NORTHERN Marianas College students cannot directly participate in the selection process of their new president but they can recommend qualities that they want their new leader to possess, according to the chairman of the State Board of Regents.
Board Chairman Fermin M. Atalig, who is also the commerce secretary, told Nathan Sablan, president of the Associated Students of NMC, that Public Law 4-34 gives the regents the authority to select the new college president.
“I agree with your statement that the selection of the president is an important issue. However, Public Law 4-34, the Post-Secondary Act of 1984, gives the board of regents sole responsibility to hire and fire the president of NMC,” Atalig said in a letter to Sablan.
Sablan earlier said NMC students should be represented on the regents’ presidential search committee.
Atalig said the recruitment process is highly confidential.
“Information regarding applicants and individual candidates is disclosed only to the seven members of the board. I believe that there is sufficient community cross-representation on our board to make a sound selection of the next NMC president,” Atalig said.
