NMC hastens drafting of college licensing policies

The Board of Regents has instructed the Northern Marianas College administration to tap expert services on the development of policies that would set BOR’s regulatory powers in processing licensing applications of postsecondary institutions in the CNMI.

Acting Chair Fermin M. Atalig said yesterday BOR has asked key college officials to fast-track the policy-developing process amid an unwavering interest by Eucon International School to establish a postsecondary institution in the Commonwealth.

NMC recently released requests for proposals targeting firms knowledgeable in policy, procedure, and regulation development in connection with the application and licensing of CNMI college institutions.

Under local laws, the NMC-BOR is the sole entity authorized to regulate incoming institutions seeking to offer postsecondary courses in the islands.

EIS is the first private institution in the CNMI to seek a license to operate as a private postsecondary school.

Dr. Christian Wei, president of Eucon, has been pressing BOR to enumerate the application requirements in order to expedite the school’s plans to provide quality education to CNMI students.

EIS’ proposed postsecondary institution plans to offer 4-year college degrees to include Bachelor of Science in Business, Nursing, Christian Education, Counseling, Bachelor of Arts in Bible, to name few.

The college will be broken up into four divisions namely; the Division of Science, the Division of Education, the Division of Arts, and the Division of Bible.

The private institution earlier pled BOR members not to rule out the admission of non-accredited institutions seeking to apply for license to operate as a postsecondary school in the CNMI.

Mr. Wei said that while it is part of EIS’ long-term objective to gain full accreditation, new institutions cannot be expected to be ready with such credentials upon its first few years of operation.

The Northern Marianas College, which was founded in 1981 did not gain accreditation until 1985.

The Eucon president, however, assured his school is a member of reputable educational institutions in the mainland United States such as the Association of American Christian Schools and South Carolina Association of Christian Schools.

The organizations, according to Dr. Wei, only admits members who have reached and maintained certain high academic standards based on national norms.

Eucon is also currently processing its application to enter the Association of Christian Schools International.

Moreover, the private school is also reportedly close-linked with the Columbia International University, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Pacific Association of Colleges and Schools. (MM)