Northern Michigan University Registrar receives letter of praise from Michigan governor

Kim Rotundo, registrar at Northern Michigan University, recently received a personal letter from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, commending Rotundo for her work to incentivize community college graduates to pursue a four-year degree. Rotundo's work as part of the statewide Transfer Steering Committee focused on establishing new transfer rules that increased the amount of credits a student can transfer. This move particularly appeals to students transferring with a degree from a two-year institution. Whitmer noted Rotundo's contribution to a number of initiatives and expressed gratitude for the time volunteered in service to all higher education students in Michigan.

Rotundo led the way to policy changes at NMU which, beginning in 2019, allowed incoming students to transfer up to 90 credits from regionally accredited community colleges. This was a substantial change from the previous policy that only allowed the transfer of 64 credits. Because of the added incentive the change means for transfer students, it is aligned with a statewide initiative to encourage more Michiganders to obtain higher degrees of education. Rotundo has been recognized in the past for her contributions to a 2017 program which enabled students with an associate of applied science degree to earn a bachelor degree online. For that project she earned a 2018 Innovation in Transfer Award.

In a release from Northern Michigan University, details of Governor Whitmer's letter are shared. In it, Whitmer praises Rotundo saying, "Kim and I have shared an important goal: increasing the number of Michigan residents who have a post-secondary credential. We need to develop paths for workers and students looking for new opportunities and raise the percentage of adults with a post-secondary education 60%. An important part of this plan is making it easier for students to transfer credits among Michigan's institutions of higher learning, and Kim Rotundo has been a leader in that effort across the state." Whitner commended both the work Rotundo has done at NMU, along with the leadership she has shown at the state level, volunteering her time on various committees and initiatives including the Michigan Transfer Agreement, the Michigan Transfer Network, and the MiTransfer Pathways initiative. Whitmer noted in the letter, "Each of these is a substantial commitment of time, but Kim has always been willing to volunteer for the important work that results in student success."

Rotundo expressed her gratitude for Whitmer's words, "I was surprised, honored, and humbled by the governor's recognition of my work to improve the transfer process for all students across the state, and specifically for those students transferring to NMU."