Northern Michigan University students asked questions regarding the wearing of masks, building and infrastructure projects, and other topics during an All-Student Forum held via Zoom on Tuesday. The forum involved students as well as members of the NMU Board of Trustees and senior administration. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University students asked questions regarding the wearing of masks, building and infrastructure projects, and other topics during an All-Student Forum held via Zoom on Tuesday.

The forum involved students as well as members of the NMU Board of Trustees and senior administration.

“One of the top priorities, I think, of this board as we started out this year was that we believe that as a board, we need to improve our communications with key stakeholders — and obviously, students are one of our most key stakeholders that we work with,” NMU Board of Trustees Chair Steve Young said.

The forum, he noted, was part of the effort to improve that communications link. He also pointed out that the plan is for such forums to happen regularly.

Young said NMU Trustee Jason Morgan has been appointed as a “point person to interface with students.”

Bethany Beavers and Tom Kettler, president and vice president, respectively, of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, took part in the forum.

“I’m super excited to be able to participate in this because it’s a cool opportunity to branch ‘admin’ and students and the board and just kind of all these aspects of campus, so hopefully students have this opportunity to have further questions and maybe come away with a greater sense of connectedness with campus,” Beavers said.

Young addressed NMU’s mask-wear protocol to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, NMU announced that KN95, KF94 or N95 masks continue to be required in all classrooms and labs, but no longer are required in other indoor areas on NMU’s campus.

Masks are strongly recommended, though, for individuals with compromised immune systems or who interact with family members with compromised immune systems, or are at high risk for COVID-19.

Interim President Kerri Schuiling said NMU will continue to distribute the higher-level masks, and stressed that booster shots are available at the Vielmetti Health Center.

“The best thing anybody can do is get vaccinated and get a booster,” Schuiling said.

Young acknowledged that students, faculty and staff have cooperated in dealing with the pandemic from its beginnings in March 2020 to now.

However, he urged caution to be exercised.

“We’re at a point now where we all want to believe in our heart of hearts that this is behind us, and I think we’re unfortunately reminded, sometimes daily, that that’s not the case,” Young said. “We’re doing much better than we were, but now we’re hearing there’s some outbreaks in China. There’s two mutations that are surfacing.”

He indicated that NMU mask requirements still will stay the same, at least in the short term.

“If that changes, you’re going to be the first to know, but right now, I think, we’re in that kind of a gray area where we’re not quite sure,” Young said.

Some questions related to disinvestment by NMU in several Russian fossil fuel companies in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Trustee Gregory Seppanen said the board has been looking into the issue, as has the state of Michigan.

“If anybody’s been following the disinvestment process, they know it takes time to be able to do that,” Seppanen said.

Gavin Leach, vice president of finance and administration, said “investment looks” will need to be taken and what risks are posed to NMU for the board to make a sound decision.

“It’s a process that will definitely be looked at,” Leach said.

Another topic of discussion was the former Marquette General Hospital property.

The Northern Michigan University Foundation recently issued an open request for qualifications for prospective developers interested in revitalizing the former hospitalnext to the NMU campus.

NMU said the action was taken following a period of due diligence to assess the feasibility of enabling a significant mixed-use development to proceed.

At the student forum, Brad Canale, CEO of the NMU Foundation, said most of the available information related to the project is in the public domain.

“We’re in the final stages of this, and it’s a win-win-win for the university, the community and the hospital,” said Canale, who expects the final steps will be taken by the end of May.

Canale pointed out that facilities at the former hospital property are “functionally obsolete.”

“It would cost a lot more to transition those facilities to usable space rather than take the path we’re taking to facilitate the demolition and then transfer to a master developer,” he said. “At the end of the day, the other element is that the protection of that space next to the university and the ultimate redevelopment is the driving point, and it’s a value to the university in having additional housing as well as the value to the community.”

Another question dealt with the possibility that the departments of history, political science and other humanities will be housed with the business school — with the view of many students as underscoring these departments.

Leach said NMU officials are working to decide the most appropriate environments for departments. Young also acknowledged more input will be considered before decisions are made.

Regarding a possible child care program for students and community residents, Young said the board is having “active discussions” on addressing the situation.

“We think between affordable and accessible child care, and affordable, accessible housing, these are a couple of the biggest challenges we face right now when you look outside the box and you get away from programming and academics and some other things,” he said. “It’s a very high priority.”

Leach said one option is in-home child care services. Some individuals need to drop off a child for several hours’ care while others need all-day service.

“There’s a variety of needs, so I think it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to this problem, so we’re trying to work with a couple of models to try to build something that will work for faculty, staff and students on campus,” Leach said.