House members question NMC president, regents

As House Speaker Arnold Palacios defined it during a meeting between members of the House of Representatives and the president of the Northern Marianas College and Board of Regents, it was the “big elephant in the room.”

Palacios was referring to recent articles in the Saipan Tribune about concerns raised by NMC faculty and staff grievances and the Legislature’s dissatisfaction.

“I want to say this for the record. The Legislature will not in any way interfere or hinder the effort of the college to get back on track and get its accreditation,” Palacios said. “I think it was a misunderstanding. The chairman was perhaps misquoted or did not articulate the message.”

The Speaker asked Rep. Ralph DLG Torres, chairman of the Health, Education and Welfare Committee, to set up a meeting with the president and regents about the school’s accreditation.

Earlier this month the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges placed NMC on continued show-cause status until it meets the remaining standards being asked by the accrediting body.

Since then, criticism has been brought against NMC president Carmen Fernandez. Some faculty and staff have also claimed there is a high level of dissatisfaction at the college.

“It’s is our obligation as elected officials to find out if there are merits to some of the issues being raised,” Palacios said, adding that the Legislature is in no way trying to meddle.

In attendance from NMC was Fernandez, Cepeda, vice chair Maria T. Peter, regent Agnes M. McPhetres, and regent Janet King.

Rep. Heinz Hofschneider brought up a letter he submitted that voiced his concerns about management issues at the college.

“Several of us attended a hastily put together meeting and most the faculty and staff of the college were there and expressed their concerns collectively,” he said.

The representative said he was not concerned by the personality and emotions brought up during the meeting, but rather if proper policies are being followed.

“It appeared to me the college is lacking accommodations of grievances of faculty and staff,” he said.

“We in the Legislature have never meddled into the college,” he added. “But once significant faculty, significant staff come to me airing grievances, that tells me either they’re not willing to work with you and the administration and Board of Regents, or the policies in place are not being implemented, in respect that grievance are not being accommodated.”

Hofschneider denied that, along with the two-page letter he wrote Fernandez, were two additional pages listing various examples of improper hires and forced resignations. The pages list names of individuals related to members of the Legislature.

“By way of that letter, someone with knowledge of the college submitted it to the Tribune,” he said, at which point Rep. Torres reminded him the meeting was about the college’s accreditation.

“It will affect accreditation,” he said. “I will not go into detail. All I’m going to say is those people are undeserving of their names in the paper. Someone came up with the document that was submitted with my letter to you. Those kids don’t deserve criticisms and the castigation and the uncertainty of whether they were appropriately hired. These things are evidence of a process that is lacking. Open it up. Allow them to come in and to contribute. But be firm. Those who are not performing, those who are not contributing to the betterment of the college, good riddance.”

In response to a question raised by Rep. Tina Sablan, NMC president Fernandez said the college was working with the Public School System for a piece of the stimulus money.

“Most of that money is a race,” she said. “It’s a competition.”

The president said the college was taking full opportunity of any additional funding sources. Unfortunately, there is only one shovel-ready project—a requirement for the competitive grants under the stimulus package, she said.