NMC spent $9,500 for professional fees

Northern Marianas College paid the Association of Community College Trustees a total of $9,500 in professional fees throughout the search for the college’s new chief executive officer.

Through an open government act request, the college confirmed yesterday that the amount was stipulated in the contract that was signed by both parties.

The $9,500 professional fees included five specific scopes of work from the ACCT. Among these is the advertisement of the vacancy position on the trustees’ website and the receipt and review of all applications that were submitted for the vacant post.

There were a total of 31 applications received by the trustees and which it provided seven names to the second presidential search committee for review. ACCT started its announcement of the NMC president last December 2010 after the first presidential search committee failed to name a qualified candidate.

Dr. Carmen Fernandez was suspended and later fired as president of NMC in January 2010 for alleged wrongdoings. At present, litigation is ongoing on the case.

It was in May last year when ACCT initially proposed a $25,000 to $30,000 contract with NMC but was disapproved by the Board of Regents.

In a statement from the college yesterday, it said also part of the services under the ACCT contract was the preliminary background checks for the Top 3 candidates chosen by the regents, which was turned in on March 17.

After the final selection, ACCT also conducted a criminal and financial background check for the top candidate. The trustees also provided technical assistance to the regents after the final selection.

The regents made a final offer and was accepted by Dr. Sharon Hart, who will start her employment on July 5.

Meantime, interim president Lorraine T. Cabrera and regents chair Juan Lizama returned from the June 8 meeting with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges where they justified the NMC’s accreditation status. The decision of the commission will be known early next month.

It was in January 2011 when WASC placed NMC under the severe sanction of continued show-cause status after it failed to rectify all deficiencies cited by the commission. It submitted its show-cause report last March 15 and a supplemental report last May 31.