Staff Policy D-505.06
Institutional Effectiveness Criterion: Operations

Harbor Use

Northwestern Michigan College’s property, buildings, parking lots and grounds are designed and reserved for supporting the purposes of the institution.  Consistent with Board of Trustees policy, Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) also makes its physical facilities available to responsible groups and organizations on a rental basis, after meeting the College needs.  However, non-College use of NMC’s undeveloped properties is prohibited.

The NMC harbor is a unique property.  Certain portions of the harbor are a federal port of entry for foreign visitors.  The harbor, as a working waterfront, possesses unique hazards or dangers.

The NMC harbor is a facility of the college, and its primary use is for the educational benefit of the students.  The harbor is available to other organizations through the approval of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy Superintendent, the Director of the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute and the execution of a lease agreement.

Scheduling priority:

1. NMC educational uses.
2. No event may conflict with NMC scheduled events.
3. Organizations that support the college educational purposes, including but not limited to providing berths for cadets, internships for culinary students, or internships on research vessels.
4. Non-profit or public safety organizations usage for three weeks or less.  Such usage shall not be exclusive.

Harbor use guidelines:

1. Maximum lead time to schedule is one semester to avoid interference with academic scheduling.
2. The College reserves the right to require a Certificate of Liability from the renting organization which includes pollution clean-up provisions or coverage for any waterfront or maritime activity.
3. Non-College organizations will complete the contractual lease agreement.  Review of the lease agreement by VP of Finance and Administration is required.
4. Outside use cannot interfere with any educational activities.
5. NMC assumes no liability for equipment or boats.
6. Dock rental is not available to for-profit entities.
7. Owners of vessels within harbor are responsible for all pollution response costs incurred due to any discharges from the owner’s vessel.
8. College facilities or grounds cannot be used for overnight camping.
9. The user must provide to NMC a description of the use of the harbor which includes a description of the individuals and procedures to be utilized to restrict access to the harbor.

Responsibility of the user:

1. All users of College facilities are subject to the policies and procedures of the College.  In addition, all federal, state, county and local municipality laws and ordinances are applicable to the College and the user.
2. NMC properties are tobacco free (see policy D-505.02)
3. Alcohol possession or use is prohibited on all College property except as authorized by NMC Policy D-505.04

The Vice President for Finance and Administration, in conjunction with the appropriate faculty and staff, is responsible for the development and publication of procedures that may be necessary to administer this policy effectively.

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).