NMC Weekly Update - December 22nd

NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE!

Seasons greetings everyone! Please read the following highlighted articles about our college!

NMC EMPLOYEES COME TOGETHER TO HELP MAKE COLLEAGUE’S CHRISTMAS BRIGHTER
Toward the end of Fall semester, School of Education instructor Sallie Sablan went to the Philippines to get treated for a possibly very serious illness. While her insurance carrier covered the cost of her and her husband’s air transportation, the college’s acting president was asked to put out a notice to try and raise money so that Herman’s and Sallie’s son and daughter could spend the holiday season together while Sallie is getting treated.

Due to overwhelming collegial support, Victoria and Alejandro’s transportation costs were contributed by college personnel and they left for the Philippines for the holidays on Wednesday the 20th. They are expected to be able to spend at least two weeks with their parents making this holiday season especially significant.

The college president thanks everyone for their overwhelming support in helping make this a special holiday for Herman and especially Sallie. Sallie has been making significant contributions to NMC for several years in addition to teaching for the School of Education. She has been the Acting Director and also the Math Specialist for the program as well as teaching her usual load of credits and helping student teachers. The acting president further states that this emergency and how the college has come together to help one of its family members is what really makes NMC a special institution.


CALLING ALL NMC ALUMNI
The NMC Foundation would like to revive the NMC Alumni Association and would like your help to get things started. If you would like to be a part of creating a dynamic Alumni Association please contact Mr. Mark Mendiola at the Office of the President or call him at 234-5498, ext. 1050.


CULTURAL SEMINAR IN JANUARY
NMC, in a joint effort with the Public School System, is proud to inform the community that NMC’s CDI will be offering a "Cultural Seminar" on Saturday, January 20, 2007 from 9 am to 4 pm. The seminar will be facilitated by Ms. Barbara Merfalen and is designed to meet the CNMI Public School System’s Teacher Certification. It addresses cultural issues in the CNMI schools and builds awareness of cultural differences in a highly diversified classroom. Participants will be provided with the practical applications and an opportunity to share perceptions and teaching methods to enhancing learning.

Avail this opportunity today by contacting the Community Development Institute (CDI) at 234-5498, ext. 1005 or 1030. Seating is limited so please register today!


ACTING PRESIDENT SIGNS INDIRECT COST AGREEMENT
The Acting President is pleased to announce that on November 27, 2006, the College Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Raaj Kurapati, accepted and signed off on the College’s negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement covering financial years 2004-2009 with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This agreement provides the following for the institution:

-It finalizes the Indirect Cost Rate for financial years 2005 and 2006 at 35% for all unrestricted federal grants and 8% for restricted grants (Restricted USDE Programs - TRIO, ABE, etc.).

-Provides a predetermined Indirect Cost Rate for financial year 2007 at 35% for all unrestricted federal grants and 8% for restricted grants (Restricted USDE Programs - TRIO, ABE, etc.).

-Provides a provisional Indirect Cost Rate for financial year 2008 at 35% for all unrestricted federal grants and 8% for restricted grants (Restricted USDE Programs - TRIO, ABE, etc.).

This agreement is the result of several months of compilation of the documents, discussions, negotiations and meetings with DHHS and Department of Education (USDE) officials. This is the second rate agreement which the College has successfully prepared, negotiated and obtained approval on with DHHS. The last Indirect Cost Agreement covered the financial years 2001-2002, retroactively and provided a final rate for financial years 2003 and 2004 and a provisional rate for financial years 2005 and 2006.

The lack of a properly prepared, negotiated and approved Indirect Cost Rate with the designated Cognizant Audit Agency, in the college’s case DHHS, resulted in several hundred thousand dollars in questioned costs in prior audits of the Institution which were removed and addressed through the last Indirect Cost Agreement. This new agreement will ensure that the College does not incur similar findings or questioned costs related to the charging of indirect costs for the financial years indicated above. Additionally, this Indirect Cost Agreement will serve as the basis for the College negotiation on the rate applicable for ensuring that the College fully recuperates the indirect costs it incurs in managing and administering the various federal grants it annually receives.

The College is required to complete and submit its next indirect cost agreement to DHHS based audited financial year 2007 data by March 31, 2008.

Happy Holidays NMC! Hope you enjoy the following quotes on Christmas:

Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing, returns to you glad. --John Greenleaf Whittier


Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display--so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again. --Unknown


From Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another, the warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other. --Emily Matthews