NMC not eyeing any tuition hike

Despite the ongoing financial constraints at the Northern Marianas College, president Sharon Y. Hart and dean of students services Leo Pangelinan disclosed that the institution is not ready to implement any tuition and fee increases at this time.

They assured that other avenues that would improve the financial state of the college would be explored first before recommending any changes in the current rates collected from students.

Hart, who assumed the presidency last July 5, admitted that institutions always look at tuition and fees when there’s a need to generate additional revenues for their operation. However, NMC students were assured that they will be spared from such a hike.

“We haven’t made any changes [on our tuition and fees] and we will surely not. This is not an issue for NMC now,” Hart told Saipan Tribune.

Pangelinan, for his part, believes that enrollment—which slightly dropped each year—may continue to decline if tuition rates will be adjusted. The dean of student services disclosed it was more than five years ago when NMC last implemented a tuition hike, which immediately affected enrollment.

Prior to any enforcement of “unpopular” decision, Pangelinan has recommended conducting a survey among residents in communities to determine if families are ready to pay more for the education of their students.

“We have to balance that with the affordability of the community. We don’t want to decrease our enrollment and it was proven a factor in the past. Our goal, despite all financial challenges, is to always increase our enrollment,” he told Saipan Tribune, adding that at present any adjustment is not being considered seriously by both the management and the Board of Regents.

Instead of increasing rates, Hart is confident that the college’s revenues and financial state will improve by seriously implementing an aggressive effort in securing major grants and help assist the NMC Foundation in its campaigns and goals.

“Our foundation is absolutely an important element of our institution. Its key mission is to help raise money and friends on behalf of the college. We need to help them [foundation members] in this goal,” the president said.

For Hart, improving the relationship between NMC and the business community is also a surefire way of helping the college become stable. Besides the financial donations received from businesses, the president wants the business sector to also serve the institution as its advisory council. She will also encourage the business community to serve as volunteer mentors at the college.

NMC has frozen the hiring of some positions this fiscal year due to the budget shortfall being experience by the institution. This was in addition to the reduction of work hours enforced last month, to sustain the operation of the programs through end of fiscal year next month. The austerity measure involves a reduction of eight hours per pay period and will be applied every other Friday. NMC is also streamlining energy consumption and had shortened the summer session and other activities for the same purpose—all aimed at reducing its operating expenditures.