TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS Reduce NMC tuition By Marian A. Maraya

In a move to lure more foreign students to pursue post-secondary education into the Northern Marianas College, NMC Development and Alumni Relations Director Tony Deleon Guerrero has proposed that the Board of Regents look into reducing the tuition for nonresident students.

Under existing laws, the college has been mandated to double nonresident tuition from the rate imposed on local students.

Mr. Guerrero, who has been tasked by the board to market the college to neighboring Asian countries, said there is no need for NMC to charge twice the amount for foreign students.

“I think this law should be amended especially if we want to attract more foreign students to the CNMI,” said Mr. Guerrero.

Over the last two academic years, NMC has noted a decrease in the its nonresident student enrollment. In academic year 1996-97, 483 foreign enrollees registered at NMC out of the 1,721 total student population. The following year, the figure dropped to 373 and further dipped to 225 nonresident student enrollment in AY 1998-99.

According to research, the top three countries of foreign students attending colleges and universities abroad are Japan, China, and South Korea.

These countries, according to Mr. Guerrero, are potential markets for NMC in its efforts to widen its foreign student recruitment.

Current tuition rates for nonresident students are set at $130 per credit for courses 299 and below and $160 per credit for courses 300 and above.

BOR has been reluctant to make moves on any tuition cutbacks, following requests by the Legislature to lower the tuition for resident students.

The regents said it needs assurance that the local government would commit more general appropriation funds for the college’s operations.

Under the present setup, the school’s share in the local appropriation only covers the college’s personnel expenditure. It derives funds for other expenditures from its tuition collection.

“We sympathize with the Legislature and our ailing economic situation and we are willing to meet them halfway on this move to reduce rates,” said Mr. Guerrero.

He proposed that if leaders were to convince BOR to reduce the current tuition rate, the college would need to study projected enrollment figures in existing NMC programs.

“If we want to convince BOR to reduce the current tuition rate, we need to look at what’s the relationship of reduction to the increase of enrollment. And also look at which particular program or area would be most affected,” he suggested.

The regents had moved to revise its proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget request to $9.2 million which is projected to cover the college’s plans to increase adjunct personnel and repair existing school facilities.