NMC Weekly Update - March 31st

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

Hafa Adai, Tirowami and Greetings Everyone!

Invitation to NMC’s 2006 Charter Day Festivities

This year, 2006, is a very special time for our college community because it is NMC’s 25th birthday! Our hard working Charter Day Planning Committee members, through the leadership and guidance of their Co-Chairs, Mr. Edwin Propst and Mr. Raaj Kurapati, are strongly committed in making our 2006 Charter Day Festivities one of the biggest and best-ever in the history of Northern Marianas College.

Our annual Charter Day celebration is designed to commemorate the founding of Northern Marianas College. This annual “symbolic occasion” in conjunction with the proclamation of April 2006 as “National Community College Month” in the U.S., is all part of NMC’s commitment to the island communities on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. NMC’s Charter Day celebration provides the opportunity for the entire college community to demonstrate our “institutional pride” and the institutional celebration is our college gift to the general public here in the Commonwealth.

We look forward to a fun-filled and exciting Charter Day festivities scheduled for March 31st and April 1st from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on both days at our NMC Southfield area.

All our NMC students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend NMC’s 2006 Charter Day Festivities and we encourage you to also invite your friends and relatives so we can make this community college event a truly memorable and enjoyable celebration. Biba NMC – I Kolehon Norte Marianas!

Summary of our 25th Anniversary Commemoration Event:

March 23rd marked the commemoration and celebration of NMC's Silver Anniversary which was held at the Fiesta Spa & Resort in Garapan. The main purpose of this event was threefold; 1) to commemorate the historical signing of the Executive Order which established our institution, by the first governor of the Commonwealth, Dr. Carlos S. Camacho, on the 12th March, 1981 2) the signing by the current governor, Benigno R.Fitial, of a proclamation recognizing NMC’s Silver Anniversary 3) to offer a platform for a variety of speakers who were able to present not only an historical overview of the record of the College but also reiterate the accomplishments, goals, concerns and challenges that the College has faced and weathered in the past as well as current issues confronting NMC.

The speakers included Jerry Tan, President of our NMC Foundation, Kim King-Hinds, Chairperson, NMC Board of Regents, Tony Guerrero, NMC President, Agnes McPhetres, President Emerita, and Rose Jones, President of our ASNMC.

The college community was represented through numerous faculty & staff who manned booths which contained program information relevant to their respective Departments and Divisions.
From the feedback the College has received from numerous government agencies and the general public it was considered both a successful event and a highly informative occasion commemorating NMC's Silver Anniversary.

The Committee members who chaired this memorable occasion, Herbert Del Rosario, Greg Sablan and Martin Gerbens wish to express their sincerest appreciation to all of the organizations, divisions, departments and individuals who contributed in making this occasion a huge success. Si Yu’us ma’ase!!!

NMC to Host “Marianas-Japan Educational Cultural Exchange Night

With the intention of promoting greater understanding and friendship between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the country of Japan, Northern Marianas College will be hosting a “Marianas-Japan Cultural Exchange Night.” This upcoming cultural exchange event is scheduled to be on Friday, May 12, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Beach area next to the Sabalu Market grounds. Currently, the Seisa Group (a private school system from K-16) is planning to bring about 350 students and 50 staff members, NMC will have about 200 students, staff members and local dignitaries, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will bring a small group of about 20 students and teachers from the Oshima Kaiyo-Kokusai Senior High School.

The NMC Planning Team is being facilitated by Dean Jeanette Villagomez, Debbie Diaz and Rodney Cabrera. All interested students, faculty, staff and administrators should contact any of the three individuals above to sign up and participate in this upcoming cultural exchange program.

Recent Board of Regents Decisions

On Wednesday, March 22, 2006, our NMC Board of Regents conducted official business at its Regular meeting. The Board had a full agenda and they were happy to finally have a quorum after a five-month break. The 3 new members were appointed by Governor Fitial and confirmed by the CNMI Senate on March 17, 2006. The new additions to Board are Dr. Rita H. Inos, Mrs. Linsa F. Lizama and Mr. Charles V. Cepeda. The Board took action on the following items:

Tuition and Fees Proposal
The Board approved an increase in tuition and fees for the college. In addition, residency requirements were defined and clarified. (Policy 8001.1) Tuition was increased for resident students by $30 (from $65 to $95 per credit) and $60 for non-resident students (from $130 to $190 per credit). Tuition increase will commence this coming Fall 2006. Course fees for School of Education and Nursing Programs deemed high maintenance courses were increased to a flat fee of $300 per course. These new course fees increases will begin this Summer 2006. You may request a copy of the approved tuition and fee increase from Mr. Mark Mendiola or Ms. Doris Aldan-Atalig.

Policy 8001.1 was also amended to reflect a two-student classification, Resident and Non-Resident. Previous policy had a third classification, International student. Furthermore, an international student must be enrolled full-time continuously for 3 years to be considered a Resident student.

New Organizational Structure for NMC
After much discussion and input from the college community about the re-organization of the college, the Board adopted the final proposal for approval. The Board approved unanimously the proposed reorganization of the college. Implementation of the new Organizational Structure will be effective immediately. You may request a copy of the approved Organizational Structure from Mr. Mark Mendiola or your unit Dean.

Bank of Guam Loan Approval
The Board approved for the President to accept a short-term loan of $250,000 from the Bank of Guam. The loan will be used for the immediate repairs and some construction of the Saipan NMC campus facilities.

New Bank of Guam Savings Account
The Board also approved the opening of a new Bank of Guam Savings Account. This account will be an interest bearing account. The official signatories for the account will be the President and Finance Director.

