MARQUETTE, MI— Northern Michigan University is making some leadership changes.
In an email Thursday, President Brock Tessman said students and employees are the heart and soul of the university. He said investment in and support of people on campus is the right thing to do and makes sense for the school’s bottom line.
To that effect, Northern’s leadership structure will be organized around five pillars. Finance and Administration and Academic Affairs are already established. The other three are People, Culture, and Wellbeing, which will focus on diversity, professional development, and health; Student Affairs and Success, devoted to improving retention and completion rates; and The Northern Student Experience, which represents a commitment to enhance the campus life experience for students.
Tessman said officials will work this summer to create “Priority Projects” for each pillar, designed to generate significant, measurable outcomes within 15 months.
Northern is launching two national searches at the end of the summer. The search for a lead diversity officer will start first, and the search for a permanent provost will get underway just a bit later.