Northern Michigan University Student Services Overview

Northern Michigan University (NMU) is committed to providing a comprehensive range of services to support students in their academic, personal, and professional development. These services are designed to meet the diverse needs of all students, whether they are studying on-campus or online.

Academic Support

EduCat Student Learning Portal

NMU utilizes the EduCat student learning portal to facilitate online learning. This platform allows students to:

Engage in real-time class chats
Participate in in-depth discussion forums
View videos or video-conference
Receive and submit assignments and materials
Take tests

In most cases, students only need an internet connection and a computer to access EduCat.

Educational Access Network (EAN)

NMU's Educational Access Network (EAN) is included with all Global Campus enrollments, ensuring students have ready access to high-speed internet connectivity.

Specialty Labs

NMU continues to support and improve "specialty labs" as a function of need and resource availability. These labs are designed to meet the needs of specific academic programs that have special equipment and software needs.

Academic Advising

All degree-seeking Northern Michigan University students, regardless of how or where they take their courses, are assigned an academic advisor to help guide them through their degree programs.

Online Course Preparation Tutorial

All first-time NMU online students must complete the Online Course Preparation Tutorial for Students. This tutorial helps students get comfortable navigating NMU’s online classroom environment, EduCat. Students work through a set of self-paced modules. Depending on previous experience with online courses and pace moving through the tutorial’s activities, it will typically take between one and three hours to complete.

Tutoring Services

NMU offers several tutoring services for Global Campus students. The Olson Library provides services to support distance education courses and programs including online tutoring through the Writing Center.

Math Placement Test

Although NMU does require math competency as a graduation requirement for all bachelor's degree-seeking students, academic history will determine whether or not a student will need to take a placement test.

Pre-Admission Plan of Study

Whether a student has prior NMU credit or is transferring college-level credit from a different institution, they can receive an unofficial degree evaluation from the NMU Global Campus.

Read also: Comprehensive Health Overview

Administrative Services

Online Administrative Processes

Most administrative processes of the university are available via the web. Students can register, check their grades, and view their financial aid information online.

Laptop Program

All full-time, on-campus students have the option to use an NMU-issued laptop (either ThinkPad or MacBook notebooks) at no cost. Part-time and web-based students can also opt into the laptop program for an additional fee per semester.

Student Life and Support

Mental Health and Counseling

Counselors visit classrooms as well as residential halls and present on mental health topics. Counseling topics include, but are not limited to, suicide prevention, domestic violence awareness, and mindfulness. NMU is committed to maintaining a learning environment where all persons feel safe to carry out the University’s mission and goals. The University values the safety and wellbeing of each individual in its community.

CARE Team

Our university has established the CARE team to assist in addressing situations in which students, faculty, or staff are displaying behaviors that are concerning, disruptive, or threatening in nature and that potentially impede their own or others’ ability to function successfully or safely. These policies and procedures are designed to help identify persons whose behavior potentially endangers their own or others’ health and safety or is disruptive to the educational or administrative processes or operations of the university. For emergent safety concerns, a subgroup of CARE, which includes NMU Police, Housing & Residence Life, and the Dean of Students Office, will coordinate to assess an immediate need.

Student Handbook

The Northern Michigan University Student Handbook outlines student rights and responsibilities, student expectations, student codes, and university policies. It includes information on academic and administrative rights, rights of due process, and freedoms outside of the classroom. The handbook also details the student conduct process, definitions of key terms, and university regulations.

Read also: Student Services at Ole Miss

Student Code

All students are expected to follow Northern Michigan University’s conduct policies. Where a student (1) violates the University’s rules and regulations as outlined in the Student Code, (2) engages in behavior that substantially impedes the lawful activities, educational process, or other proper activities or functions of other members of the University community, or (3) poses an actual risk of serious harm to others within the University or to the University community, the student may be subject to disciplinary action up to removal from the university pursuant to the Student Conduct Process.

Student Success Department

The Student Success Department equips students with the tools they need to reach their goals.

Academic Honesty

Students have an obligation to abide by accepted standards of academic honesty, which dictate that all scholastic work shall be original in nature.

Campus Visit

Prospective students can schedule a campus visit. Faculty can be contacted in advance for prospective students attending a campus visit program; Coaches will not be contacted by staff. Contact the Athletic Department if interested in meeting coach during a campus visit.

Career Services and Student Employment

Career Services

The staff in Career Services is available to provide guidance regarding any student employment issues students encounter. In addition, Career Services can develop customized training programs for employers and student staff such as interviewing skills for supervisors, customer service for student employees, and legal issues in student employment.

