NMC Weekly Update - October 4th

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE





Hafa Adai, Tirowami and Greetings Everyone!

Please read the following highlighted articles from our college:

NMC Bids Farewell to President DeLeon Guerrero
NMC Staff, faculty, family and friends gathered on August 19, 2006 at the Civic Center Beach Park to celebrate NMC’s Annual Family Picnic and to bid farewell to the college’s departing president, Antonio V. DeLeon Guerrero. With just weeks remaining before his planned departure, NMC faculty, staff and administrators planned the Annual Picnic celebration and incorporated a surprise farewell and appreciation party for the president. It was a very emotional night seeing coworkers come together to offer their best wishes to the President and to thank him for his service to the college and the community.

President DeLeon Guerrero announced his retirement in June of this year and his tenure as NMC President ended on August 25, 2006. The end of nearly 20 years of service to NMC, including the 28 months he has served as the chief executive officer for NMC, first as Acting President and then President.

President DeLeon Guerrero said, “As I leave, I do so with one feeling that outweighs all others. That is the feeling of hope, hope that the CNMI’s dire economic situation, which is the prevailing challenge for our community and the college at present, will improve considerably.

But an even greater hope is that all of you face this challenge with an attitude that demonstrates your willingness to do more with less, and contribute in a positive manner rather than one that is defeatist in nature, no matter how difficult that may seem. Now is the time to pull together and show what actions you can take to help rather than how much verbiage you can contribute to describe how bad things are and to find fault. To use the common metaphor, will you describe the glass as half full or half empty? Certainly the glass is emptier (speaking of financial resources) than it has been for some time. But try to keep in mind that it could certainly be less full. Think about what can be done with the resources the college does have (especially its valuable human resources) rather than use the current situation as an excuse for doing less because of the resources the college doesn’t have. As educators and change-agents, we should focus on our circle of influence and not on the circle of concern. The choice is entirely yours. Will you be just another grouch who grumbles and complains, or will you engage in actions that demonstrate “positive attitude” and strive to continuously improve our situation. Both, remember, are extremely infectious and I encourage everyone to focus your time and energy in enlarging NMC’s circle of influence.

As for me, I will continue to support NMC in whatever way I can for I believe this college is a vital, essential, and valuable community resource for improving the future of the CNMI. I will explore new opportunities in the private sector and will continue to live here and be a participating member of our Commonwealth community. For that reason alone, my desire is for NMC to succeed by promoting quality educational programs that will enrich the lives of our people today and into the future.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to have worked at our local community college and to have played a role in contributing to the betterment of NMC and our small island state. I am also very grateful for the professional relationships that I have established throughout the years. My memories are plentiful and I will always treasure my NMC experience!

Si Yu’us ma’ase yan adios para todus hamyo ni taotao Kulehon Norte Marianas! "

Thank you and un sen dangkulu si Yu’us ma’ase too for all your contributions to Northern Marianas College. Farewell Mr. President and best wishes in your new endeavors!


Greetings from NMC’s Acting President - Danny Ö. Wyatt!
As everyone knows, I have been chosen to lead the college during its transition between outgoing NMC President DeLeon Guerrero and whoever is hired following the current presidential search. This comes at a very demanding time. Our budget has been reduced dramatically; the WASC accreditation visit is less than two weeks away; we have a new Board of Regents; overall moral is down; I am in my current position temporarily.

Our current budget leaves little room for purchasing anything but necessities. It also forces the college to continue to utilize existing personnel to cover positions that have been vacant as well as continue to reduce costs as much as possible. I don’t see this changing much this fiscal year. Ten-month instructional faculty were fortunate to not have to suffer the same reduction in salaries that the rest of the college personnel are facing. If it were in my power, none would have had their salaries reduced, but it wasn’t and they were. It is the way the CNMI budget stands right now and we will have live with that. More cost cutting measures need to be taken still if funding is not found. For instance, in order to reduce our costs, I have assigned an Ad Hoc committee to determine how to vacate the FS rental units before December. I expect recommendations by the end of the week and they will be implemented. We can though get through this even though we will have to continue to do more with less. Fortunately, we have the people who can and do make that happen. I hope everyone can and will continue to work together.

