Board Policy C-104.00
Ends Policy

Institutional Effectiveness Criteria

It shall be the policy of Northwestern Michigan College to establish ends policies which state the overall institutional goals toward which the activities of administration, faculty, and staff are to be directed. The ends policies of Northwestern Michigan College are as follows.

1. Learning
   1. Scholarship
      NMC shall promote the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that all students need to function effectively in a changing world through outstanding academic programs recognized for their regional and national level competencies. NMC is committed to helping students acquire the ability to communicate effectively, to think critically, and to be aware of diversity in our world. The scholarship criterion measures the effectiveness of how well NMC prepares students for success in the workplace related to their chosen field and the extent to which NMC provides credible transfer and articulation programs for those students who choose to continue their education at other colleges and universities. Furthermore, in support of our open access philosophy, NMC encourages the academic success of under-prepared college students in their pursuit of basic educational skills and abilities.
   2. Enrichment
      NMC shall provide lifelong learning opportunities to regional residents by offering quality educational opportunities for all ages. Programs are designed to be flexible, convenient, and responsive to the needs of the community. Moreover, NMC is committed to enriching and broadening the knowledge base and cultural life of the community. It does so by offering a wide range of programs and curricula that emphasize continuing education, skill enhancement, professional development, and cultural and personal enrichment.  The enrichment criteria measures how effectively NMC performs in responding to the community's learning needs in those areas.
   3. Workforce
      NMC shall be a significant contributor to regional economic development. The College supports economic development by providing programs responsive to key economic drivers and in support of business and partnership needs. NMC is committed to working collaboratively with community agencies, assessing the economic climate, and providing excellent and reputable training and services. The workforce criterion assesses how well NMC serves in this capacity.
2. Organization
   1. Partnership
      NMC shall develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the communities it serves to create a learning-centered College that meets the needs of its students and stakeholders. To this end, NMC effectively communicates with its communities. It successfully raises resources to support strategic initiatives. NMC develops meaningful relationships with partners in seeking out potential areas for improvement. The partnership criteria assesses the extent to which NMC effectively builds relationships with educational institutions, businesses, service organizations, external agencies, alumni and the general community to fulfill its mission.
   2. Operations
      NMC shall conduct College operations in a manner reflecting the highest standards of business and professional ethics, legal compliance, and accountability to the public trust. College leaders guide the institution in establishing and accomplishing institutional directions and action plans and in seeking opportunities to build and sustain an effective learning environment. NMC promotes a goals and outcomes related culture by collecting and using data to responsibly manage its operations and to continuously improve.
   3. Champion
      NMC shall be committed to supporting (championing) students in a learning-centered environment. NMC shall seek to understand student and stakeholder needs and expectations through a variety of methods. NMC shall provide quality academic and support services with the goal of meeting students’ needs in an environment of continuous improvement. The champion criterion shall evaluate how well NMC understands its students’ and stakeholders’ needs as well as how well it supports those needs.
   4. Culture
      NMC shall foster a work environment that reflects the College's values and leads to an effective work culture. NMC shall commit to the development of the talents and continuous learning of all its faculty, staff, and administrators. NMC manages its employees through effective personnel processes.

If any provision(s) of this policy or set of bylaws conflicts with laws applicable to Northwestern Michigan College, including the Community College Act of 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Open Meetings Act, as each may be amended from time to time, such laws shall control and supersede such provision(s).