NMC has until October this year to address all the accreditation concerns of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Ivan Mereb, NMC Student Council president and a non-voting member of the college’s board of regents, yesterday said a lot of students are “worried” about WASC’s decision regarding the college’s accreditation.
If NMC loses its accreditation, its students will be ineligible for federal aid and their credits will not be recognized by accredited colleges or universities.
“They do feel a sense of our institution not being accredited or not making the extra mile. That’s the general sentiment of our students and the public every time we went out to recruit,” Mereb said.
He said NMC is doing its best to reaffirm its accreditation, “but it’s really hard to change the mind of the community.”
Mereb believes that NMC may see a significant decrease in its student population this semester.
“I do believe that there is going to be a decrease in the population, but I am still hopeful that the students will overlook that and see the institution’s efforts of addressing the problems. We have until October to comply and so far, with the extensive meetings that I’ve been attending, we’re about to complete all the reports and these are being reviewed now,” he said.
Mereb said he is urging his fellow students and other members of the community to continue to trust NMC.
CNMI high school students should realize that NMC remains a “one stop-shop for education,” he added.
A sophomore nursing student, Cindy Aquino, yesterday said she will transfer to the University of Guam in light of NMC’s problems.
“I am seeing more opportunities at UOG as it has also expanded courses,” she said. “I made the decision after assessing everything that’s happening here at the college. This is on top of the bad economy that we have on island,” the 21-year-old student added.
According to Aquino, “Majority of us NMC students have the same feeling.”
But freshman liberal arts student Anthony Randall said he will wait for WASC’s recommendation before he makes a decision regarding transferring to another school.
“I am still planning to enroll here and I will stay at NMC as long as it is accredited and my units are valid,” he said, adding that NMC is the “only hope” for students who have no choice but to remain on island.
But he admitted that many NMC students are likely to transfer to the University of Guam.
“I hope they will stay because I do believe that we can work it out with WASC,” Randall said.
According to Saipan Southern High student Jasonniarie Lizama, they are discussing NMC’s accreditation problems as they prepare for college.
“I haven’t heard many students wanting to go to NMC, but I still believe that NMC should start discussing with us the opportunities that await us at the college,” she said.
Three other NMC liberal arts students, who declined to be identified, said they have already decided to transfer.
Three other students said they will not enroll for the fall semester but will wait for the WASC decision.