The WASC accreditation team starts arriving on Saturday, October 14, and members will visit the Tinian and Rota instructional sites on Monday, and they visit the Saipan campus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am kindly requesting that everyone be prepared for those visits. Be sure to review the Accreditation Report that Dr Cabrera and the accreditation team put together, the college needs to look and sound professionally competent during this visit. While we are having difficulties, we are succeeding in providing educational opportunities to CNMI residents. That is our mission and we are fulfilling it. We need to prove how well we are doing so; that is what the accreditation visit is all about. I expect everyone will be prepared and participate in the accreditation visit. Remember too, we have always been complemented for being truthful; I don’t expect that to change.

The Board of Regents I expect will be at full membership in the next couple of weeks when the new regent from Tinian is approved by the Senate. In addition, there are four other new members from last year’s Board. They are very supportive of my making the decisions that need to be made in order to operate the college within the budget that was passed, and they are very supportive of hearing from both the faculty and staff senates. If you feel you have ideas that need to be heard, work with your respective senates and those views will be aired. In a way, we are in a unique position; we can make changes. What we need is total college involvement.

It is obvious that employees are upset with the salary reductions, reductions in the hours that they have to get the job they need to do done, reductions in our overall budget. We need, however, to look to the future, not dwell on the past and present. The college has a better standing on Capitol Hill than it did in the past. We are accomplishing many notable tasks; just check the newspaper about the work that CREES is managing to do. Look at the continuing increase in students being served by the ABE/GED program. Look at the students in the classrooms. We are continuing to expand our course offerings through Distance Education and Online course offerings; through those means we are better able to serve students on Tinian and Rota despite budgetary constraints. In the PPEC meeting I attended in Hawaii last week, it was made abundantly clear that US higher education is employing more and more online course work. We cannot and will not be left behind in this endeavor. Instructors who cannot utilize online capabilities will find their employment opportunities restricted if and when they leave NMC; that is not an opinion, that is a fact. We need to keep up, not lag behind. Further opportunities DO exist. The Community Development Institute is offering more and more training sessions to the community. We are offering more and more higher education opportunities: Argosy University, University of Guam and Framingham State are all currently offering courses. Framingham is graduating approximately 30 students on Saturday at the Multipurpose building at 5:00 p.m., come help us celebrate our success.

It is obvious I was trained as a composition teacher, not as a college president. I took the position of Acting President because I felt I could help the college in its transition between presidents. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. The college sits on an island. We are, therefore, in a sense isolated. In order to help the college run better, to better serve our students, to better serve the community, we need to work together and improve the college, the island and the island community. I can continue to wake up at 3 am and catch up on what I didn’t do earlier, but I cannot run this college without EVERYONE’S help. I have done my little bit; the coffee served in the President’s office has improved dramatically. I am also open to communication; my office door is open whether I am there or not. If I am not there, I am probably wandering around the campus. You can stop me and ask me whatever. So please get involved in making this institution and island better.

Si Yu’us Ma’ase, Asante Sana, and Thank you.



NMC Receives $900,000 ANA Grant for Project Connect: Inter-Island Distance Learning Network
It’s Official- NMC has received the paperwork from DHHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the project is now set to take off.

For 2 years Information Learning and Technology (ILT) has worked with CHC, Joeten-Kiyu Library, government agencies and departments on all 3 islands, CREES, CDI, SMBC and many others to develop partnerships and build relationships to share resources, provide services and educational opportunities to all people of the CNMI.

The funding provided is over a 3-year period to provide an online platform for access to information resources, education, telemedicine, cultural and business development opportunities through a distance learning network via viable emerging technology- a point-to-point broadband wireless inter-island network. This network will virtually connect Saipan, Tinian and Rota for educational purposes and will increase educational opportunities of those on the smaller islands.

If you are interested in learning more about Project Connect contact MaryAnne Campo at maryannec@nmcnet.edu.


NMC Tinian CLEA Donates Flags and Pennant
Northern Marianas College - Tinian Combined Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA) has donated US & CNMI Flags and a pennant denoting NMC Tinian’s first ever CLEA. Student President Ray Pangelinan secured the flags and Officer Villagomez of DPS coordinated with Tinian Public works for their boom truck to string the lines, as well as presenting NMC Tinian Director, Jim Wedding with the CLEA pennant. Director stated to the CLEA participants, "It's our pleasure to assist you with your career endeavors for this CLEA. We will do all we can for you to succeed. Thank you for the flags and pennant as this demonstrates a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies and NMC Tinian to meet your needs."