Approval of BOR Policy 1026
After receiving college-wide input BOR Policy 1026 was sent to the Board for review and approval. The Board unanimously voted to adopt the changes as proposed by the College Council.

Proposed Austerity Measures Approved
After thoughtful consideration and consultative discussions among the college community, the Board approved unanimously the Austerity Measures proposal from PBEC and college administrators. The proposal called for a freeze in the hiring of certain vacant positions throughout the college as well as budget reduction in operations budget. Furthermore, the president was authorized to conduct internal reviews of college programs for further budget reductions. The Board approved unanimously the proposed Austerity Measures submitted by the President. For more details on the budget reduction, please contact Raaj Kurapati.

In addition to the above actions, the Board received a letter from President DeLeon Guerrero rescinding his outstanding request for a contract amendment. The President cited the recent budget cuts for FY 2006 and the anticipated financial hardships for rescinding his request. President DeLeon Guerrero was commended by the Board for his leadership and strong commitment to the Northern Marianas College.

ANA Grant Proposal Resolution
The Board reviewed the ANA Grant Proposal submitted by Ms. MaryAnne Campo, and a Resolution was unanimously adopted supporting NMC’s “Project Connect: The Inter-Network of Distance Learning.” For detail information on this grant application, please contact MaryAnne Campo.

NMC’s CDI Partners with MVA

Northern Marianas College collaborated with the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) to provide a CNMI Seminar for twenty-two Japanese Boy Scouts and their two Scout Masters. The Shizouka Boy Scouts of Fuji - Japan, is a highly recognized and prestigious association that is well known for their great character development, leadership skills, community service, and are highly supported by the Government of Japan. In order to become a Shizouka Scout, the major requirements for the boys to be enrolled are high scholastic achievement and involvement of extracurricular activities. As a part of their extracurricular activities and to further their development, the Japanese Scouts visited the CNMI to learn English, our Cultural Customs and Heritage, and interact with local students and peers of all ages. The Scouts toured the NMC campus, were oriented to all our resources and facilities, and visited all of the Cooperative Research Extension and Education Agriculture/Aquaculture sites as well as the other highly valued labs.

Special thanks goes out to MVA's Frank Tudela, CREES's Ross Manglona, other fellow CREES presenters, Mr. Herbert Del Rosario, Mrs. Joannie Dubrall and her aides, Sensei Yasukata, Maverick Itibus and the NMC Students, all who assisted with the visit, and most importantly, the CDI and UCEDD staff: Velma Iglecias, Dawn Chrystal Revilla, Laureen Manibusan, Josephine Fejeran, Richard Puhalla, Frank Hernane, and the entire NMC community. Thank you all for your support and cooperation!


NMC-CREES Involvement at the Rota Annual Agriculture Fair

The NMC Rota – Cooperative Research Extension/Education Services (NMC-CREES) staff were judges at the livestock and crops division competition at the Rota Annual Agriculture Fair. The event was held on Friday, March 17, 2006 at the Sinapalo Church ground area.

Dr. Joaquin Tenorio, our Entomologist from NMC Saipan, Dr. Allan Sabaldica our livestock scientist from NMC Tinian, and Mr. Alejandro Badilles, our Integrated Pest Management CNMI Coordinator station at NMC Rota, were on hand to judge the event.

The NMC CREES showcased an array of various programs, exhibits, and displays relative to their programs and included the following:

• Crop Production and Improvement Program
• Integrated Pest Management Program
• Insect Collections
• Poultry and Broiler Productions
• Aqua Culture – Talapia Production
• Grafted Lemon Displays
• And several varieties of potted plants

Also, Ms. Laurie Talbo from United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency stationed in Guam was in attendance to extend loan assistance to farmers and to provide youth loan program information for all 4-H Club eligible members.

NMC-CREES Conducts Workshop for Rota Community

Dr. Allan Sabaldica from the Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research Extension/Education Services Tinian (NMC-CREES Tinian) was on Rota on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 to conduct a workshop entitled “ Small Scale Poultry Production & Alternative Livestock Enterprise; Egg and Meat Production” for the people of Rota.

The workshop brought interested people together from the community to learn the proper way of raising and maintaining poultry production. There were more than twenty participants who attended the workshop. The NMC CREES and the Department of Land and Natural Resources are collaborating to assist individuals interested in poultry production and to lesson the dependency of imported products.

NMC Rota Campus Environmental Awareness Panel Discussion was a Success!

The NMC Rota campus is pleased to inform the college community that as part of the Charter Week event, the Northern Marianas College Rota Student Organization and the NMC Rota Earth Science class held an environmental awareness panel discussion on Wednesday, March 29, 2006. The purpose of the event is to bring people together to learn and raise awareness of the environmental hazards that can affect an individual’s health as well as other local and global environmental issues.

Different local agencies representatives were in attendance to participate as panelists. NMC Rota would like to thank the following government agencies that participated and made the event a very informative, educational and enriching activity for our NMC Rota students, Rota High School students and the community of Rota.

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• Division of Environmental Quality- (Solid Waste Management, Land Fill)
• Bureau of Environmental Health - (Sanitation)
• Department of Land and Natural Resources - (Forestry)
• Coastal Resource Management - (Soil Erosion)
• NMC CRESS Tinian - (Animal Waste Management)
• NMC CREES Rota - (Invasive Species/Scarlet Gourd)

We hope that through this event, it will bring about positive influence to encourage students and all the people in the community to be more proactive around health issues and strengthen community partnership.

Please pass the word: "Keeping the CNMI Clean and Beautiful is our Business."

