NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez submitted the report to the board of regents immediately after its completion.
“We are extremely proud of the work placed forth by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the board members to complete the April 1, 2009 report,” said Fernandez.
On Wednesday, the board of accepted the report.
“Many people worked long nights and weekends to ensure that the report contains concrete evidence of the efforts completed to meet accreditation requirements,” Fernandez told the regents during her presentation.
In a press statement, Fernandez said the college remains accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges during the show cause period.
All academic credits and degrees from NMC are accredited and will be transferable to other accredited institutions, she said.
The report was also approved by college council, which is the lead governance group at NMC and includes representatives from faculty, staff and students.
During the meeting, the regents commended the students, staff, and faculty members for their work in ensuring that the college’s accreditation is reaffirmed.
“Many people worked around the clock to make sure the college continues its critical role of providing higher educational and professional growth opportunities,” said Malua T. Peter, acting board chairwoman.
The show cause report has been transmitted to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Because it also contains NMC’s responses regarding the School of Education’s bachelor’s degree program, the report was also transmitted to the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
“The report contains evidentiary data that supports the college’s compliance with the [ACCJC] team recommendation 1, which deals with integrating planning, program review, and budgeting; and team recommendation 2, which specifically involves the institutionalization of the program review process,” NMC stated.
The accrediting commission has already acknowledged and recognized the work that the college has done to comply with accreditation requirements that dealt with student learning outcomes, employee evaluations, facility renovations and repair and administrative capacity.
As a result, the college was not required to report on these issues in its show cause report.
According to NMC, the commission is expected to send a visiting team to the college on April 20.
This team, composed of three commission representatives, will then submit their team visit report to the full board of the commission.
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges is expected to make a decision regarding NMC’s accreditation in June.
Fernandez expressed her gratitude to the CNMI government’s executive and legislative branches, Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan and community members for their continued support.
