By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

NORTHERN Marianas College has submitted a progress report on how it is addressing the concerns raised by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which placed the institution on probation status early this year.
Acting NMC President Danny Wyatt yesterday said the report was sent to the accreditation team on March 30 and it will be addressed by the commission in its scheduled June meeting.
Wyatt said there were five major concerns highlighted by WASC during its visit last year, one of which was NMC’s lack of a full-time president.
The recent hiring of a new NMC president has already addressed this, Wyatt added.
Last week, the board of regents named former Guam Sen. Carmen C. Fernandez as the new president.
Wyatt said Fernandez is likely to start her new job next week.
Wyatt, a college dean, has been the acting president since the retirement of Antonio Deleon Guerrero in August of last year.
WASC also reminded NMC that it should employ qualified administrative leadership with appropriate expertise and qualifications, and in sufficient numbers to provide leadership for the college and ensure it meets its mission.
Wyatt said in light of current and future budgetary constraints, they proposed to the board of regents a reduction in administrative positions, including that of vice president for student and academic affairs.
“A reduction in administrative positions has been presented and recommended to the board and we’re now waiting for their action,” Wyatt said. “We want specifically the position of vice president for student and academic affairs eliminated as well as that of the executive assistant to the president.”
Wyatt said these proposals are now being reviewed by the board.
Last year, four college library personnel resigned.
“Our library services had four resignations at the end of the semester and we are currently in the process of hiring new people and I believe one person has already been hired,” Wyatt said.
“Also, instead of a human resource office director we recommended that it be changed to human resource office manager while the title of director for maintenance will be changed to maintenance manager as these changes will reduce costs,” Wyatt said.
The chief accountant’s position has already been filled while the director for information, learning and technology is still being advertised, he added.
“WASC wants these things to be addressed by March,” he said. “Also a big concern of WASC was assessment and we are working on this. We’re moving forward rapidly on assessment and I am firmly convinced that we will be fine on that.”