Teno cautions against lowering NMC tuition

A proposal to reduce tuition costs at the Northern Marianas College should be carefully studied as it might “jeopardize” operations of the island’s sole higher learning institution, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday.

He said NMC has to provide information on potential financial impact of such a plan to see what his administration can do to assist students who might be forced to drop out in view of cutback in government educational assistance.

“I don’t want to comment at this time until I get all the information and find out the reason behind it because by lowering the tuition, it will also jeopardize the education of the individual,” Tenorio said in an interview.

The governor’s reaction was sought after Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, chair of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare Committee, on Wednesday suggested that NMC lower its tuition charges in order to help the government meet its financial obligations to CNMI scholars.

The recommendation followed appeals from college officials to hold implementation of a new policy that limits financial aid only to full-time students of the local college. The policy also eliminates government assistance to part-time students.

NMC Board Chairman Ramon Villagomez has warned the stringent regulation on the Educational Assistance Program or EAP, which takes effect this semester, would force half of their student population out of school.

Citing its potential impact, Tenorio has instructed the Board of Regents to undertake a study on the students affected by the new policy that was drawn up by his administration in August last year.

“I’d like to get all the details and information before I make my decision,” he explained. “We will see what we can do to assist them.”

Many part-time students of NMC, mostly government retirees and employees, used to be recipients of the locally-sourced grants, but the Tenorio administration has slashed EAP funding for Fiscal 2000 in view of the continuous financial woes confronting the island.

In a meeting the other day with finance officials and representatives of the Scholarship’s Office, Hofschneider prodded the college to reduce the tuition for local students to ease the burden of the cash-strapped government.

The full subsidy given each year by the Commonwealth and federal government to fund NMC operations must translate to substantial reduction in the tuition costs, according to the HEW chairman.

But college officials in the past have said their present spending level is not sufficient to meet NMC’s immediate needs, oftentimes forcing them to request for additional budget from the government, including EAP funds.

The board must be given a free-hand to decide whether a reduction in tuition costs would be beneficial to the college, said Rep. Melvin Faisao, a member of the House committee.

“NMC has undergone drastic reforms in the past few months and they need all the financial assistance that the government can provide,” he said in an interview. “If they have to lower the tuition, they have to study potential consequences of the move.”

At present, the college charges $65 per credit hour for lower course levels and $85 for upper levels, while it imposes a much higher rate for foreign students.