Northern Michigan University opened a new pathway on Wednesday, Sept. 9, for working adults and returning students who didn't follow a traditional college path.

The university's Evergreen initiative, three years in development, began a two-day launch event at The Northern Center in Marquette. The program lets non-traditional students convert non-credit classes and prior learning experiences into credit-bearing courses that count toward a degree, according to NMU's Northern Today news site.

Steven VandenAvond, associate provost for Extended Learning and Community Engagement, said the initiative grew from a recognition that the standard four-year path leaves too many people out.

"We shouldn't exclude people just because they couldn't come full-time on campus right after graduating high school," VandenAvond said. "This model acknowledges that you don't have to come immediately upon high school graduation, and you don't have to come full time."

Evergreen is built around what NMU calls the 60-year curriculum, a framework that treats education as a continuum rather than a one-time experience. The program serves transfer students, working professionals and returning students, offering help for both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students.

A key feature is the ability to bundle non-credit classes and workplace experiences into a learning portfolio. Students can then apply that portfolio toward credit-bearing courses. VandenAvond said the system streamlines lifelong learning models NMU has offered for years.

The program took three years to develop.

NMU released its fall 2026 enrollment report on Tuesday, Sept. 8, showing total headcount at 6,961. "Enrollment is going to be a significant challenge in the years ahead," NMU President Chris Olsen said in that report.

Olsen pointed to a shrinking pool of traditional-age high school graduates, a trend expected to last into the 2040s. He also cited free community college programs and increased scholarship offers from Big Ten schools in Michigan as factors drawing students away.

VandenAvond acknowledged that adopting the Evergreen mindset will require a campus-wide effort. He described the initiative as central to NMU's mission as a public regional comprehensive university.

The launch event continues Thursday, Sept. 10, in Peninsula II at The Northern Center. A full schedule is available at evergreen.nmu.edu.