NMC Weekly Update - February 3rd
News from the President's Office
Here are the highlighted issues for this week:
Good News for NMC Students
President Tony DeLeon Guerrero recently announced, “After many months of hard work, revamping our own internal systems, and negotiating with U.S. Department of Education officials, Northern Marianas College’s administration of federal Pell Grants has returned to normal.” The college was informed last week that it has been returned to “advance status” for the Pell Grant Program. That means that NMC-screened student grant applications will be presumed to be correct before review and that grant funds will be advanced to NMC students on a more timely basis.
The college was initially placed on warning status in 2002 when several factors combined to cause concern among federal financial aid officials: late audits, audit concerns, and deficiencies in the documentation of some student Pell Grant applications. NMC’s demotion in status from “advance” to “reimbursement” greatly slowed grant payment and had a considerable negative effect on the NMC students and the College’s cash flow. All those concerns have now been answered to the satisfaction of federal officials.
“It took a lot of work to accomplish this and I want to thank all those involved in Student Development and Finance, particularly those in Financial Aid and those that assisted them, for helping us get back to normal,” President DeLeon Guerrero said. He added that, “I certainly hope we never have to go through this hardship process again.”
President Tony DeLeon Guerrero recently announced, “After many months of hard work, revamping our own internal systems, and negotiating with U.S. Department of Education officials, Northern Marianas College’s administration of federal Pell Grants has returned to normal.” The college was informed last week that it has been returned to “advance status” for the Pell Grant Program. That means that NMC-screened student grant applications will be presumed to be correct before review and that grant funds will be advanced to NMC students on a more timely basis.
The college was initially placed on warning status in 2002 when several factors combined to cause concern among federal financial aid officials: late audits, audit concerns, and deficiencies in the documentation of some student Pell Grant applications. NMC’s demotion in status from “advance” to “reimbursement” greatly slowed grant payment and had a considerable negative effect on the NMC students and the College’s cash flow. All those concerns have now been answered to the satisfaction of federal officials.
“It took a lot of work to accomplish this and I want to thank all those involved in Student Development and Finance, particularly those in Financial Aid and those that assisted them, for helping us get back to normal,” President DeLeon Guerrero said. He added that, “I certainly hope we never have to go through this hardship process again.”
NMC Starts Work on Rehabilitative Services Degree Grant
Northern Marianas College is hosting three rehabilitation specialists from February 2-6 in order to help prepare for offering a rehabilitation services associate degree in the upcoming year. While the College must obtain approval for the establishment of the Associate in Arts in Rehabilitative Services from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) prior to offering the degree, the work with these rehab experts will help get the college off to a solid start.
Acting Director of the Rehabilitation Project, Brante Dashiell, will be meeting and working with Dan Hopkins, Project Director of the Rocky Mountain Technical Assistance and Counseling Center in Aurora, Colorado, Dr. Madan Kundu, Project Director at Southern University’s Department of Rehabilitation Services and Disability Studies, and Mr. Leon Thornton, Associate Coordinator of the Rocky Mountain Technical Assistance and Consulting Center in Bismark, Arkansas.
NMC has been awarded a total of $1.1 million over the next five years by the USDE Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to plan and implement an associate level degree program in rehabilitative services and to articulate its courses with baccalaureate degree programs in this field at other U.S. institutions. NMC is the first postsecondary two-year institution in the western Pacific region and nation to receive this rehabilitation capacity building grant, which will greatly enhance its ability to prepare Pacific Islanders, Asians, and other individuals for professional careers in the public vocational rehabilitation and human services areas.
To obtain community input and support, the College is seeking members from our CNMI community interested in serving as a program advisory council member for the project. For more details about this program, please contact Dean Danny Wyatt, Brante Dashiell, or Raaj Kurapati.
Northern Marianas College is hosting three rehabilitation specialists from February 2-6 in order to help prepare for offering a rehabilitation services associate degree in the upcoming year. While the College must obtain approval for the establishment of the Associate in Arts in Rehabilitative Services from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) prior to offering the degree, the work with these rehab experts will help get the college off to a solid start.
Acting Director of the Rehabilitation Project, Brante Dashiell, will be meeting and working with Dan Hopkins, Project Director of the Rocky Mountain Technical Assistance and Counseling Center in Aurora, Colorado, Dr. Madan Kundu, Project Director at Southern University’s Department of Rehabilitation Services and Disability Studies, and Mr. Leon Thornton, Associate Coordinator of the Rocky Mountain Technical Assistance and Consulting Center in Bismark, Arkansas.
NMC has been awarded a total of $1.1 million over the next five years by the USDE Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to plan and implement an associate level degree program in rehabilitative services and to articulate its courses with baccalaureate degree programs in this field at other U.S. institutions. NMC is the first postsecondary two-year institution in the western Pacific region and nation to receive this rehabilitation capacity building grant, which will greatly enhance its ability to prepare Pacific Islanders, Asians, and other individuals for professional careers in the public vocational rehabilitation and human services areas.
