NMC Rota: striving to better serve the community
It’s been a hectic semester at the Northern Marianas College Rota Campus. Not only has the college been temporarily relocated, but also new faculty and staff have been added to serve the growing student body.
In 1997, Typhoon Pakka destroyed the Rota Library and did major damage to NMC’s facilities on Rota, to a point where the College had to move or conduct classes outdoors. NMC has since moved its campus to a temporary location in the heart of the downtown Songsong business district and is occupying approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of space. Currently under construction, the new 10,000 sq. ft. NMC Rota Campus is scheduled to be ready by next summer. The new NMC campus will be part of the new Rota Educational Complex that will house the College, vocational school, library and historical museum. The new Educational Complex is also expected to be a major tourist attraction on the island.
Along with facility movements and expansions, there were also a number of personnel changes. Coming aboard in July as Campus Administrator was Severina Atalig-Ogo, who brings with her extensive educational acumen and business experience. Also joining the instructional faculty, fresh from Florida Atlantic University in Palm Beach, was Dr. John Griffin, who is teaching math, computer, and other business courses. Dr. Griffin joins Mr. Frank Sobolewski as one of the two full-time faculty members, augmented by a cadre of adjunct instructors, who are education and business professionals from the local community.
The downtown Songsong NMC campus also serves as the temporary quarters for the 4-H Club, while their facilities are being refurbished. Also making use of the NMC campus facilities are a number of community groups including the Rota Little League, Senior Citizens, Rota Christmas Committee, and others. NMC Rota also provided meeting rooms recently for visiting Japanese academic researchers from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan and local community historians.
With the anticipated reaffirmation of accreditation and application for candidacy of NMC by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, NMC Rota is committed to contributing positive results for the institution. Administrator Ogo points out, “Northern Marianas College is more than just a college campus on Rota, it’s a focal point of community collaboration where local residents can come together and address common issues and concerns as well as developing the most appropriate solutions to these community challenges”. She added, “as a community college, NMC Rota is striving to ensure that our educational programs and services are meeting the various needs of the Rota community”.
For the upcoming Spring 2001 semester, NMC Rota will be offering more than seventeen different college courses. Next semester, Rota residents can enroll in computer, education, English, mathematics, science, and other general education courses. The Spring 2001 registration for ongoing and new students will be from January 10th to the 18th.
For more information on the educational programs and services of the NMC Rota Campus, please call 532 – 9477.
