Municipal council leaders welcome new doctoral program at UOG
Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Marian DLG. Tudela and vice chair Tonie Manibusan Tudela applauded University of Guam president Dr. Anita Borja-Enriquez and the UOG leadership team for enabling a game-changing effort in advancing UOG’s historic launching of Guam’s doctoral degree program in instructional and academic leadership that’s expected to begin in fall 2024 for the region.
During the council’s leadership meeting with Borja-Enriquez that was also attended by interim UOG senior vice president Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba and Dr. Alicia Aguon, dean of the School of Education, (whose family hails from Saipan), the Saipan council leaders requested that three slots be reserved for students from the Commonwealth interested in pursuing UOG’s four-year 60-credit cumulative hours online doctoral program.
The doctoral program is estimated at $11,000 per 15 credits per year, which includes the doctoral dissertation portion built in as coursework in the program of study.
Following the UOG approval of the doctoral program by the Board of Regents in June 2023, UOG is also undergoing an accreditation approval by the WASC Senior College and University Commission on the new program to the university.
The need for a doctoral program in Guam was the result of a random survey the university conducted of over a thousand samples consisting of respondents from the Federated States of Micronesia, the CNMI, United States, Guam, and others. The results showed 94% interest in the program, with nearly 60% coming from instructors in elementary schools, high schools and higher education university faculty.
The Saipan council leaders also introduced a resolution (2023-28-01) during the November conference of the Association of Mayors, Vice Mayors and Municipal Council.
The AMIM also unanimously adopted the resolution authored by Marian Tudela and Tonie Tudela recognizing and congratulating Borja-Enriquez on the occasion of her investiture as president of the University of Guam last Nov. 14, 2023.
Borja-Enriquez is no stranger to the CNMI. She once served as a business and economic consultant in 2000 to the CNMI Legislature. (PR)
From left, Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela, chairwoman, 17th Saipan & Northern Islands Municipal Council; Dr. Anita Enriquez, UOG president; Tonie Manibusan Tudela, vice chairwoman, 17th Saipan & Northern Islands Municipal Council; Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba, UOG interim senior vice president and provost accreditation liaison officer; and Dr. Alicia Aguon, UOG dean of the School of Education.
-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Seated, front row: Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera, outgoing AMIM director Angel Sablan, Saipan Council vice chairwoman Tonie Tudela, Hagåtña Mayor John Cruz, Agana Heights Mayor Paul McDonald, Saipan Council chairwoman Marian Tudela, and Mayor Frankie Salas. Standing in background are Vice Mayor Peter Benavente, Mayor Rudy Paco, Rota council chairman Jim Atalig, Mayor Del Benavente, Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Gani Mayor Val Taisacan, Mayor Kevin Susuico, Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares, Mayor Kevin Susuico, Mayor Bob Hofman, Tinian council’s Steve Cabrera, Tinian chairman Joe Santos, Tinian council secretary Steve Cabrera, Barrigada Mayor June Blas, Tinian council vice chairwoman Ana San Nicolas, Humåtak, Vice Mayor Jesse Bautista, Tinian vice chair Marie San Nicolas, Mayor Jesse Alig, Mayor Johnny Quinata, and Malesso Mayor Ernest Chargualaf.
-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
