NMC closure plan will ease student transfers

Under the recently approved closure plan for the Northern Marianas College, students will have the option of transferring to other schools off island if NMC’s accreditation status is terminated in January.

The closure plan, approved by the NMC Board of Regents earlier this month, was a requirement under the college’s show cause status and does not mean the college is closing, said NMC president Carmen Fernandez.

“This process is required as part of the procedure for show cause,” she said. “It allows us to consider what institutions we have transfer agreements with.”

Earlier this year, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges ordered NMC to provide reasons—or “show cause” ‘why the college’s accreditation should not be terminated. The show cause order set a timeline for NMC to submit reports to the accrediting agency.

On. Jan. 7, 2009, the WASC-ACCJC will have a meeting, where they will decide based on the recommendation of a visiting team whether to reaffirm or terminate NMC’s accreditation.

If NMC’s accreditation is terminated, there will be a semester transition period where the college will work with students to facilitate any transfers, Fernandez said.

“We will provide all the information and make it as convenient as possible,” she said.

Fernandez said NMC has full course articulation with Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade University, both in Honolulu. The college has partial articulation with Guam Community College, the University of Guam and the University of Hawaii.

Alexandra Silva, a first semester liberal arts student at NMC, said transferring could be difficult for some students.

“What’s going to happen?” she said. “Some people can’t afford all that and will have to get more scholarships.”

Christina DLGuerrero, a second semester education student, said she has plans to transfer to a school in Oregon, but hopes her friends and family will still be able to attend NMC in the future. If NMC loses its accreditation it could make the transfer process to Oregon difficult, she added.

“How’s that going to look for me if the school is not accredited?” she said. “That means I’ll have to start over.”

NMC officials submitted a report to WASC on Oct. 15, detailing the changes they are undertaking. Officials from WASC will visit the campus in November to examine the school’s compliance with the report. The school has the option to submit a supplemental report in November, Fernandez said.

Both Silva and DLGuerrero said they are aware officials are coming, but didn’t know they would be using that visit to help determine NMC’s future. The school is working hard to make the necessary changes, DLGuerrero added.

“ I see improvements with buildings,” she said. “It’s not much, but hopefully WASC will take that into consideration.”

Fernandez said the school will be giving the campus “a bit of a facelift” before the WASC officials arrives, and will be educating students on the WASC report that was submitted.