NMC posts slight decrease in enrollment for Fall semester

Northern Marianas College posted a slight decrease in enrollment this Fall 2011 semester with 1,137 total students compared to 1,232 enrollees during the same period last year.

Despite the dip in enrollment, NMC president Sharon Y. Hart is still happy with the enrollment figures.

“We’re glad to see strong enrollment numbers for the upcoming term, despite the slight decrease from last year,” she said, adding that registration for this Fall is still about 15 percent higher than two years ago and more than 44 percent higher than three years ago.

In Fall 2010, there were 1,232 students registered in Fall 2009, there were 991 students; and in the Fall 2008 there were 791 students.

NMC said that although headcount decreased by about 8 percent from last year, the college’s full time equivalent (FTE) enrollment decreased even more slightly—only about 6 percent.

FTE is calculated by taking the total number credits students have registered for and dividing that figure by 12, which is the minimum number needed to be a full time student. Fall 2011 FTE is 1,186 while Fall 2010 FTE is 1,256.

“While it is essential that we look at the number of students served under our credit programs, it is equally important that we look at the numbers served in our non-credit programs like the Community Development Institute and the Adult Basic Education Program,” said Hart.

The president said that last year, the college served more than 25,000 individuals in these non-credit programs.

“There is no mistaking the college plays a central role in educating and training tens of thousands of individuals each year, and this has been accomplished through our academic programs, job placement, research, training activities, and community development,” added the president.

The college also announced earlier that it adjusted its Fall 2011 semester to ensure that members of the community who have legal status to remain in the CNMI through CNMI-issued umbrella permits have the opportunity to enroll in courses during the upcoming term.

The adjusted semester now ends on Nov. 26, 2011, three weeks earlier than the traditional end date of December. The duration of the term will comprise of 13 weeks of instruction, (Aug. 22 to Nov. 19) with Nov. 21-23 and 26 serving as final exam dates. The new class schedule can be accessed by visiting the Fall 2011 registration page on the NMC website.

College officials have assured that the shorter term will not affect the number of courses offered or the variety of programs offered, but will lengthen meeting times for classes by 10 to 30 minutes.