“We feel it is in the best interest of the college and community that she remain on the board of regents,” stated the letter of support signed by 219 individuals, including some retired instructors and parents.
The letter was addressed to NMC Chairman Charles V. Cepeda and to the other regents.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, in a separate letter to Cepeda, said he neither read nor received McPhetres’s resignation letter.
McPhetres said she has rescinded her resignation.
In their letter of support, the signatories said they wished to express their “vote of confidence” in McPhetres, saying that the college’s former president has the experience and qualifications that can assist NMC “in this critical time.”
During Friday’s special board meeting, Cepeda said they could not discuss the letter of support because it was not on the agenda.
But the board discussed McPhetres’s resignation.
NMC Faculty Senate President and honorary regent Frank Sobolewski said McPhetres may submit a formal complaint, requesting the board to resolve the accusations against her.
McPhetres said she had been wrongly accused of instigating a meeting that was critical of NMC President Carmen Fernandez.
Sobolewski said for the sake of NMC’s integrity and credibility, McPhetres’s grievances should be resolved “so that the community of CNMI would have a confidence that the college is doing the right thing.”
McPhetres said the college never had legal issues when she was still president, but “as soon as I left, the problems started, and now I am the problem of her problem,” referring to Fernandez.
But McPhetres believes that the “turmoil” at NMC will not affect its efforts to reaffirm its accreditation, saying the faculty and staff are working very hard.
“I want this college to move on — that is want I want,” she said.
Asked for comment, Fernandez, said the college is focused on the submission of its progress report on April 1 to the accreditation commission.
“We must do everything to ensure that we get reaffirmed,” she said.
Fernandez said she will always stand strong for the benefit of the students and the college.
“I am here to do everything that I can to help ensure that we can be reaffirmed, and that we maintain the accreditation, and I would tell you that I stand strong because of my love of my students — I will ensure that the CNMI has an institution of education that we can be proud of,” she said.
