. | Native-Centered Institution: Earn recognition indicating the successful strengthening of student support programs through the integration of Indigenous thinking methodologies that are responsive to the unique social and cultural needs of Native American students. | April Lindala, Head, Native American Studies Dale Kapla, Senior Associate Provost, Academic Affairs |
| 1.3. Advance the NMU Opportunity and Empowerment Hub as a coordinating home that connects people to opportunity by aligning the distinct identities and expertise of programs across the office, deepening access, belonging, wellbeing, and student success on campus and across the communities connected to NMU. | Empowering Excellence: Demonstrate, through measurable outcomes and the voices of those we serve, that NMU is a place where students, faculty, and staff from every background and identity belong, thrive, and lead, with equitable practices woven into how we recruit, hire, teach, support, retain, and celebrate the campus community. | Shawnrece Butler, Assistant Vice President, Opportunity, Empowerment & People |
| 1.4. Embed sustainable values into all aspects of the University, including curriculum, operations, and external partnerships. | STARS Platinum: Achieve AASHE STARS score of 85, earning highest sustainability rating of Platinum. Integrated Operations: Assure successful progression of targets outlined in the NMU Carbon Neutrality Plan. Carnegie Classification for Sustainability: Earn Carnegie Classification for Sustainability. | Jes Thompson, Assistant Vice President, Sustainability Kathy Richards, Associate Vice President, Engineering & Planning/Facilities |
GRAND CHALLENGE EXECUTIVE SPONSOR: Rhea Dever, Vice President, People Culture and Wellbeing
- 2025-2026 Action Plan
- COMING SOON: 2026-2027 Action Plan