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NMC to introduce tuition payment scheme
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Posted on Mar 01 1999
Since the source of funding remains uncertain for the Educational Assistance Program, officials of the Northern Marianas College will need to introduce payment schedule to cover the tuition fees for the spring semester.
During the Board of Regents meeting last Friday, Dean of Student Services George Pangelinan told the group that some 570 students in the spring semester have availed of the Educational Assistance Program upon enrollment even if there was no money in the bag.
Two months had passed and EAP funding continues to elude the college, Pangelinan wanted to know if his office will start scheduling the payment to cover the difference in cost that was assigned for EAP.
These students were earlier advised about the uncertainty of its funding and had agreed to sign the promissory note in the event that there will be no forthcoming funding.
According to Special Adviser for Education Dan Nielsen, even if the governor is scheduled to sign the bill which amended the Full Scholarship program, it does not guarantee that money is available.
Earlier reports said the maximum grant of $15,000 a year for the full scholarship program will pump in $350,000 to EAP.
“That’s the number they are saying but I would not endorse that,” he said. In addition, whatever savings derived from the scholarship cap, the CNMI government will distribute it to both on-island and off-island students.
Nielsen, however, reminded NMC officials about the earlier notices that were sent out informing the college about the cash flow problem for EAP.
He emphasized to the board that NMC should first secure the funding before making assumptions that money is coming which created this EAP fiasco with the students.
President Agnes McPhetres said while the spring enrollment was in progress her office was still inquiring from the Finance Office regarding the status of EAP.
“We couldn’t communicate (with the office of Finance) but we cannot also stop the registration,” she said.
Chairman Manuel Sablan told school officials to assume that there is no money coming and a payment plan should be prepared.
