DISTINCTLY NORTHERN CORE VALUES
Community
Inclusion
Opportunity
Connection
Rigor
Innovation
Environment
Wellbeing
MISSION
Northern Michigan University empowers learners with distinct and meaningful experiences that open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
Our purpose is to foster close connections between learners, leaders, communities, and the natural environment in order to nurture and inspire creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens dedicated to promoting the health and vitality of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, and beyond.
VISION
Like the lake that inspires us, Northern Michigan University will be known as Superior – in the ways we support our people, partner with our place, and realize the potential of all our students.
OUR GRAND CHALLENGES
01 Supporting our People
Executive Sponsor: Rhea Dever, Vice President, People Culture and Wellbeing
Wellbeing of people, places, and the planet are interconnected and integral to NMU’s educational mission. Embracing the Okanagan Charter and its Calls to Action, along with our commitment to honor and nurture the role of Indigenous perspectives and peoples locally and globally, will ensure all Wildcats the opportunity to thrive professionally and personally.
02 Partnering with our Place
Executive Sponsor: Gavin Leach, Vice President, Finance and Administration
Increasing our focus on purposeful partnerships strengthens NMU’s connection to its community, fostering a thriving and resilient Upper Peninsula where Wildcats make positive impacts as career-ready, community-engaged citizens.
03 Realizing the Potential of All our Students: 100/Best/Zero
Executive Sponsor: Anne Dahlman, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
NMU is driven to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Increasing focus on high impact practices (HIPs), comprehensive advising, and flexible learning formats and credentials will provide all Wildcats the equal opportunity to graduate on time and achieve lifelong success.
CALL TO ACTION
Your involvement is crucial to the success of our strategic initiatives. Contribute to Northern Michigan University’s strategic plan implementation by:
- Serving on a Strategy Team
Guided by dedicated leads, Strategy Teams will develop action plans and tactics with involvement from relevant stakeholder groups. Watch for a communication regarding serving on a Strategy Team as well as other ways you can stay informed and involved.
- Submitting a Tactic
If you have an idea for a Tactic, or an activity that will help to achieve a Strategy, contact the relevant Strategy Lead or Grand Challenge Executive Sponsor.
For further information and guidance, please contact the NMU Institutional Effectiveness Office.
NMU 2022 INTERIM STRATEGIC PLAN
As of Winter 2024, NMU's 2022 Interim Strategic Plan has concluded.
Focus Area Action Plans and accompanying Dashboards, which were developed to track progress on the Interim Strategic Plan, are now archived on this page. While no longer actively updated, we encourage you to explore these historical dashboards and browse the featured news articles highlighting past efforts and accomplishments guided by the Interim Strategic Plan.
NMU will use similar dashboards to monitor future plans, maintaining our commitment to transparency and accountability in all our strategic efforts.