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NMC finally sets the ball rolling on apprenticeship program
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Posted on Oct 04 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
Northern Marianas College president Dr. Sharon Hart reported to the Board of Regents that the institution has started its long-delayed apprenticeship program, an initiative that was signed into law almost five years ago.
Hart, along with a contingent from the college and a few individuals outside NMC, recently attended a weeklong training in Hawaii-all focusing on the apprenticeship program.
The president revealed that there are 985 recognized apprenticeship occupations around the U.S. and insular areas and implementing the long-delayed program in the Commonwealth at this time is key in developing the local workforce needed by the private and government sectors.
“For all of us here in the CNMI, apprenticeship is the key direction that we need to be going. We’re starting our aggressive efforts here because we believe this could be the better time especially with the recent ruling on contract workers,” said Hart, alluding to the federal takeover of the local immigration and labor systems which aimed to cut the number of foreign workers on island by 2014.
It was in 2007 when a law was enacted creating a U.S.-registered apprenticeship program at NMC to develop a skilled local workforce and to reduce the Commonwealth’s reliance on nonresident workers. The implementation of this program was delayed due to the absence of funding, amounting to $1.5 million.
Hart is optimistic that by providing the necessary trainings, NMC could soon enforce the program efficiently and successfully.
Meantime, the president announced that “actingship” for the presidency will be rotated among members of her leadership team.
The intention, she said, is to give each member the opportunity to experience the challenge and to develop their leadership skills. By rotating the acting president position, Hart said NMC will not loose potential leaders in the future.
In acknowledging the important contribution and role of the NMC Foundation, the president said she is also working on conducting a joint meeting between the Board of Regents and foundation directors to affirm both commitments and direction for NMC.
