Hart, who recently attended the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society induction ceremony of new members as honorary keynote speaker, said the society is a great opportunity to help students improve their leadership skills.
It also assists qualified students in their financial needs, she said, adding there’s $27 million in scholarship funds for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society only.
“To the incoming students please do your very best because joining this honorary society not only helps you improve your leadership skills but it also help you financially as you continue your education,” she said.
In her executive report, Hart told the board on Wednesday about the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, or WICHE, meeting in Hawaii.
She said she already informed Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos about the intention of NMC to join WICHE, a regional, nonprofit organization which has 15 western states as members.
Students of a WICHE member is entitled to the 100 percent resident tuition rate in 200 institutions and colleges in the U.S., she added.
She said she will meet with the Pacific Postsecondary Education Council to discuss WICHE membership.
The membership fee is $125,000 a year.
But NMC and other Pacific community colleges can apply for membership as a consortium so they can “split” the fee.
Hart lauded the Senate for adopting a resolution urging the commonwealth to join the WICHE so CNMI college students can pay lower tuition fees in the U.S.
Grant
Hart also reported that NMC has received a grant award notification amounting to $1.5 million under the College Access Challenge Grant Program for federal fiscal year 2012 of the U.S. Department of Education.
The college also received $1,190,000 in local appropriation for fiscal year 2011 for CNMI scholarships as provided by Public Law 17-55.
NMC, she added, also issued scholarship awards funded by the College Access Challenge Grant program to 208 students totaling $312,000, and most of them received $1,500 each for the fall 2011 term. The college expects to issue additional awards to 23 students this term.
The college issued Federal Pell Grants to 798 students amounting to $1,962,658 for the fall 2011 term, and 583 of those students received the maximum Pell Grant award of $2,775 each for the fall term.
The college likewise issued Caribbean-Pacific scholarship awards to 17 students amounting to $19,380 for the fall 2011 term. This scholarship is limited to students enrolled in the natural resources management program.
On July 15, the Saipan World Resort management hosted an event to recognize five NMC students selected to receive a scholarship from the hotel. Each student received $1,000 for the fall 2011 term.
According to Hart, the college awarded a board of regents scholarship to one student in the amount of $500 for the fall 2011 term.
The First Hawaiian Bank, for its part, awarded three NMC students the Business Woman of the Year scholarship grant of $5,490.