To obtain community input and support, the College is seeking members from our CNMI community interested in serving as a program advisory council member for the project. For more details about this program, please contact Dean Danny Wyatt, Brante Dashiell, or Raaj Kurapati.
PTK Honor Society Receives $1,500 Donation
The Northern Marianas College (NMC) Beta Lambda Psi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society recently received a $1,500 donation from DFS Saipan Ltd. The generous contribution will be placed in PTK’s ongoing scholarship fund, which has been developed by and for the students of NMC. This self-perpetuating scholarship is designed to promote and recognize academic excellence, leadership development, and community service among PTK honor society members.
Founded in 1918, PTK has become the largest and most prestigious honor society recognizing academic excellence in two-year colleges around the world. The organization’s membership has a sincere obligation to continually seek new service opportunities that will enhance the local community and benefit its members in their quest for academic and leadership excellence at NMC and beyond.
For more information, please feel free to call or email the Phi Theta Kappa officers, or contact NMC Saipan PTK advisors Dr. Debra Cabrera, at 234-3690, ext 1231, or Larry Lee at ext. 1811, or NMC Rota advisor Frank Sobolewski at 532-9477.
The Northern Marianas College (NMC) Beta Lambda Psi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society recently received a $1,500 donation from DFS Saipan Ltd. The generous contribution will be placed in PTK’s ongoing scholarship fund, which has been developed by and for the students of NMC. This self-perpetuating scholarship is designed to promote and recognize academic excellence, leadership development, and community service among PTK honor society members.
Founded in 1918, PTK has become the largest and most prestigious honor society recognizing academic excellence in two-year colleges around the world. The organization’s membership has a sincere obligation to continually seek new service opportunities that will enhance the local community and benefit its members in their quest for academic and leadership excellence at NMC and beyond.
For more information, please feel free to call or email the Phi Theta Kappa officers, or contact NMC Saipan PTK advisors Dr. Debra Cabrera, at 234-3690, ext 1231, or Larry Lee at ext. 1811, or NMC Rota advisor Frank Sobolewski at 532-9477.
Counseling Programs and Services Holds Open House
Our NMC Counseling Programs and Services started off the 2006 school year with a bang! On February 2, students, faculty and staff were all invited to an "Open House," where everyone had a chance to mingle, enjoy each other’s company, and share ideas on how we can make NMC a more “student-focused” learning institution. Everyone enjoyed delicious homemade goodies. Information about our Counseling Programs and Services was also shared with all who attended.
Our NMC Counseling Programs and Services started off the 2006 school year with a bang! On February 2, students, faculty and staff were all invited to an "Open House," where everyone had a chance to mingle, enjoy each other’s company, and share ideas on how we can make NMC a more “student-focused” learning institution. Everyone enjoyed delicious homemade goodies. Information about our Counseling Programs and Services was also shared with all who attended.
NMC Charter Day Theme Contest
This year marks NMC’s 25th anniversary. The Charter Day Planning Committee announces its Charter Day Theme Contest and would like everyone’s participation in determining the theme for Charter Day this year. The individual whose theme gets selected will be given a $100 cash prize. Please submit your theme(s) to Edwin Propst or Raaj Kurapati via email no later than Wednesday, February 8, 2006.
Governor’s Cabinet Training Provided by COMPASS
CDI and the SBDC coordinated a half-day training session for the Governor’s new cabinet members in the Governor’s Conference Room on Wednesday, January 25th. There were 26 participants from the new administration who received training from CNMI Public Auditor, Michael Sablan, on the topic of “Ethics and Accountability” and from the Director of the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Business Center Program, Dr. Failautusi Avegalio, on the topic of “Effective Change and Transition Management.” NMC’s President Guerrero gave the opening remarks and Eric Plinske, Acting Dean of COMPASS, reminded the participants about NMC’s commitment and capabilities to provide further training for cabinet members, as well as staff at their respective agencies. Both presentations were well received based on the results of the workshop evaluations filled out by the participants.
SBDC Business Student Internship
The SBDC, through a sub-recipient grant from the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP), initiated an internship opportunity for NMC business student, Teresa Borja. Teresa is currently receiving training from the SBDC’s office manager, Robert Suzuki, on how to set up and utilize Quickbooks accounting software. Robert and Teresa will then work with local small businesses on installation, setup, and training on how to use the software to better manage their finances. The SBDC is investigating the possibility of using some of the remaining funds to hire up to two more interns to assist with the technical aspects of conducting the UH Neighbor Island MBA program via live video teleconferencing on the Polycom system.
posted by The President's Office at 2:30 PM
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