Fernandez’s contract renewal on Regents’ table

The two-year contract of Northern Marianas College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez is set to expire next month and the Board of Regents is weighing on the decision whether to renew her employment contract or not.

BOR chair Charles V. Cepeda last Friday confirmed that Fernandez’s contract is now being reviewed by the board’s human resource committee which will make recommendations to the full board.

“It’s in the board’s HR committee,” he told Saipan Tribune, adding that this week’s board assembly will discuss the president’s ‘fate.’”

Prior to becoming the NMC president in May 2007, Fernandez was a former senator in Guam and ex-president at the University of Guam.

She succeeded Antonio Deleon Guerrero at NMC after the former retired in August 2006.

It was on April 26, 2007, when the Board of Regents chose Fernandez to assume the post. She bested lone opponent Dr. Cecilia Salvatore of Emporia University.

From a pool of 12 candidates, the two were the remaining finalists chosen by the committee for the post.

NMC board approved an annual pay of $80,000 for Fernandez. She also was given a $800 monthly housing allowance—a concern that was raised since the start of her reign citing it was in violation of the college’s policy. The board then defended that the president of NMC is not a regular employee and is not prevented to receive the housing benefits based on HR Policy 1414.

Fernandez’s annual pay was then subject to the across-the-board 10 percent cut implemented by the government.

Upon assuming position on May 5, 2007. Fernandez readily started the progress report for NMC’s accreditation.

Until a new mandate from the accrediting commission was received in August requiring NMC to address only in a year all the accreditation concerns—instead of the usual two-year timeframe.

NMC by then was in probation status until WASC places the institution to the severe sanction of show-cause status in February 2008. The show cause sanction was extended last January.

Fernandez, who has been in the position for less than two years, was bombarded by criticisms due to her management style. However, despite all the controversy, all reports to WASC were timely submitted in March, October, and April this year.

It was early this year when issues against Fernandez were heightened resulting in the resignation of board member and former NMC president Agnes McPhetres.

Faculty senate leaders had also expressed concern on the “climate of fear” and “dissatisfaction” existing among faculty and employees.

In a recent interview with Fernandez, the president said she “stands strong for the students.”