Northern Michigan University says its Evergreen Initiative is designed to help Upper Peninsula residents find education options throughout their working lives.

The Marquette university's Evergreen Initiative, which launched with a two-day campus event Sept. 9-10, offers both degree and nondegree options for learners at any stage of their careers. The framework covers credit-bearing courses, noncredit continuing education and certificate programs, according to Steve VandenAvond, NMU's associate provost for extended learning.

"We haven't seen a change in technology and the workforce this marked since probably the Industrial Revolution, and at the forefront of the technology changes right now is AI and AI is going to change the way people live and work substantially," VandenAvond told WLUC.

The program is built on what NMU calls the "60-year curriculum." The concept recognizes that workers will need continued training and education across decades as fields evolve or people change careers, according to VandenAvond.

Who it's for

The target audience is broad. Organizers say Evergreen serves everyone from high schoolers to retirees. Learners can document noncredit learning in a portfolio. Some learning may qualify for academic credit through assessment and approval under NMU’s credit-for-prior-learning process.

Andrea Marsh, NMU's engagement coordinator, said at the September launch that UP residents can use the program to keep pace with changing industries without committing to a full degree. VandenAvond described the approach as a "concierge" for education, saying NMU will help people identify the right program for their goals. If NMU doesn't offer what someone needs, VandenAvond said the university will refer them to other providers.

The Evergreen website lists several learner profiles the program serves: people who started at NMU but left before finishing a degree, students transferring credits from multiple institutions and workers seeking online options that don't require relocating.

Digital resume platform

In a related effort, NMU introduced a digital portfolio tool called MySkills@NMU this year. The platform, run through a contract with Smart Resume, houses work history, school credits, certifications, digital badges and skills in one place, according to NMU's news office.

Brad Hamel, NMU's Global Campus executive director, called the tool an "NMU-branded backpack" for credentials. The platform also lets employers click on a listed credential and verify that a job seeker actually earned it, according to NMU's news office.

In 2024, NMU was named to the first cohort of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Learning and Employment Record Accelerator, according to the university. That national initiative is funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Walmart Foundation.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised NMU's work on the digital records in a letter to university staff, according to NMU's news office.

Residents interested in the program can visit evergreen.nmu.edu and request information about specific programs, costs and financial aid eligibility.