The CLEA runs from August 21 thru December 7, 2006. The cadets are looking forward to graduation at the conclusion of the academy in December.



Books Donated to Rota Public Library
Rota recently received one boatload of library books donated by the Ayuda Foundation in Guam. Former Senator Carlotta Leon Guerrero (Guam), Mayor of Rota and the Director of NMC Rota spearheaded the coordination of compiling and shipping the books to Rota. The U.S. Coast Guard in Guam assisted in transporting the boatload of books to Rota. The Rota Public Library now awaits funding for the repair of damages from previous typhoons. NMC Rota is heading the management of the library operation and is being funded through the Office of the Mayor of Rota.


NMC Foundation Welcome New Members
Acting President Danny O. Wyatt recently invited two business community leaders to join the Foundation. The Foundation welcomes Mr. Jay Jones and Mr. George Fleming as Foundation Directors. Mr. Jones and Mr. Fleming bring to the foundation years of business experience and community service to the CNMI. Mr. Jay Jones is the General Manager of Triple J Saipan and Mr. Fleming is the General Manager/Owner of FAS Moving and Storage.


NMC Board of Regents
The NMC Board of Regents will be welcoming Mr. Joey San Nicolas as the Tinian Representative. Regent San Nicolas has been appointed by Governor Benigno R. Fitial and is awaiting confirmation from the senate. Regent San Nicolas is eager to work with his colleagues on the board.


NMC Bids Farewell to Director of Student Activities and Leadership
Edwin K. Propst joined the NMC family in February of 2002. Edwin started out as a Program Manager for Student Activities and then moved to Director for the Office of Student Activities & Leadership, which involved organizing activities for on and off campus events for the NMC students. During his tenure he was successful in organizing some of the best Charter Day Festivities this campus has ever seen in years. He took pride in his work and even used majority of his personal funds and time to renovate the student lounge, donate gaming machines and provide DVD’s for movie nights and purchase supplies to ensure that the student lounge was the place to be on campus. From the little things he did like printing no smoking signs, to hosting billiard and dart competitions to the bigger things like organizing Student Barbecues during orientation, appreciation parties for our NMC maintenance crew, and greater things like Wakai Ne Ko No Kai, hosting monumental historical events like “Rock the Vote” and the Crew from the Enola Gay and the famous “Hap Halloran.” There are too many too mention, and not enough space to fit them all but not to worry, all will never be forgotten.

Thank you and Si Yu’us Ma’ase for all your contributions to the Northern Marianas College.

For those of you who know Edwin, photography has always been a passion and this is where we will find Edwin as he plans to leave us in order to expand and focus all his energy into his new career of photography. Good Luck Edwin and don’t forget to give NMC a discount on your photo packages!


NMC Receives Invitation to Attend Street Smart Program
On October 13, 2006, at the Pedro Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center, Anheuser Busch and MARPAC Incorporated will be bringing individuals from Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) to conduct the Street Smart Program.

The Street Smart program is designed to demonstrate to young adults the importance of making the right decisions with regards to matters of drinking or using drugs, and the noncompliance of seat belts. The program details are available at the following web site: www.streetsmartprogram.com .

If you are interested in participating in the Street Smart program, please contact Mar Pac at 234-7113.



Inter-Club Council (ICC) Meeting
There was an ICC meeting today, October 04, 2006 at 10:00 am in the Student Center’s Computer Lab. The agenda included ASNMC Elections; Club application renewals; Club event forms; Calendar of events and Upcoming Events such as:

• ASNMC Election for Oct. 10, 2006
• WASC Visit—Oct. 16-19, 2006
• HPU Presentation Oct. 25, 2006 from 6-8pm
• Seattle University Oct. 26, 2006 @ 1:30pm
• Career Fair Oct. 26-27, 2006 from 8-11am
• International Education Week (Nov. 13-17, 2006)

For further information, please contact the Associated Students of the Northern Marianas College (ASNMC) at 234-5498 ext: 1251 or send an email to asnmc@nmcnet.edu. Their office is located in the Student Center-(Bldg. J).

