The last day of the Fall 2011 term is now Nov. 26, 2011 or three weeks earlier than the traditional end date in December, NMC President Sharon Hart said in a media conference.
NMC also postponed its registration until Monday.
Due to these changes, a class will run between 10 and 30 minutes longer than usual, and students with a valid CNMI-issued umbrella permit will be eligible to register and enroll during the Fall 2011term.
These students will be required to make a full payment for tuition and fees no later than Aug. 26, 2011 to maintain their enrollment.
“I truly believe that this will allow students who want to continue their education with us and are working hard at getting their visa completed and fulfilled to continue studying with us,” Hart said.
At least 12 nursing students have asked Hart to allow them to register pending the issuance of their visas or green cards. They were present during Friday’s media conference at NMC.
Hart said she was thankful the students brought their “very serious” concerns to the college.
She said she called for a meeting with the NMC leadership to address the issue.
“According to our current procedure they will not be able to attend classes this fall,” she added.
She said she informed the NMC board of regents about the situation and the need for a major scheduling change.
“The board I know is very supportive of what we are doing, responding to the needs of the community,” she added.
Until the registration is completed, NMC will have no data how many of its students have visa concerns, Hart said.
Many new students are coming in, especially those who are newly graduated from high school, she added.
NMC dean of student services Leo Pangelinan said the new schedule allows a foreign student who has not obtained an F-1 visa or who has no valid permit to remain here beyond the Nov. 28 expiration date of the umbrella permit to enroll in the college.
“We shortened our academic term only for the fall to help accommodate these students,” he added.
He said the college has worked closely with its students affected by the federalization of CNMI immigration since Dec. 2009 to facilitate their transition into F-1 visa status prior to the fall 2011 term in anticipation of the expiration of umbrella permits on Nov. 28, 2011.
Asked if the college can assist students by requesting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite the processing of their visas, Pangelinan said they have personnel who work closely with the USCIS.
“We are obligated to track, monitor and report all students…with a U.S. visa,” he said. “They [USCIS] always receive our call and always hear us out, but they may not be able to take swift action although I am confident [they] are aware of our unique situation.”
Bobbie Merfalen, NMC academic program services dean, said the new fall term will consist 13 weeks of instruction from Aug. 22 to November.
The shorter term will not affect the number of course offered or the variety of programs offered by NMC, she added, but it will extend all classes by 10 to about 30 minutes.
“The only thing that has changed in the course schedule is the time and the room schedule,” she said.
There are approximately 270 courses this fall semester, she said.
According to Merfalen, the new schedule also ensures that the college remains in compliance with federal regulations and college policy regarding enrollment of foreign students and what is in the best interest of all NMC students.
Giselle Bulatid, one of the nursing students who sought Hart’s assistance, said she was thankful to be able to continue her education at NMC. “It’s a good thing that NMC, its staff, faculty and everyone are working hard to accommodate us.”
Rachelle Alturas, another nursing student, said: “We thank the faculty and staff for going out of their comfort zone. It means so much to me and my family.”
