This was how Leo Pangelinan, NMC’s director for counseling program and services, summed up the situation on campus as he explained why there are faculty and staff members unhappy with the leadership of NMC President Carmen Fernandez.
He said there is no “climate of fear” among the faculty members.
Fernandez will not deliberately put the college at risk and jeopardize its accreditation, he added.
“To re-affirm our accreditation we need change and to transform this institution it’s not just meeting a standard — it involves a cultural shift, a culture of transformation and a climate of transformation,” he told Variety.
Change
Pangelinan said there are disgruntled employees because they are uncomfortable with change.
“Unfortunately the target is the president because she is initiating change,” he added.
But because of the changes Fernandez is initiating, he said the quality of education at NMC is improving.
He said Fernandez is not the only one at NMC who wants to see changes — other college officials are also actively pushing reforms.
Pangelinan believes that there are only a few disgruntled employees.
As a counselor and NMC Faculty Senate representative, he said nobody comes to his office to complain against the president but some have expressed concerns about other staff and faculty members.
“No one has ever asked me to address regarding the president,” he said.
Job security
Pangelinan contradicted NMC Faculty Senate President Frank Sobolewski’s statement that the current contract system is the cause of the “climate fear” that exists among faculty, staff and administrators.
He said he understands the clamor for job security but he doesn’t believe that those whose contracts were not renewed or who have left the college were treated unfairly by the present leadership.
According to Pangelinan, he does not know why an employee’s contract wasn’t renewed.
“Out of respect for the employee, the administration’s policy is not to disclose the reason why an employee has to leave,” he said.
But Pangelinan said there is always a cause why people have to leave NMC.
He said he never fears having an audience with Fernandez or with other members of the management team.
Fernandez, he added, is always accessible and regularly meets with a lot of employees.
Wrong timing
Pangelinan said NMC is not remiss in addressing the concerns of the faculty who want job security.
“But some people are too impatient,” he added.
Sobolewski, in an earlier interview, said since 2003 they have been pushing for indefinite contracts.
But Pangelinan said there’s an ongoing review regarding the contracts of NMC employees.
“The president is doing something about it — we have a consultant reviewing the entire [human resources] policy,” he added.
He said he supports the revision of the current contracts because they are already “antiquated.”
The Faculty Senate, he added, has informed Fernandez about its concerns regarding the current contract system.
However, he said, the college must first address its accreditation.
Pangelinan believes that once NMC’s accreditation is re-affirmed, management will restructure the current employment policy.
He said despite the negative publicity, the college is still one of the best educational institutions in the CNMI.
“We have a very committed individual as president who has the heart and soul for this work, and who is making a positive impact on the students’ lives,” he added.