NMC Tinian Raises $423.75 for American Red Cross

Our NMC Tinian students, faculty, and staff participated in the annual American Red Cross Walk-a-Thon held on Tinian, March 18, 2006. Through pledges sought by NMC Tinian participants, NMC Tinian raised $423.75 for the American Red Cross-Tinian Chapter. Thank you NMC Tinian for all your support and continued efforts to enhance the college’s role in community service!

Have a Super NMC Charter Day Weekend!

NMC Weekly Update - March 23

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE





Hafa Adai, Tirow, and Greetings from Northern Marianas College!

Here are the highlights for the week:

President Antonio V. DeLeon Guerrero’s Remarks at Today’s Event Commemorating NMC’s 25th Anniversary at the Fiesta Resort & Spa, Saipan

Hafa Adai, Tirowami, Yan Buenas Dias to You All!

At the outset, I will like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all of you present today for taking the time from your busy schedule to join our NMC community to commemorate the founding of Northern Marianas College. We are sincerely grateful for your presence this morning and thank you for joining us in this event.

I would like to use NMC’s 25th birthday to communicate to all our institutional stakeholders some historical data and key information that compares NMC at its beginning stages in the early 1980’s with its status today – a “Then versus Now” comparison. Following a brief review of our college growth in major institutional areas, I will provide an overview of NMC’s current programs and services, and share how we are meeting our constitutionally-mandated mission.

In the early decades of the 20th century, Junior Colleges were created from equal parts of the university moving down and the high school moving up. Around the turn of the century, several prominent university presidents proposed that the first two years of undergraduate study, the 100 and 200 level general education courses should be offered by “Junior Colleges.” Through this new educational concept, the “Transfer Education” mission of a Junior College was established. Today, here at Northern Marianas College, we are meeting this community college mission of “Transfer Education” since many of our resident students (about 43%) choose the Liberal Arts Associate Degree as their major field of study.

As we recognize 25 years of educational services to our community, we should remember that the history of Northern Marianas College has not been one of smooth sailing. It took President Emerita Agnes McPhetres many years to “persuade” our elected officials then to provide the facilities and budget to build our college from what was literally a shoestring operation. She and the NMC Board of Regents faced many challenges then, but they were generally met successfully and were usually addressed without controversy.

Since her retirement in 1999, her successors and I have continued to be advocates for our NMC students and the role of higher education in our local community. As educators and “human-change agents,” we all are part of a never-ending quest to provide the best higher education institution for our Commonwealth. Northern Marianas College will always have institutional challenges that must be faced and dealt with in order to better serve our students. We have done so successfully in the past and, with the continued support of our CNMI community leaders, and hard work on our own part, we can continue to make significant progress.

Twenty-five years ago, the college began with a few people coordinating other institutions’ programs out of some classrooms at Marianas High School. Two years later in 1983, NMC had less than 200 students and even in 1985 you could fit the entire institution in a one and a half building of the old Trust Territory School of Nursing, today’s Buildings N, O & P. Only with the opening of the Commonwealth Health Center and associated closure of Dr. Torres Hospital in 1986, and some persuasive and effective lobbying from former NMC Boards of Regents members and President McPhetres did the real growth and development of the college occur.

Let us begin our comparison of NMC in its early days with today:

Northern Marianas College
Then vs. Now
172 students enrolled in the Fall of 1983. In the Fall of 2004, 1,285 students enrolled (647% increase). In 1986, 9 certificates and 27 Associate Degrees were awarded. In 2005, 67 certificates (644% increase) and 119 Associate Degrees (341% increase) were awarded. A total of 186 awards were given (417% increase). In 1984, there were 9 faculty members and 41 total employees. This year, we have 47 faculty members (422% increase) and a total of 176 employees (329% increase).

NMC’s Financial Challenges
As noted earlier, our NMC programs and services have grown significantly as well as our student enrollment. We will continuously strive to meet the growing demands of our students and the increasing needs of our CNMI community. NMC’s need for additional funding will also need to increase accordingly. The most recent budget passed by the CNMI government in FY2003 provided the college with funding of approximately $8 million dollars. Under continuing resolution levels, this was the same amount of funding the college received in FY2004 and FY2005 in spite of continued growth in the programs and services provided by the college. Recognizing the need for additional funding to support these programs, the 13th and 14th CNMI Legislature provided supplemental funding of $438,000 and $518,000 in FY2004 and FY2005, respectively, to the college.

As we are all aware, the CNMI government and our Commonwealth’s economy are going through difficult times with the shutting down of numerous garment factories and the dwindling numbers of visitor arrivals since the pullout of Japan Airlines. As a result of the downturn in the economy, the CNMI government and its agencies are faced with reduced levels of funding. The college was recently advised that its funding would be reduced by approximately 19% or $1.5 million from the funding level it would have received under Continuing Resolution. Considering the supplemental appropriations which were necessary in FY2004 and FY2005, this reduction is actually a $2M cut in the College’s budget. This, needless to say, will have far reaching negative repercussions on the institution, our student programs and services. In spite of these financial challenges, the college’s Board of Regents, Foundation members, faculty and staff are committed to our NMC students and our CNMI community and we will continue to strive to meet their postsecondary educational needs.

NMC’s Accreditation
Northern Marianas College received its initial accreditation in 1985 from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or WASC. That accreditation was reaffirmed in 1990, 1996, and 2001. Also in 2001, NMC received initial accreditation from WASC’s Senior Commission to offer a baccalaureate degree program in elementary education. To date, NMC’s dual accreditation status by both the Junior and Senior Commissions is unique in the western accreditation region, with the College being one of only a few two-year colleges in the nation to have been awarded this status.

