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Vocational courses offered at NMC decline by 11%
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Posted on Dec 07 2005
The number of vocational classes offered at Northern Marianas College declined by 11 percent in academic year 2004-2005, compared with the previous year.
An NMC report on programs funded by Public Law 5-32, as amended by P.L. 10-66, showed that the college offered only 182 vocational classes in AY 2004-2005. This represents a decrease from the 205 classes offered during the previous year.
Specifically, the Business Department provided 86 classes; the School of Education, 68 classes; Technical Trades and Vocational Program, 21 classes; and the Nursing Department, 7 classes.
Total student enrollment was 2,142 in AY 2004-2005, compared with 2,053 in the previous academic year. The figure includes continuing students.
The four programs awarded a total of 90 degrees and certificates, a decrease from the 118 awarded in AY 2003-2004.
Of the 90 degrees and certificates, 49 were issued to Education students, 13 each to Nursing and Business Management students, and eight each to Accounting and Computer Applications students.
The four programs are funded by P.L. 5-32/10-66, which state that all available funds from the nonresident worker fees must be remitted to NMC after the distributions specified in the law are made.
In the annual report to the Legislature, college president Antonio Deleon Guerrero noted the four programs funded by P.L. 5-32/10-66 “have a considerably larger role than to serve those who enroll in them for pre-service training and education. Another vital purpose for them is to provide training for those individuals who have already entered the local workforce.”
Deleon Guerrero noted, however, that the college had not been able to fully realize the intent of the laws due to lack of funding.
NMC’s 2005 report showed that the college had historically received only a fraction of the amount that should have been made available to the NMC pursuant to the two laws.
“It is only through the hard work and dedication of the faculty and staff in each program that…significant accomplishments have come about. Certainly it is not the case that such achievements have been possible because a wealth of physical and financial resources has been available to these programs,” Deleon Guerrero said.
