MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University is one of three state institutions to receive grant funding to pursue accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Northern offers a fully online early childhood education master’s degree program through NMU Global Campus.

“This will put NMU in rare company as one of three nationally accredited NAEYC programs at the master’s level,” said Joe Lubig, associate dean of NMU’s School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, in a news release. “Our graduate program continues to receive positive feedback from candidates as well as employers alike.”

The funding opportunity is made possible through a partnership between the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children and the Michigan Office of Great Start.

Lubig praised the effort of Early Childhood Program leader Cindy Basse and retired colleague Nancy Carter for submitting the successful grant application.

“Obtaining this specialized early childhood accreditation is important to our current and future students,” Basse said. “The in-depth accreditation self-study process strengthens our program’s effectiveness in preparing highly qualified early childhood educators and leaders, while building on the state standards.”

The $8,744 stipend will be paid on behalf of the three selected institutions during the 2021-22 fiscal year. Basse said NMU is identifying an early childhood accreditation team, including community stakeholders, that will strengthen the self-study process.

It is also reviewing all accreditation standards and working on the initial application, which will be submitted this summer.

For more information on NMU’s program, visit: https://nmu.edu/online/earlychildhood.