NMC Tinian prepares to transfer

The Northern Marianas College on Tinian will move into a new campus by summer of 1999.

The move will not cost anything to the cash-trapped college, but it will offer students a conducive atmosphere for studies.

Public Law 10-38 identified $100,000 for the design and construction of NMC on Tinian. Further lobbying brought the Tinian local officials to appropriate $250,000 to supplement the original budget.

Two hectares of public land was also allocated for NMC situated next to the Tinian High School.

Acting school administrator Herman P. Sablan yesterday presented to the Board of Regents the construction plans.

The $350,000 budget will be able to construct two buildings and sports facilities.

According to Sablan, the Department of Public Works is scheduled to award the construction project early next year and be completed by March. The use of pre-fabricated materials has been recommended for both buildings and would require two months to complete.

The new campus will also have a library which the public can use. This will be co-financed by NMC and the Tinian government.

The NMC on Tinian has an average of 100 students each semester availing of the distance education program and its regular classes.

At present, the college is holding classes at one of the buildings owned by the Tinian local government. With its own austerity program, the local government is also pushing for NMC’s transfer to offer the facility to other public agencies which are currently renting space.