Since its beginning, NMC has focused on meeting the higher education and human resource development needs of the CNMI. From the time of its first program in teacher education, NMC has strived to develop a comprehensive set of educational programs and services to meet the social, cultural, occupational, and economic development needs of our island communities on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.


NMC’s Mission
NMC’s mission is “to provide the best quality and meaningful postsecondary and adult educational opportunities for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the individual and the Commonwealth as a whole.” Its constitutional mandate is to provide education in the areas of adult and continuing education, postsecondary and adult vocational education and professional development for the people of the Commonwealth.

Purpose and Role of Northern Marianas College
As we develop into a more comprehensive community college, NMC’s role as a community resource center for the CNMI is expanding considerably to meet the increasingly diversified HRD needs of the Commonwealth, and the continuing changes in our island economy. Today, NMC’s offers 17 associate degree programs, 18 certificate of achievement programs, 18 certificate of completion programs, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. As the only public postsecondary institution in the CNMI, NMC strives to ensure that our educational programs reflect the complexity and diversity of the CNMI’s growth and development.

NMC as the CNMI’s Adult Basic Education Center
For more than 20 years, Adult Basic Education has offered federally funded programs focused on meeting the educational needs of adult learners in the CNMI. The mission of the ABE program at NMC is to provide educationally disadvantaged adults the opportunity to acquire basic skills necessary to function more effectively and productively, to gain upward mobility, and to enable them to pursue further education. In accordance with the varying needs of adult learners, the goals of the ABE program are to develop the competency levels in reading, writing, and mathematics so as to empower adult learners to participate more fully in community life, enable them to assist their children and serve as their first teachers and equip them with skills needed to pass the General Education Development (GED) tests and earn a high school equivalency diploma. Our developmental education goals are met through the implementation of a variety of programs including Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, Adult Secondary Education, Family Literacy and Life Skills workshops.

Community Programs and Services
The College further serves the CNMI community through a variety of outreach, community service and continuing education programs. Workforce and community development programs offer training to upgrade public and private employee skills, and to provide enrichment courses for the general public in a wide variety of programs. Our Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Service (CREES) Program provides research and technical assistance services to farmers and homemakers, and introduces new varieties of crops and continuously improves the quality of livestock for the CNMI’s agricultural industry. The Community Development Institute provides opportunities for academic degrees beyond the associate level, including career education and training in collaboration with off-island postsecondary educational institutions, professional organizations, and targeted federal programs. The NMC Small Business Development Center provides training and technical assistance services to our local business sector, thus aiding in the economic development of the Commonwealth. In addition, KRNM, the only public radio station in the Northern Marianas, provides educational, informative, and entertaining programming that enlightens, broadens, and enriches our local community.

In addition, our NMC students, faculty, and staff members are actively involved with many different community projects, activities, and non-profit organizations on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. For example, our PHI THETA KAPPA (PTK) Chapter has included roughly 200 students and continues to promote scholarship, leadership, and service to NMC and the CNMI community. These high-achieving NMC students augment their classroom learning experiences with valuable community volunteer projects to enhance their leadership development and promote the value of having a post secondary institution in the Commonwealth. Moreover, promoting community service also emphasizes the importance of civic engagement in the communities where our students, faculty, staff and alumni live, learn, work, relax and thrive.

Today, Northern Marianas College is a rich and expansive community resource for adult, continuing, and higher education, and it is playing an ever-increasing role in improving the quality of life in the Commonwealth. Moreover, NMC is positively impacting economic development by addressing the training and educational needs of our most vital, our most enduring, and our most treasured resource - our people - I Taotao Tano!

Certainly, as a community of educators and learners, we readily recognize that an essential requirement for long-term sustainable economic development is having a well-educated and highly-trained population. It has become increasingly clear in today’s complex society that the most crucial variable in economic development is the knowledge embedded in the minds of the people of a nation. It is not the natural resources of a country that will determine the quality of life, but rather, the knowledge supply and professional workforce that exists in a country. As a learning organization, NMC in the future will continue to create value as a community resource center and expand opportunities by focusing on learning for the long-term sustainable development of the CNMI.

Now that times are uncertain and the demands for accountability are increasing, I call upon all our NMC faculty, staff, and students - - - and our friends in the administration, legislature, and community - - - to work collaboratively in transforming Northern Marianas College into a quality higher education institution for the people of the CNMI. Our NMC Board of Regents and the entire college community need your support and assistance to continuously improve NMC’s educational programs and services. Only by working together and taking ownership can we enable NMC to be a more “student-focused” and “community- centered” learning institution.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation yan un sen dangkulu na si Yu’us ma’ase to all the planning committee members who coordinated today’s 25th Anniversary Commemoration Event. And to all our dignitaries, special guests, relatives, NMC family members, we thank you all for being here today. Please visit our various program exhibits and displays in the hallway. Thank you yan buenas para todus hamyo!

Board of Regents Actions from their March 22, 2006 Meeting

In order to address the overwhelming budget $1.5m deficit that the college has for fiscal year 2006 and possibly reduced budget for fiscal year 2007, the Board of Regents passed the following:

• There will be a tuition increase effective Fall Semester, 2006, of $30 per credit. This raises resident tuition to $95 and to $190 for nonresident students per credit.
• The following Education courses, ED 320, ED 321, ED 435, ED 417, ED 492 and ED 495, as well as Nursing courses NU 107, NU 108, NU 109, NU 207, NU 212, and NU 203, because of the higher costs of supervision and instruction required in these courses, will all be assessed a $300 course fee effective Summer Semester, 2006.
• The Special Fees for Golf, SCUBA and Windsurfing are established at $100 for each course.
• There will be a $25 fee for those students taking the Math Placement Test.
• The International Student classification has been rescinded effective its publication. Board Policy 8001.1 has been revised to more clearly define the two categories of students at NMC; Resident and Nonresident. The Student Development policy 8001.1 is available from Mark Mendiola pending its posting on the N-Drive.

