nEXt Endorsement

Welcome to the central hub for all information about nEXt , Northwestern Michigan College's (NMC) innovative Experience Transcript Endorsement. nEXt is designed to recognize and reward your participation in a wide range of curricular and extracurricular experiential learning activities, helping you develop essential skills for work and life.

Why is nEXt Important?

The nEXt Endorsement is valuable because it helps you develop essential personal and professional skills often not fully addressed in traditional academic settings, such as resilience, empathy, initiative, creative problem-solving, and collaboration. It provides a way to showcase your experiences beyond academic transcripts, giving you a competitive edge in whatever comes nEXt at school or in the job market. Participating in the nEXt program can also unlock exclusive resources and personal growth opportunities.

The nEXt Endorsement also focuses on connecting you to all that NMC has to offer as well as some customized learning and mentorship. With it, you will be able to fully understand what you’ve gained from your learning and best articulate that to whomever you meet in work and life.

Worried about your nEXt steps?
Wondering how to get full advantage of all that the college has to offer?
Want to get to know others who are working to distinguish themselves, too?
Concerned that you need more to get ready for work (from resume to interview to networking)?
Looking for something more from your educational experience?
Want to work on 21st Century Skills, also known as, Soft Skills?

We have an opportunity for YOU! Find YOU here at NMC!

Benefits of Earning nEXt:

Enhanced Skills: You'll develop valuable soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving, highly sought after by employers.

Stand Out from the Crowd: The nEXt Endorsement differentiates you from other graduates, highlighting your commitment to whole person development.

Increased Opportunities: nEXt may unlock exclusive resources or other opportunities designed for nEXt participants.
Personal Growth: You'll have the chance to explore your interests, discover new passions, and grow as a well-rounded individual.

Steps to Earning Your nEXt Endorsement:

Apply: Submit the nEXt Endorsement Interest Form
- nEXt is available to all NMC students!
- nEXt Endorsement Interest Form
Meet Your Navigator: Connect with your nEXt Navigator to create a personalized plan and a shared Google folder (your nEXt Portfolio ) to document your activities. There are regular nEXt drop in dates every week.
Participate in Activities: Engage in activities across the Master, Discover, and Explore categories, and find your own, reflecting on a minimum of 100 points of those activities.
Document Your Journey: Use the nEXt reflection tools to document your activities as well as a LinkedIn profile.
Create nEXt Capstone and Resume: Develop your Capstone Reflection and nEXt Resume with guidance from your navigator.
Portfolio Review and Transcript Request: Once complete, the ELI will request the nEXt endorsement be added to your NMC Transcript.

nEXt Point Requirements:

Point System: 100-point requirement across three categories:

Master (Minimum 50 Points)
- Focus: creating, leading and innovating in real-world context and contributing and leaving a long-term impact.
Discover (Minimum 30 Points)
- Focus: diving deeply into more complex activities and applying knowledge, utilizing collaboration and critical thinking, and developing the whole person.
Explore (Minimum 20 Points)
- Focus: hands-on activities that spark curiosity and exploring concepts and ideas on campus and in our community.
Durable Skills and Character Traits (focus of 2-3 and learning on all 9)
- Focus: hands-on activities that spark curiosity and exploring concepts and ideas on campus and in our community.
Capstone Reflection
- Focus: being able to communicate learning through experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About the nEXt Endorsement

Who can apply for nEXt?

Any NMC student can sign up for the nEXt Endorsement . Simply complete the short application and get connected. We can also review the kinds of activities you’ve already engaged in while here at NMC to see what may qualify.

Does nEXt show up on my Transcript?

YES, IT DOES! And that is a main benefit! The nEXt Endorsement will not only help you with the skills that can give you an edge in important situations like interviews and networking, but it also differentiates you from others who hold similar credentials and degrees—an additional valuable credential.

What are the requirements for nEXt?

The student tracking form shows a variety of activities a student can do to gain points towards the nEXt Endorsement. Students may use prior activities towards their points with approval of the nEXt Navigator .