To: Members of the North Central Michigan College Community

From: David Roland Finley, President, North Central Michigan College

North Central is continually monitoring and evaluating college operations based on the latest information from local, state and national health experts and officials regarding mitigating the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19).  As such, we are announcing the following updates:

Campus closure through April 30

On April 9, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended and expanded the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, which mandates a shelter-in-place through April 30 to slow the spread of Covid-19.  North Central Michigan College’s Petoskey campus and Gaylord and Cheboygan sites will remain closed through April 30, consistent with the executive order.  Pending further mandates from Gov. Whitmer, the college will reopen to employees on Friday, May 1; however, all campus activities and events remain canceled through May 8.

Virtual Commencement ceremony planned

On March 19, we announced that our 2020 Commencement ceremony was postponed.  This was a difficult decision, but the well-being of our campus community is our highest priority.  Given that such uncertainty exists around the safety of large gatherings, both in the near term and several months from now, we have decided to celebrate our 2020 graduates with a virtual ceremony, scheduled to “go live” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8.  We will communicate directly with our eligible graduates to ensure that this virtual commencement is a meaningful celebration of their notable accomplishments.  Additional information will be available soon.

Summer courses to be delivered via remote instructional methods

Finally, all courses scheduled for Summer 2020 will be delivered via remote instructional methods.  We will communicate directly with these students to ensure a smooth transition to online courses, and we remain committed to delivering an exceptional educational experience while ensuring the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

To streamline communications, the North Central website remains the vehicle for all Coronavirus (Covid-19) updates.  The college will keep the public informed as this issue evolves, working to respond in ways that ensure the health, safety and well-being of our campus community.

Thank you for your adaptability and understanding as we continue to navigate this unprecedented situation together.