Page 2 - The Mining Journal, Wednesday, August 18, 2021
A welcome from President Erickson NMU students,
course, but it’s great to be returning to a more prepandemic environment. I encourage students to once again get Welcome to the 2021-22 academic year. involved on campus, to get out into the Usually when I write this letter to welcome you Marquette community and meet your neighto Northern or welcome you back to campus, I bors, explore the incredible outdoors of the have a pretty good idea of what the semester Upper Peninsula, and dedicate yourself to has in store for you and for the University. As trying at least one (or go for two or three) we continue to navigate this worldwide COVIDnew things you’ve never done before. 19 pandemic, things are less clear. We may be in what is being called a “new One thing that is crystal clear, though, is that normal,” but much of what has always made the actions of Northern students last year being Northern special has remained the same key to our success in responding to the pandemthroughout the pandemic: caring faculty and staff, ic. The same will be true this year as well. great learning opportunities, and a plethora of Northern continues to evaluate the COVID-19 situactivities to enjoy and help you learn new skills and ation carefully, but with classes returning to face-tostrengths. I hope you take advantage of each face instruction and many student activities that ERICKSON of these as they will greatly enrich your were paused a year ago back on the calendar, Northern experience. it feels like we’ve made strong strides in the Best wishes for a strong and safe semester. right direction. Most mandates that were in place have now been President Fritz Erickson removed. We still need to proceed with some caution, of
Contents • 2 Tuition set by NMU board • 3 Union pact approved • 6 Keller gets Nordic squad • 8 Shows added at NMU • 10 Beaumier exhibit opens • 13 ‘’Big Pitch’ won • 14 Quiz Bowl competition
NMU increases tuition rate By CHRISTIE MASTRIC Journal Staff Writer MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan Board of Trustees in June approved a tuition increase of 4.2% for the 2021-22 academic year for resident undergraduates although the increase will be offset by federal stimulus funds. The vote was 7-1, with trustee Jason Morgan casting the negative vote after indicating he was “not comfortable” with the amount. “The process of making a recommendation to the board involves quite a few factors,” NMU President Fritz Erickson said. “Among those are careful examination of what the cost increases have been for our operations, whether it’s electrical bills or sewer bills, additional cost for compensation, cost for really the operation of the institution.” Other factors, he noted, were what the state planned
to give to the university, the school’s strong financial viability, and direct costs to students and their families, with NMU roughly $2,000 below the median of its sister institutions in Michigan. However, Erickson said no definite word from the state had come yet, but federal dollars have made a difference. “It’s really important to know that much of our calculations is also predicated on the relief dollars we are able to provide our students,” Erickson said. “So, much as we did last year, we will have better than a net zero impact on tuition this year, given we’ll be able to provide our students in the fall with between $750 and $1,000, which will more than offset any tuition increase for this year.” Gavin Leach, NMU vice president of finance and administration, said the target has been controlling
costs and trying to best education for students, with tuition and fees including a laptop computer, software services and broadband access. The board approved grants starting at $750 that will be funded by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund for full-time students. The grants effectively lower most full-time resident students’ tuition and fees charges from a year ago by a minimum of $123 per semester. Trustee Greg Seppanen expressed some concern over the future of tuition rates, noting that the federal funds are a one-time addition that won’t be available when tuition rates are set next year. “It’s pretty apparent there’s going to be a pretty huge impact on next year’s tuition costs no matter how you cut it relative to the lack See Tuition p. 3
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