In order to assist students in meeting the higher tuition costs, the Student Services program will be establishing and operating workshops to assist students in applying for federal and local financial aid. In addition, several positions that were being advertised are to remain frozen pending funding availability.

These are the most notable of the Board’s actions and a more complete account will be forthcoming next week. None of these actions were taken lightly, without extensive deliberation and without recognizing their consequences; however, the college must take drastic action in order to maintain its academic course offerings both for the summer and fall.

NMC Welcomes New Director of Counseling Programs & Services

NMC wishes to welcome back Mrs. Susan Satur to the Counseling Programs and Services Department. Susan retired back in December 2003 as a counselor, and moved on to be a Special Education Contact Teacher for Oleai Elementary School. After she completed her two-year teaching contract with the Public School System, she felt the need to return to her home at NMC. For those of you who don’t know Susan, she is well known for her passion in helping students. She still continues this passion for serving students even more so now as the Director for Counseling Programs & Services. Oh did we mention that her other passion is baking? Congratulations and Welcome Back to NMC!

Counseling Programs and Services Holds Academic Advising Workshop

There were over 65 participants in the Academic Advising Workshop. It was a great time to work together and learn new information and refresh the old information on the topic of academic advising. The CNMI Scholarship Office and NMC Financial Aid shared information on scholarships and Institutional Effectiveness provided student demographic and student survey data. The Office of Admissions and Records provided information on international students and Counseling Programs and Services shared general information on academic advising.

ASNMC, Student Activities and Counseling Programs and Services
Host High School Students

This whole month, ASNMC, Student Activities and Counseling Programs and Services have been hosting students from all the high schools on island. On Friday, March 17, 2006, 53 Marianas High School students visited our campus. Different departments gave presentations, the students toured the campus, participated in a fun scavenger hunt and enjoyed other special activities at the NMC gym. Counseling Programs and Services, Student Activities and ASNMC cooperated successfully to invite and host the high school students. We look forward to seeing many of the students enroll at NMC.

Walk on Wednesday (W.O.W.)

CREES and other Nutrition Committee members (Department of Public Health, Ayuda Network, DCCA and PSS) coordinated the Walk on Wednesday in honor of March as Nutrition Month. The public was invited on March 22, 2006 to a 30 minute walk that started at 4:00 p.m. at the pavilion near Oleai Beach Bar and Grill. Participants were offered free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.

Conversational Japanese II

Community Development Institute (CDI), in collaboration with the Languages Department, is pleased to announce Conversational Japanese II. This is a continuation course for those who took Conversational Japanese I. But anyone with beginning Conversational Japanese skills is welcome to enroll. Classes run from March 27, 2006 - May 5, 2006, Monday/Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (excluding holidays), and its $FREE! To sign up, please email to dawnk@nmcnet.edu or call CDI at tel. no. 234-5498, extensions 1005 or 1030.

Framingham State College Master’s Program - Registration Ends April 7, 2006 and Classes begin April 8, 2006

Registration is now open for on-going students in the Framingham State College Master of Education program. Students must register by April 7 to enroll in the course that begins on April 8. Total amount is $582 for Cohort 3 and $598 for Cohort 4, plus $40 facilitation fee for both cohorts. The textbooks and pre-course assignments are now available. To register, please visit the Community Development Institute (CDI) office in Building P at NMC between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Ms. Velma Mafnas at tel. no.234-5498, extensions 1005, 1030 or 1014.

Have A Safe and Wonderful Week!

NMC Weekly Update - March 17

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE




Hafa Adai, Tirow, and Greetings from Northern Marianas College!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone!

Here are the highlighted articles for this week:

PRESIDENT’S OKINAWA TRIP SUMMARY

The Pacific Islands Academic Summit on “Sustainable Development for Islands: Education, Tourism, Environment and Economic Development,” was held in Okinawa, Japan on March 10th and 11th. The summit participants included the Presidents from the University of Guam, University of New Caledonia, Northern Marianas College, Palau Community College, College of Micronesia- FSM, College of the Marshall Islands, the Deputy Vice Chancellor from the University of the South Pacific, the Associate Vice President of the University of Hawaii Community College System, and Professors from the Australian National University and the University of Otago in New Zealand. This regional gathering of chief executive officers from higher education institutions in the Pacific was hosted by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of the Ryukyus with support from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

The primary objective of the summit was to discuss common issues and concerns among the small island nations of the Pacific. The first part of the event included opening remarks by Mr. Shigeie Toshinori, Ambassador In-Charge of Okinawan Affairs and President Moshin Morita from the University of Ryukyus. A keynote speech on “The Future of the Pacific Region” was given by the honorable Kuniwo Nakamura, former President for the Republic of Palau and one of the founding leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum. The highlight of the summit was a panel discussion by the regional presidents on “Sustainable Development for Islands: Education, Tourism, Environment and Economic Development.”

