Northern Michigan University president Brock Tessman speaks at the university forum on Monday at the Northern Center banquet hall. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University held its biannual university forum on Monday at the Northern Center banquet hall. University President Brock Tessman led the meeting, and topics of discussion included the recent White House executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as outlook on admissions and housing, plans for maintaining Northern’s competitive recruitment environment, plans for summer campus construction, budget planning and state funding.

Tessman announced that Northern had conducted an internal audit and analysis of all DEI programs at the university, and said that the findings of that audit were that “NMU has been, is and will continue to be in compliance with the executive orders coming from Washington.”

The​​re will be no changes in academic programs or courses at Northern as a result of the executive order, nor will there be any changes to the admissions process, university policies, university financial aid, university housing / residential life, or student organizations. The Center for Native American Studies, which has been officially affiliated with the University since 1996, will be staying and the university mission and vision statements will stay as is.

“Inclusion will stay as one of our core values,” said Tessman. “NMU’s mission and vision has not changed.”

Many of the changes being made have to do with specific language, such as a proposal to change the name of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Northern to the “Office of Opportunity, Empowerment, and People.” Other proposed name changes include changing the name of Northern’s Diversity Common Reader program to the “Common Reader,” and the Diversity Edge aspect of Nothern’s Superior Edge student development program changing to the “Diverse Perspectives and Experiences Edge.” Some of the language relating to several donor-funded scholarships may also be changing.

One specific change has to do with NMU’s strategic plan. Outcome 1.2 of the strategic plan looked to achieve 10% of the NMU student body identifying as Native American, and that target quota has been removed. Additionally, the NMU Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Hub as outlined in the strategic plan has been proposed to be renamed to the NMU Opportunities Dashboard.

Finally, Tessman announced that a full audit was made of the University website, which found 850 hits relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. A team has been looking over the website to determine what needs to be changed to comply with executive orders and what can remain the same.

In regards to admission and housing, Tessman announced that Northern will once again be over its housing capacity for the 2025-26 school year.

“I don’t take that challenge lightly, but it’s a good problem to have,” said Tessman.

One way that Northern has been addressing its housing shortage is by assigning three students to certain dorm rooms instead of the usual two.

New housing is in the works, with bids being put out for construction of 400 new beds in a proposed university housing development at the corner of Presque Isle Avenue and Fair Avenue. Tessman anticipated that housing to be ready for the Fall 2027 semester.

Other university construction projects include work on the science complex, which will be done in May, and Harden Hall, which will re-open for the winter 2026 semester. The new college of business building is still pending state approval, but might begin construction in September.

“The outcome will be well worth this period of disruption,” said Tessman.