OAR Now Accepting Applications to Graduate in May 2007 (Commencement Exercises)
The Office of Admissions & Records wishes to announce to the general public that NMC is now accepting candidates for the May 2007 Commencement Exercise. Please stop by OAR located in Bldg. N-3 to pick up an “Application to Graduate” aka “Petition to Graduate” form. The application fee is $75.00 for the first certificate or degree and $40.00, thereafter, for each additional certificate or degree for each commencement exercise.

Guidelines
Determining Applicable Catalog - pg. 37-38, 2006-2008 Catalog (Electronic Copy under N-drive-Student Services) Students maintaining continuous enrollment at Northern Marianas College may graduate according to the requirements for the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment or according to the requirements of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment.

A semester in which a student earns course credit will be counted toward continuous enrollment. Non-credit courses, audited courses, failed courses, or courses from which the student withdraws do not count toward the determination of continuous enrollment for catalog purposes.

Students who do not enroll for two consecutive semesters are no longer considered continuously enrolled, and must meet requirements of the catalog in effect at the time they return or of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment thereafter.

To meet the requirements of continuous enrollment, students are not obligated to enroll and earn course credit during summer terms, but summer enrollment may be used to maintain continuous enrollment status. Students admitted or who return after an absence during a summer term must follow the requirements of the catalog in effect the following semester or of any single catalog in effect during the subsequent terms of continuous enrollment.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: pg. 74 to 77, 2006-2008 Catalog (Electronic Copy under N-drive-Student Services)

General Graduation Requirements
In addition to the general degree requirements listed immediately below, all students seeking an associate degree must meet the graduation requirements specific to their degree program. Credit hours and course requirements vary among the degree and certificate programs offered by NMC. Degree programs include course work in the following areas: core course requirements, General Education requirements, program requirements, and electives. See department offerings for specific credit and course requirements.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in order to be considered for graduation. Courses below the 100 levels will not meet graduation requirements. Nonpayment of financial obligations may cause diplomas and/or certificates to be withheld.

Minimum Grade Point Average. Associate degree candidates must have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Required Core Courses. Degree candidates must complete the following core courses with a “C” grade or better:
1. English Composition (EN 101)
2. Mathematics (MA 132 or higher)
3. Fundamentals of Speech Communication (CO 210)
4. Health (HE 150 or higher)
5. Current Issues in the CNMI (SO 297)

Filing for Graduation. Candidates for certificates or degrees must file a Petition to Graduate with the Office of Admissions and Records. The deadline to petition to graduate and to participate in the Spring Commencement Exercises is the last workday of the previous December. The deadline to petition to graduate and to participate in the Fall Commencement Exercises, if any, is the last workday of the previous May.

Graduation Clearance Sheet. Candidates for certificates or degrees must obtain the NMC Clearance Sheet from the Office of Admissions and Records. Candidates must obtain clearances from the Library, Bookstore, and Finance Office relative to the status of their accounts during the term when all the academic requirements for certificates and degrees are to be completed.

Commencement Exercises. After applying and being accepted as candidates for graduation, it is expected that students will attend the Commencement Exercises. Should candidates be unable to participate in the Commencement Exercises for reasons beyond their control, they may indicate on the Petition to Graduate their request to receive their certificates or diplomas in absentia.

Please note that after application and acceptance as a candidate for graduation, the notation of certificate or degree will appear on the transcript for that term when all requirements have been met.

Diplomas, however, are distributed only at the time of the Commencement Exercises. Only those candidates who have completed all applicable requirements are permitted to participate in the Commencement Exercises.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Doris Aldan-Atalig, NMC Registrar @ 234-5498 ext. 1524 or Susan Satur, Director of Counseling Programs and Services at ext. 1341.

Papaya Workshop Conducted on Rota
A Successful Papaya workshop was conducted by the Northern Marianas College CREES Program on Rota.

Presenter Mr. Roland Quitugua lectured on various topics of growing Papaya that included the varieties, pests, diseases, field management, nutrient management, irrigation among others, including a field visit at the Rota Resort Organic Farm.

About 40 participants learned how to increase and grow commercial quality, profitable papayas.

It’s a team effort to conserve energy, so let’s pitch in to make certain that all air-conditioners, office equipment and lights are turned off before leaving the office at the end of each day!

Have a safe and bright week NMC!