The presentation of NMC President Tony Deleon Guerrero focused on “Promoting Higher Education Institutions as Community Resource Centers.” His paper stressed the importance and interrelationship between education and sustainable economic development. Deleon Guerrero noted that the “latest research tells us that the wave of the future in sustainable economic development lies in creating and maintaining a workforce that is highly educated, constantly upgraded, and continually focused on increasing quality and productivity.” He also added that “we can further advance the contributions of our respective higher education institutions as community resource centers by exploring innovative educational partnerships such as:

• diversifying the learning experiences of our students by enrolling citizens in
  our campuses from other countries;
• promoting global education in our curriculum and establishing appropriate international exchange programs;
• offering foreign language studies and intercultural learning experiences in various programmatic areas;
• integrating international education with appropriate international trade and commercial opportunities; and
• developing effective faculty exchange programs and providing valuable technical assistance services to hosting countries.”

The invited participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of the Ryukyus for hosting the summit and covering all the travel expenses of the regional presidents. Deleon Guerrero said, “I am very grateful and appreciative to our friends from Japan for making this investment and commitment to foster greater collaboration and partnership between the country of Japan and the regional higher education institutions in the Pacific.”

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Silver Anniversary of Northern Marianas College

25 Years of Post Secondary Academic Excellence

You are cordially invited to attend a special event commemorating the
25th Anniversary
of

NORTHERN MARIANAS COLLEGE

Thursday the Twenty-third of March Two Thousand & Six
The Hibiscus Hall. Fiesta Resort & Spa, Garapan, Saipan
U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Nine o’clock in the morning
Refreshments will be served

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OIE EXAMINES NEW STUDENT PLACEMENT
TEST RESULTS FOR FALL 2005

In preparation for the March 17th Academic Advising Workshop, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness looked at the results of the English and Math Placement Tests for the Fall 2005 new, degree-seeking students. Of the 267 new, degree-seeking students enrolled Fall 2005, 69% took the Math Placement Test, and 93% took the English Placement Test.

The analysis yielded the following results: Eight percent (8%) of the new students were ready for college-level math courses, and 12 % were prepared to take college-level English composition courses. Of those students that took both placement tests, 3% placed at college-level English and Math, while 80% placed below college-level for both.

The Languages & Humanities Department, along with the Sciences, Mathematics, & Technology Department, offer a series of developmental English and Math courses designed to strengthen students’ skills in both areas. Students that place below college-level in English and Math take longer to complete their programs as they must complete developmental courses before taking college-level courses. They also have a greater financial burden, as the number of courses they take is higher than those that enter ready to take college courses.


UOG Criminal Justice & Public Administration Programs

Last week, NMC officials Danny Wyatt, Eric Plinske, Lynda Rowe and David Attao had the chance to meet with Jamie Mason, UOG Director of International Program Development based on Saipan, and Dr. Ron McNinich-Su, UOG Associate Professor of Public Administration. Dr. McNinich also oversees the UOG Criminal Justice Program. At the meeting, ambitious goals were set to offer the UOG bachelors degree in Criminal Justice on Saipan with a target start date of the Fall 2006 semester. All 100 and 200 level courses in the program would be taught by NMC resulting in an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. The NMC Associates Degree will then place graduates at junior level standing in the UOG Criminal Justice program with all credits and courses transferring to UOG through articulation. UOG will then use its own faculty, as well as certify local faculty in the CNMI, to serve as instructors for the bachelor’s level courses to be taught on Saipan at the 300 and 400 level. Discussions were also held on the topic of linking NMC’s general education and Liberal Arts degree to the UOG Public Administration degree program so students at NMC could complete an AA in Liberal Arts and be placed at junior level standing in the UOG Public Administration degree program. UOG also plans to offer this degree on Saipan, rather than requiring students to move to Guam. Graduates of the Criminal Justice and Public Administration bachelor’s programs will then have the opportunity to pursue their Master of Public Administration degree through UOG on Saipan. Other UOG bachelors and masters degree programs are also being reviewed for possible implementation on Saipan.


Natural Resources Management Proposed Cohort Program

In an effort to enroll more students in the NMC Natural Resources Management degree program, a plan is being developed to offer an accelerated degree format through the Community Development Institute, targeting the staff of the various environmental agencies such as DEQ, CRM, DLNR, DPW and Fish and Wildlife to name a few. Courses would be taught on site at the agencies that have proper classroom or lab facilities. The program would run two years and funding to support the program would also be available through the NMC CREES program through a Caripac grant that would fund “resident instructor” costs and the Agricultural Development in the American Pacific (ADAP) grant that would assist with funding the tuition and fees of the students that entered and declared their major as NRM. The proposed program format would also allow qualified local students to receive additional financial assistance from PELL, EAP and SHEFA grant and scholarship programs. The proposed course schedule and other logistics are currently being finalized so that the proposal can be presented to the directors of the various environmental agencies to garner their support and promote the opportunity to the management and staff. If sufficient demand exists and if the logistics can be completed before May 2006, the plan is to implement the cohort program by the Summer 2006 semester so that the students would be graduating from the program in May 2008.

Have A Safe and Wonderful Weekend!

NMC Weekly Update - March 10th

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE




Hafa Adai, Tirow, and Greetings from Northern Marianas College!

Here are the highlighted articles for this week:

New Computers for NMC












This week a truckload of new computers were delivered to NMC. The computers were purchased for a new student lab through the Title III Grant- Strengthening Institutions. Beginning next fall students will have access to 2 student labs on campus from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday. Some of these computers will be sent to Tinian and Rota for student’s use.

This is just part of Learning Technology at NMC. Through Title III funds, Information and Learning Technology has also purchased faculty laptops, projectors for all classrooms as well as a new faculty and student email system. This is just a part of Information & Learning Technology’s work behind the scenes. More Title III projects are planned throughout the coming year that will help further strengthen our institution.


