‘Facility upgrades, salary hike’

Northern Marianas College president Antonio Deleon Guerrero identified physical facilities and salary level of employees as NMC’s two main areas of critical need during his State of the College Address yesterday.

Speaking before over 200 government officials and community members, Deleon Guerrero reported that much has been accomplished since he assumed office in February 2004, following the resignation of former NMC president Kenneth Wright.

Among the achievements he cited were the lifting of the warning status off NMC’s accreditation, computerization of the college system, and establishment of new programs.

However, Deleon Guerrero maintained that the college could not progress in two critical areas—physical facilities and salary level—without greater support from the administration and the community.

Among all colleges in U.S jurisdictions in the Pacific, he said, NMC probably had the least funding for new buildings over the past 20 years.

He also complained that NMC was probably the only institution within the American Pacific that has a campus not initially designed to serve as an education facility. As a result, the college has had to make do with renovation and modification, “which has for the most part been patchwork.”

“New elementary schools and classrooms have been built on Saipan. Modern and attractive new high schools have been built on Saipan. New gyms have been built on Saipan. New prisons and detention facilities have been built on Saipan. New healthcare facilities have been constructed on Saipan. Where are Saipan’s modern facilities for adult and postsecondary education?” Deleon Guerrero asked.

The college president further noted that the salaries of NMC faculty and staff have not increased for over eight years, making it difficult for the college to attract and retain the quality and number of personnel needed to properly run the college.

Deleon Guerrero urged the government to start supporting the college through the enforcement of Public Law 10-66, which requires revenues collected from alien labor fees to be allocated for NMC’s vocational, technical, and professional development programs.

“Full compliance with Public Law 10-66 would have resulted in NMC receiving $4 million to $6 million more each year for the past several years than it actually did receive for its personnel expenses and operating costs,” he said.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta, who attended the address, agreed with Deleon Guerrero’s sentiments, but expressed no specific plan to address them.

Babauta reported that there had been discussions about floating $50 million to $100 million bonds to construct a completely new facility for NMC, but this plan did not work out.

“The facilities that the college is using right now is simply not suitable for a college campus, but now they have been utilizing it to the fullest extent. For now, they have no choice but to continue using it,” the governor said.

He also maintained that he had considered giving part of the CNMI’s Compact Impact funds to the college. But he decided to commit the entire $20 million to the Public School System upon consideration of the overcrowding in schools.

“I really should have maybe [allotted] a little bit of money for the college. But the Public School System is in dire need of facilities because of overcrowding in Kagman High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Marianas High School. These are very critical areas in my opinion,” Babauta said. “I will continue to work with the college and the board of regents in creating a master plan for the construction of a new campus for NMC.”