By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE soon-to-open Emmanuel College says it is committed to working with Northern Marianas College in advancing the commonwealth’s position as an education hub in the region.
The new college wants to complement, not compete with, the NMC nursing program.
“Our policies are designed in a way that protects that goal,” Emmanuel College said in a statement sent to Variety yesterday.
NMC’s nursing club president Lee Castro earlier said that the college’s nursing students are expected to transfer to the new college, which may result in a decrease in enrollment and even the closure of NMC’s nursing program.
But according to Emmanuel College, it will only take in applicants not enrolled in NMC’s nursing program.
“Our curriculum is designed in a way that our students can transfer credits from Emmanuel College to Northern Marianas College — not the other way around — in case they choose to upgrade their licensed vocational nursing diploma to a (registered nursing) degree,” Emmanuel College stated.
In an e-mail to Variety, acting NMC president Danny Wyatt said they will be meeting with their nursing students when he comes back to Saipan on Thursday.
Wyatt was in Honolulu when contacted by Variety.
“One concern is that the program started by Emmanuel College will not be registered with any U.S.-based accreditation or licensing board, at least initially. So students need to recognize that it is not a simple transfer of credits,” Wyatt said.