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NMC saves $50K by letting staff teach at least one class
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Posted on Feb 01 2012
The Northern Marianas College projects to save about $50,000 in personnel costs after letting qualified staffers and employees teach at least one class this spring semester.
NMC president Sharon Y. Hart told Saipan Tribune that 24 courses in various programs are now being taught by these staff members without any added cost to the college.
She explained that employees who at a minimum obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher were asked to use some of their weekly 40-hour schedule to teach a class.
An employee, for example, who is qualified to teach classes can use five hours of their 40 hours weekly schedule to teach. In case of staffers who are able to teach more than one class, a new schedule is being worked out with their managers.
This move arose out of the college’s limited budget for operations this fiscal year and in anticipation of more financial challenges this year.
In December, staffers who signed up to teach some classes at the college went through a weeklong workshop where they were given the necessary training.
Hart assured that the quality of education and services at the college will still be maintained, citing the qualifications, credentials, and skills being required of these additional “instructors,” who all must have a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.
Besides maximizing the capabilities of exiting employees, Hart said this action also saves the college a substantial amount of time and money. “This is not costing us additional money, but saving us money. We’re calling this as a creative way of saving for our college.”
As an added benefit, staffers are being exposed to teaching, which opens new opportunities for them.
NMC pays instructors with bachelor’s degrees $500 per credit workload and $700 per credit for those with master’s degree.
NMC’s effort to hire more instructors is being hampered by the limited funding and resources it has every fiscal year. This year, the Legislature gave it just $5.1 million, of which $3.9 million will be used for personnel while $1.2 million will go to all others and operation.
