By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

NURSING students at Northern Marianas College are planning to drop their courses and move to the new nursing school, Emmanuel College, which offers an 11-month module and guaranteed employment after graduation.
This was the information relayed by NMC Nursing Club president Lee Q. Castro after his conversations with many of the incoming associate nursing students.
“They are looking at how fast they can get a degree…and being able to complete the course in just 11 months plus guaranteed employment after completion is what motivates them to make that decision,” Castro said on Sunday.
NMC has 20 graduating students in its nursing program.
“If they move over to the new college, NMC may close down its nursing program,” Castro said. “How can we justify to the Legislature the need for NMC’s current budget?”
Emmanuel College is a sister school of Xavier College in Stockton, California, and its application to establish a private higher learning institution is now with the NMC board of regents.
Graduates of Emmanuel College’s licensed vocational nursing program may either obtain employment immediately after passing the NCLEX or pursue a registered nursing degree at NMC, or both.