NMC hopes to offer its own 4-year education program

The Northern Marianas College is drawing near to securing a permit from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges to offer its own four-year degree program on education, according to NMC acting President Jack Sablan.

Mr. Sablan disclosed that a group of education experts from the Senior Commission of the mainland United States-based WASC will be arriving on Saipan in October to conduct an assessment of the College’s capability to offer a bachelor’s degree program.

“We have invited them to come and see what we’re doing. We want them to know that we are trying to comply with their expectations. Want to know if they are satisfied with our progress,” he said.

At present, a four-year course and a Master’s Degree program in education are offered at the NMC campus through an outreach partnership with the University of Guam.

Mr. Sablan said an application for the College to offer a Bachelor’s Degree program in elementary education is now pending before the WASC Senior Commission.

He noted that prospects are bright for the NMC to be granted an accreditation to offer its own four-year education course, citing strong hints dropped by individual members of the Senior Commission.

“As far as I know, every communication we have with each of the individual members of the Senior Commission is very positive,” Mr. Sablan told an interview.

The Senior Commission will come to the Northern Marianas in October to determine whether the College is ready and is capable to comply with the necessary requirements to offer the four-year course in elementary education.

NMC earlier this year opened its doors of higher learning to CNMI-based educators who want to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education through a community outreach partnership with the University of Guam.

Following a year-long planning and discussion with the UOG, the Extended Programs Department of NMC’s Continuing Education Division opened the Master of Education in Administration and Supervision program.

The 35-credit-hour program, offered in evening and Saturday classes, was designed to prepare educators for positions of leadership in schools of education departments and programs.

UOG has also agreed to offer its business administration courses on Saipan through the facility of the NMC. The College has began offering Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with accounting major.

The college has also started extending courses on managerial communications, management of organization, basic business finance and applied statistics.

The agreement was reached following over six months of negotiations between officials of the University of Guam and the Northern Marianas College.

NMC has also finalized plans to offer other UOG courses, including intermediate accounting, cost accounting, business law, advance income tax and computer application, at the college.

Students who will complete the program will receive diploma or certification from the University of Guam since the courses continue to be UOG programs held by both Guam- and Saipan-based UOG instructors.

Discussions are now underway for the provision of other UOG programs that include philosophy and cultures, introduction to research, qualitative research methodology and personnel management.