NMC strives to improve community partnership

In an effort to receive input from businesses, public agencies, industrial organizations, and other educational institutions, the Northern Marianas College is holding a series of Focus Group Meetings with key representatives from the private and public sectors.

Feedback that will be provided by the meetings will be included in a new Community Development Plan that will detail the role of NMC in economic and professional development in the CNMI.

The Community Development Plan will also help outline new programs and services that will be offered at the college.

The first of three meetings will be held on Saipan at the Pacific Gardenia Hotel’s Flores Gardenia-1 Conference Room beginning at 9:00am.

A cross-section of representatives from various agencies, organizations and businesses are being invited to attend and offer suggestions for new offerings and services needed to address their workforce employment needs and enhance their overall organizational development.

Separate Focus Group Sessions are also scheduled to be held on Rota on March 2 and Tinian on March 5.

The new NMC Community Development Plan will intensify existing programs now offered by Continuing Education and the Small Business Development Center of the College, as well as new offerings, services and assistance requested by the various community sectors from all three islands.

Facilitator for the sessions will be Dr. Stan Spanbauer, former president of Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin who is volunteering his time to assist the College.

During his 26 years at FVTC, Dr. Spanbauer led the two-year institution in becoming one of the leading American colleges in community articulation and development. Included in his successful achievements were the construction of two business development/training centers and four other regional centers, mostly financed by the business community.

The revitalized FVTC community programs now serve more than 1,300 businesses and industries annually with training and services being provided to more than 20,000 students.

NMC Director of Institutional Development Tony Guerrero is working closely with Dr. Spanbauer in coordinating the meetings and designing institutional strategies to ensure that College programs and services are meeting the diversified employment needs of the CNMI Community.

NMC President Jack Sablan is encouraged by the enthusiasm of both NMC personnel and community representatives who look to NMC for instruction, technical services and assistance.