NMU Plans Fall Semester Kickoff Activities

Northern will kick off its 125th year with a series of activities to leading up to the fall semester, which officially begins with the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 26.

-Monday, Aug. 19: Professional Development Day to greet new and returning faculty with a variety of presentations and workshops to help them get their new school year off to a good start. It includes a Teaching Fair at noon in the third-floor atrium of Hedgcock (former Melted area). A general welcome session at 8 a.m. and "Preparing for an Engaging Course" session at 8:30 a.m., are among the classroom sessions. Both will be held in Jamrich 1318.

-Wednesday, Aug. 21: Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman will celebrate the institution's milestone anniversary during his Fall Convocation at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, in the Northern Center Ballrooms. The program will also address enrollment and housing numbers, vital indicators for measuring success and the "three grand challenges" of a new mission, vision and strategic plan.

-Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22-23: NMU Housing and Residence Life is bringing back the "Wildcats on the Move" program, in which faculty/staff/alumni are on hand to assist students and their families with the residence hall move-in process from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, August 23.

-Thursday, Aug. 22: NMU Housing and Residence Life will host a Welcome Home Party to celebrate move-in from 7-9 p.m. outdoors between the Woods complex and the Quad. It will feature line dancing, yard games and inflatables. A build-a-buddy activity will enable students to create their own stuffed animal (while supplies last) and receive a birth certificate, heart and little NMU shirt for their buddy.

-Friday, Aug. 23: NMU WellBeing Peer Educators will be outside between the Woods and Quad from 1-4 p.m. to introduce themselves and facilitate yard games such as cornhole and ladder ball for interested students, faculty and staff. From 8-9 p.m., comedian Myq Kaplan will put on a free show for students in the Jamrich Auditorium.

-Monday, Aug. 26: NMU's Fall Fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Northern Center Lawn. This annual event held on the first day of classes showcases area businesses, nonprofits and student organizations.