Handshake

Handshake contains postings for all jobs. Students can upload resumes to apply for jobs online and for employers to view. View the list of employers that are visiting campus and sign up for information sessions and on-campus interviews.

Student Employment

In accepting a campus position, students assume work responsibility for which they will be held accountable. Supervisors should share more specific department requirements with their employees.

General Work Performance Standards

The student employee should always report to work on time and let the supervisor know when they report for work.
The student employee should always contact their supervisor if it is impossible to show up for work or to report for work on time.
The student employee should request permission in advance to be absent from work if special circumstances arise (the student employee should ask the supervisor to define "special circumstances".)
A student employee should immediately bring to the supervisor's attention any problems or concerns that may pertain to the job.
A student gaining employment from more than one on-campus employer must notify each supervisor of all current on-campus employment.
Student employees should perform the duties assigned to the best of their ability.
A student employee should dress appropriately for the job as specified by the employer.
A student employee should respond positively to constructive criticism.
A student employee must give the supervisor at least a one-week notice when quitting a job.
Any student that does not meet departmental work expectations may face disciplinary action up to and including termination at the request of the employing department.
Students are expected to handle all confidential information they encounter during the employment experience in an appropriate and professional manner.

Student Employment Eligibility

Individuals hired as student employees must be enrolled at NMU for six (6) or more credit hours, or four (4) or more graduate credit hours, during the time they are working and must be making satisfactory progress towards a degree, certification, or diploma. This applies for the fall and winter semesters, semester breaks and holidays, and summers as well.

During the fall and winter semesters, student employees can work no more than twenty four (24) hours of work per week/forty eight (48) hours of work per pay period - regardless if the student requests to work more hours.

Students working during Thanksgiving Recess, the Holiday Break, and Mid-semester Recess will be restricted to twenty four (24) hours of work per week. (NOTE: Students working over the Holiday Break must be pre-registered for the winter semester.)

In the summer, student employees will be restricted to twenty four (24) hours of work per week/forty eight (48) hours of work per pay period while they are enrolled in classes six (6) or more undergraduate credit hours or four (4) or more graduate credit hours. Students who are not enrolled in summer classes, but are pre-registered for the following fall semester.

Student Employment Pay

The following categories may be used to determine the appropriate pay range for a student job description. The following tables outline the student employment levels and pay rates that have been adopted:

Level 1: Basic entry levels skills (e.g., Cashier, Custodian, Data Entry, Receptionist, Stock Clerk)
Level 2: Advanced skills, training, or experience specifically related to the position (e.g., Artist, Photographer, Student Supervisor, Security Personnel)
Level 3: Specialized training and/or academic background related to the position (e.g., IT related positions, Lab/Medical Tech)

In no case may a student be paid less than the Michigan minimum wage. All student employees, including all graduate students, are paid hourly and cannot be paid a stipend.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The fiscal year is broken into the following segments for Federal Work-Study (FWS) students:

Fall Semester
Winter Semester
Summer Session

Fall/Winter Semester - Students have a dollar limitation on their FWS earnings for the semester. The FWS period for the winter semester includes both semester break and spring break.

Summer Session - if funds are available, FWS students may be employed during this period even though they earned their total award during the academic year.

Employing departments DO NOT pay fringe benefits, including FICA taxes, on Student Labor workers (as defined above) regardless of the number of hours worked in any given week or pay period, as long as the employed student maintains at least half-time enrollment status during the semesters they are employed.

Restrictions

To facilitate a student's academic success and to ensure compliance with specific regulations, students may not be scheduled to work:

More than eight (8) hours per day during the academic year;
During their regularly scheduled class periods;
In positions that are, or have historically been, filled by full-time NMU employees; or
More than 24 hours per week (exceptions during the summer - see 'Summer Employment and University Breaks')

Probation Students

It is the department's discretion to employ a student under academic (or other) probation. Federal Work-Study (FWS) eligible students on probation may be at risk of losing their FWS funding in subsequent terms, if they do not meet the SAP standards.

International Students

Per visa/immigration policy, international students remain limited to 20 hours of work each week or 40 hours per pay period during the academic year. International students can work up to 40 hours per week during break periods.

Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA)

The Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) provides wages to employees when they are unable to perform their scheduled work responsibilities due to illness or for ESTA-covered absences within a benefit year. NMU's benefit year runs concurrent with the fiscal year, which is July 1 through June 30. The Earned Sick Time Act is applicable to all NMU employees.

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