NMC needs $1,141,716 for the salary and fringe benefits of 18 personnel for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, and $1,058,575 for its contractual employees for FYs 2009 to 2011.
NMC President Carmen Fernandez said they have collaborated with the Public School System regarding the CNMI’s share of the ARRA stabilization funds.
“We support the amount of $3,998,134 as submitted by PSS,” Fernandez and NMC Board of Regents Chairman Charles V. Cepeda stated in their letter to CNMI Commerce Secretary Michael Ada.
NMC also requested the governor’s assistance in identifying an additional $3.5 million to support the U.S. Apprenticeship Program.
Frank Sobolewski, the former NMC Faculty Senate president, said it is “difficult” to rely on ARRA funds for positions that are not fit for long-term service.
When the 18 positions get funding, he said, NMC will have to tap other sources after 2011 because the stabilization funds to defray the salaries and fringe benefits are good only for two years.
Some of the positions are critical for accreditation purposes: School of Education assistant director, Natural Resources Management Program coordinator/instructor, English instructor, nursing department administrative manager, business department administrative manager, special assistant to the president, program manager for Student Engagement First Year Experience/Learning Community Program, the U.S. Apprenticeship Program administrator, distance learning coordinator, program manager III for system administrator, media specialist II for distance learning facilitator on Rota, media specialist III for distance learning facilitator on Tinian, program manager III for institutional planner, four data entry clerk for the Office of Admissions and Records, and program manager III for the Community Development Institute/grant writer.
NMC’s two-year accreditation was reaffirmed recently by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
