Vol. 34 No.257
       ©2007 Marianas Variety		 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 www.mvariety.com
Serving the CNMI for 34 years		  

© 2007 Marianas Variety
Published by Younis Art Studio Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Email : mvariety@vzpacifica.net
College seeks administration’s help in getting its accreditation reinstated

By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE administration and the board of regents of Northern Marianas College say classifying NMC as an essential service will help in the reinstatement of its accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges which placed the institution on probation following a visit last year.
In a letter to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Monday, board chairwoman Rita H. Inos and NMC acting president Danny Wyatt said restoring the college budget will “clearly demonstrate” to WASC the CNMI government’s commitment to education.
“As you are aware, the accrediting agency (WASC) recently placed the institution on probationary accreditation status. This sanction was imposed on the college, due to the lack of what is considered adequate financial resources necessary for the institution to provide quality programs and services,” Inos and Wyatt said in their letter.
They said that “classification of NMC as an essential service and restoring its budget to at least the level originally appropriated for the current fiscal year will clearly demonstrate to WASC and our students, your administration’s and the 15th Legislature’s commitment to fully support the commonwealth’s only accredited public institution of higher education in spite of our current circumstances.”
Variety learned that on March 11, special assistant for management and budget Antonio Muna met with college officials and provided a detailed overview of the new round of budget cuts that will be implemented due to the government’s declining revenue collection.
Inos and Wyatt said they are working on the information requested by Muna for the preparation and submission of the revised FY 2007 budget to the Legislature.
“We recognize and appreciate the current precarious financial condition of the commonwealth and have taken measures to ensure that the college does its part in containing expenditures while continuing to positively contribute toward the educational and workforce development needs of CNMI during these difficult times,” the NMC officials added.