THE recent overseas travel of three Northern Marianas College officials was “unnecessary and a waste of money” since the CNMI is suffering from an economic crisis, according to Rep. Stanley Torres, R-Saipan.
But NMC Chairman Fermin M. Atalig, who is also the acting commerce secretary, denied yesterday that the trip was a waste of resources.
Atalig said it yielded positive benefits for both CNMI students and the institution.
He said the trip prompted the University of Hawaii to reduce by 50 percent the tuition rate paid by CNMI students.
On May 6, Torres sent a letter to Atalig regarding the trip.
“Acting President (Barbara Moir), acting Vice President (Bruce Johnson) and the dean of education (Chas Algaier) all went to San Diego to attend the WASC meeting, which, to several sources, was unnecessary and a waste of money,” Torres said.
“At times of budget requests, my office will want to know what NMC is really asking for—supplies for students and staff or for more travel funds,” the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee said.
Atalig said the three officials are “top academic leaders” whose participation to the meeting was crucial.
He said the meeting in San Diego was the annual conference of Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges which NMC was required to attend.
“The primary purpose of this workshop was to familiarize the (accreditation liaison officers) and team members with the new accreditation standards that must be met by our institution and to provide them with information, ideas and approaches,” Atalig said.
Atalig said Moir paid for her trip to Hawaii.
“The only part of Dr. Moir’s travel expenses paid by the college was the portion of her airfare from Hawaii to and from San Diego—approximately $200—and her stay at the conference hotel in San Diego (four nights),” Atalig said.
“These funds were included in the college’s FY 2002 tuition and fees (operations) budget as part of the institution’s ongoing accreditation commitment to WASC,” he added.
Atalig assured Torres of fiscal responsibility in the use of taxpayers money.
