There are an average of 600 students who graduate every year from five largest high schools on Saipan, Rota and Tinian.
However, only 25 percent of this number enroll in post-secondary schools, which is lower than the national average of 63 percent.
NMC also disclosed that close to half of those who have enrolled at NMC drop out or discontinue their coursework because of academic and/or financial challenges.
“To increase the number of students—especially native Pacific Islanders with low-income backgrounds—who are prepared to enter and succeed at NMC or any other post-secondary institution, the college plans to launch a number of initiatives that expand existing student services,” the college stated in its proposal, adding that for instance, the grant will enable the college to hire two additional counselors to enhance the services provided by NMC’s counseling programs and services office.
NMC was recently awarded $330,000 to fund efforts aimed at heightening college enrollment and retention among the CNMI’s public high school graduates.
The funds are part of the College Access Challenge Grant Program, a formula grant program that was created by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act which was signed into law by President George Bush in 2007.
According to Leo Pangelinan, acting dean of student services, the grant provided to NMC is a two-year cycle and renewable.
This is also a new grant offered by USDOE and which was extended to CNMI and other territories.
Pangelinan said NMC is looking at a group of 200 students as the first beneficiaries of the grant, which will be determined based on the low-income classification bracket.
He said it would be first-come-first-served basis.
“Regardless of where NMC stands, this grant is very important because we noted a high proportion of high school graduate not going to college. We suspect that there are not many of those who make it to college actually succeed,” Pangelinan said, adding that based on the 2000 census among Pacific Islanders, only less than 15 to 16 percent have bachelor’s degrees.
“That rank was really low compared to other ethnic groups,” he said.
NMC President Carmen Fernandez said that it’s always been the college priority to expand education opportunities for students.
“Expanding educational opportunities for CNMI students has always been one of my priority initiatives,” said Fernandez, adding that “to a great extent, the grant allows us do this by handling the college a central role in helping our high school students enroll in higher education institutions.”
NMC stated that direct financial aid will also be made available in the form of 30 need-based grants to qualified students during the first year. The financial assistance will be complemented by academic support through the provision of tutorial services in English, math, and science to CACGP-eligible students since the grant will allow for the hiring of 10 tutors.
Other activities planned include college information sessions and college career fairs that provide students and their families more information about the benefits of going to college, college opportunities, college financing, and career preparation.
The college will also organize and host several professional development workshops and seminars for high school guidance counselors, admission staff, and financial aid employees.