Nutrition Fair

NMC-CREES was once again asked by the Division of Youth Services to present on healthy living at the recently held Parent Leadership Conference. Polly Omechelang, Patricia Coleman, and work-study student Kimberly Pinaula conducted an interactive Power Point presentation on the importance of being physically active and establishing healthy eating behaviors early on in life. In addition to the Power Point presentation, a visual demonstration of the number of teaspoons of fat and sugar in popular foods and beverages such as soda pop, boxed juice drinks, luncheon meat, instant soba, chips, and candy was also shown. Participants were shocked at the amount of fat and sugar in some of their favorite foods and were asked to name foods that they could purchase instead of the aforementioned. Over 200 parents and school administrators attended the conference. The public is invited to the Nutrition Fair on Saturday, March 11th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Koblerville Field (near the fire substation).


NMC Rota Charter Week Event

NMC Rota is happy to announce to the college community the up-coming events that will culminate with the celebration of the college’s Charter Day.

Rota campus will be having a Health Walk on Saturday, March 25th 2006. The walk will start at 6:00 am from Rota Resort parking lot and will end at Pinatang Park in Songsong Village.

The local community and health organizations are all invited to this event. There will be a nurse to check your blood pressure. Also, healthy refreshments will be provided by NMC Rota staff and our collaborators the Diabetes Associations of Rota.

On Wednesday, March 29th 2006, we will be having an Environmental Awareness Panel Discussion. Representatives from various local agencies will participate in this important event. The purpose of this event is to bring people together to learn and raise awareness of the environmental hazards that can affect an individual’s health as well as other local and global environmental issues. This issue is very important as NMC Rota campus is not limited to the Tatachog site, but serves the entire island of Rota.

There will be a question and answer session after each panel member completes their presentation. The NMC Rota student body and the science class will be asking questions to the panelist. Attendees will also be able to browse various informational tables that addresses an array of health concerns ranging from environmental protections and sanitations to our water resources, air and more.

Due to the importance of these activities, the college is inviting the local community and government agencies to attend. The local media organizations are also invited to attend and cover these events.

On Friday, March 31st 2006, there will be an island wide clean up. Each department is assigned an area to clean-up. After the clean up, there will be a get together barbecue at Teteto Beach. There will be various fun activities for everyone to enjoy.


Defense Re-Utilization Management Office (DRMO) Guam Donations Arrive on Rota

The Rota campus administrator, staff and Rota Mayor, Joseph S. Inos posed for a picture during the unloading of goods donated by DRMO, Guam. Rota campus is very pleased for Mayor Inos’ assistance in providing the funds to cover the cost of shipping the goods from Guam to Rota. Some of the items will be used by NMC Rota, Rota Public Library, and Office of the Mayor of Rota.


Below: Mr. Frank Norita and Mr. Dwayne Maratita use big arm muscles to unload furniture from the container.

Have A Safe and Wonderful Weekend!

NMC Weekly Update - March 3rd

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

Hafa Adai, Tirow, and Greetings from Northern Marianas College!

Here are the highlighted articles for this week:

NMC’s New Strategic Plan Completed

NMC President Tony DeLeon Guerrero is very please to announce the completion of our new Strategic Plan. The following is a joint message from the President and BOR Chairperson on the importance of NMC’s Strategic Plan.

This new Strategic Plan for Northern Marianas College will help guide our institution’s direction for the next five years. The review of our constitutionally mandated mission, and the development of our new shared strategic vision, goals, and priority initiatives, involved many hours of consultative discussions and inclusive planning sessions with community stakeholders, Board of Regents members, College administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Having completed this extensive and collaborative strategic planning process, we are confident that we can transform NMC into an even more effective institution of higher education—one that is “Expanding Opportunities by Focusing on Learning” for our people and for the Commonwealth as a whole.

We know from experience that we can achieve our purposes only if we have a shared vision, a realistic plan, adequate resources, effective assessment, and an organization-wide commitment to excellence and to continuous improvement. We strongly believe that this Strategic Plan will help our community college accommodate the CNMI’s continuing growth, increasing cultural diversity, and evolving use of technology, all the while complying with new demands for educational accountability. The Plan incorporates the needs and expectations of both our external and internal constituents, and these are reflected in its strategic goals and initiatives. Collectively, these goals and initiatives are intended to guide the College in pursuing its future strategic direction as a learning institution, and in “Expanding Opportunities by Focusing on Learning” to benefit the long-term economic development of the CNMI and the Pacific-Asia region.

NMC’s Strategic Plan for 2006-2010 honors our distinctive community college heritage and, at the same time, embraces creativity and innovation, to enable the College to be a more student-focused and community-centered learning organization. Through strong collaborative partnerships with all our institutional stakeholders, we can advance NMC’s programs along an exciting path to local and regional prominence by providing our students with learning experiences of the highest possible quality.

Achieving institutional greatness will be an exciting journey, and the NMC community is excited about its future. We look forward to developing dynamic learning solutions for the 21st century, continuing to serve as the CNMI’s community resource center, and continuously improving the quality of our educational programs and overall institutional effectiveness.

Thank you yan un sen dangkulu na si Yu’us ma’ase for your interest and continued support of our higher education institution, Northern Marianas College – I Kulehon Norte Marianas!

