Students oppose several pending bills affecting NMC

Students of the Northern Marianas College, through Associated Students of NMC president Lawrence E. Camacho, have submitted to the Legislature’s education committees a position paper detailing their disagreement with several pending legislation that, if enacted into law, will negatively affect the college.

Saipan Tribune learned that there are eight bills related to NMC that are sitting at the Legislature.

Camacho, who was present in last week’s joint meeting with lawmakers at the campus, provided each legislator a copy of the two-page document indicating the sentiments and views of ASNMC on several bills.

According to Camacho, House Bill 17-39, the Postsecondary Education Amendment Act of 2010, encroaches on the autonomy of the college’s administrative functions, which should be left to the college’s Board of Regents and its administration in accordance and in compliance with established policies. Camacho said the “Legislature should limit its overarching legislations to preserve accreditation issues as a result of bills that infringes upon the administration of NMC autonomy.”

House Bill 17-041, which proposes to rename NMC as the Gov. Carlos S. Camacho Northern Marianas College was also opposed by the student council.

“NMC exists to be identified as the only public institution of higher education in the CNMI. As such, the college has existed to be known nationally and internationally bearing the name and location of the college. Thus, this is a significant part of not only recognition of the only postsecondary public institution but also [in] marketing.itself,” states part of the position paper, adding that the naming of any public institution in the CNMI should be credentialed by a commission or a group of individuals to rank the merits of naming, renaming, or designating any public office, building, or landmark.

The ASNMC president also cited the students’ strong opposition to House Bill 17-188, which proposes to amend some provisions of the education tax credit. Camacho said that, as the only public college in the Commonwealth, NMC should remain a recipient of the education tax credit because NMC has made “exceptional use” of these funds.

Camacho said that House Legislative Initiative 17-8, which seeks to amend Article 15, Section 2 of the Constitution to authorize the election of Board of Regents members, is also problematic. He said this initiative will push the board’s selection process into the political arena. At present, regents are appointed by the governor, with the consent of the Senate.

“This process, although not fully political proof, provides for a check and balance in the selection of individuals [who] would best represent the diverse community in the board,” he stated, adding that students would rather see legislation that would address the non-voting representative on the board.

Another pre-filed legislation proposes to amend the Constitution to allow NMC regents to make certain exceptions to the Basic Residency Requirement rules. The ASNMC believes that if this legislation is passed, it will “undoubtedly impact the enrollment at NMC because it will boost the enrollment in other Western states including Hawaii and New Mexico.”

Meantime, ASNMC indicated its support for four pending bills, which include House Bill 17-218, which proposes to establish priority allocations of educational funding pursuant to U.S. Public Law 110-229; Senate Bill 17-57, which proposes to add one student representative to the Board of Regents as a voting member; and Senate Legislative Initiative 17-12, which proposes to amend the Constitution to authorize the Board of Regents to revise NMC’s mission statement.