Buenas yan saludu,

Tony DeLeon Guerrero/s/ Kim King-Hinds/s/

NMC President Invited to Okinawa Academic Summit

NMC President Tony DeLeon Guerrero and the regional CEO’s from the Pacific Postsecondary Education Council (PPEC) are invited by the University of the Ryukyus, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation to attend the “Okinawa-Pacific Islands Academic Summit.” The event will be held on March 10 & 11, 2006 and the theme will be “Sustainable Development of Islands – Education, Tourism, Environment and Economic Development.”

President DeLeon Guerrero will be making a presentation entitled “Promoting Higher Education Institutions As Community Resource Centers.” He will share how NMC is serving as the CNMI’s community resource center through its various educational programs and services as a comprehensive community college.

Since its early beginnings, the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Pacific Islands with the Okinawa people having strong historical connections with the Micronesian region. In 2002, the university also established the “Center for Asia-Pacific Islands Study” to promote and strengthen academic ties and collaborative partnerships within our region.

“I am very grateful and appreciative to our Japanese educational partners for the invitation to participate in this Academic Summit and for their sponsorship and generosity to cover all the travel expenses to this regional event, “ Deleon Guerrero said.

The confirmed participants at the Summit will include all the regional presidents of postsecondary institutions from Guam, Palau, FSM, Republic of the Marshalls, Hawaii, American Samoa, and other South Pacific island nations.

NMC Day Observed for NMC TRIO Programs

In celebration of TRIO Day, our NMC TRIO Programs which include the Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services had a “Walk For Fun” activity for all participants, parents, and staff at Minatchom Atdao on February 24, 2006 from 4pm to 6pm. TRIO staff members, participants, and parents had a wonderful time walking along the beach road pathway and later had a scrumptious dinner prepared by local caterers on the island.

TRIO Day is set aside to remind our local community that these valuable programs are available to assist students in the CNMI on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Educational Talent Search (ETS) serves students age 12-27 years. ETS program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to the postsecondary institution of their choice.

The Upward Bound Program (UBP) serves public high school students age 13-19 years. UBP provides fundamental support to low income and/or first generation participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in pre-college performance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. UBP provides tutoring, counseling, academic classes, mentoring, cultural exploration, educational fieldtrips, career exploration, workshops and seminars in college survival skills. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Student Support Services (SSS) serves a myriad of support programs to ensure college students succeed in their educational endeavors. The goal of SSS is to increase the retention of college students and graduation rates, facilitate their transfer from two year to four year colleges, and foster institutional climate supportive of the success of low income and first generation college students and students with disabilities. SSS provides academic/career counseling, individualized tutoring, assistance in applying for financial aid, workshops on study skills, and college transfer information.

For more information on our NMC TRIO Programs, please contact the Educational Talent Search at 234-5498, ext. 2100, Upward Bound Program at 234-9571 or 234-5498, ext. 1344, or Student Support Services at 234-5498, ext. 1275.

NMC’s 25th Anniversary Commemoration Event Set for March 23rd

The College will be sponsoring a special event on March 23rd to commemorate the signing of the Executive Order No. 25 by Governor Carlos S. Camacho back on March 12, 1981, and is the legal basis for the establishment of the Northern Marianas College as the Commonwealth’s first postsecondary institution. This event will include an array of speakers who have contributed to the successes and accomplishments of our institution. The planned speakers will include representatives from the following organizations: U.S. Department of Interior, Western Association of Schools & Colleges, NMC Board of Regents, former NMC Presidents, current NMC Student Body Representative, the NMC Foundation, and Governor Benigno Fitial who will be issuing a proclamation acknowledging NMC’s contribution in its 25 years of existence as the CNMI’s only public postsecondary institution. The venue of this function has been confirmed and will be held on the 23rd of March from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Hotel in Garapan.

Our entire NMC community members are invited and encouraged to support this event, in recognition of our Silver Anniversary. For more information on NMC’s 25th Anniversary Commemoration event, please contact Martin Gerbens, Herbert Rosario, Mark Mendiola or Greg Sablan.

Meet NMC’s New Nursing Department Chair

Lynne Curtis received her BSN from a now defunct college in Cleveland and to her surprise passed her boards so she headed off to the U. S. Navy Nurse Corps as she owed them a lot of money and time. She spent 4 years in such romantic places as San Diego, Adak, Alaska and Oakland. Her Naval career ended when she met her husband to be although, ultimately, she should have made a career of it. She ran away from him at one point and served a year in Brazil on the U. S. S. HOPE but that Marine followed her there so she finally relented and married him, honeymooning in Rio de Janeiro and gaining a wonderful Brazilian family there she still adores. The happy couple spent 18 years together and had the most fabulous daughter on the planet and resides in northern California. Mom misses her a lot!

In her checkered past there are also stints as a head nurse of a Dialysis Unit, Inservice Instructor in several hospitals, Administrator of a nursing agency for several years and of course teaching nursing at a community college in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the Marine took her for 25 years, hiding her from family and friends so he could have her all to himself. She fit in a Masters’ degree there in Education while the baby was sleeping and even became a Spiritual Practitioner in the Science of Mind church. To keep things exciting, she became a workshop presenter and assisted with teaching Tony Robbins seminars for three years. She still teaches people how to break boards to empower themselves and occasionally will break one over someone’s head if she thinks it will help them to learn. Just before she came to the island last August, she had been a travel nurse for 4.5 years in northern California from Santa Rosa to Crescent City. For fun she walks on fire or will do a ropes course if she thinks she is getting stuck in a rut but she’s slowing down now and hasn’t done a new physical challenge for about six years. Oh, there was that fall off a bike in Brazilia last March, but do you think that counts?

Have a Safe and Wonderful Weekend!