Gateway on hold until funds are identified

The Northern Marianas College cannot launch its new program for foreign students until the necessary funding has been identified.

NMC is developing the new “Global Education Strategic Initiatives” program, which, like the Pacific Gateway Project, aims to attract more international students.

But under the contract signed between the Governor’s Office and the NMC Board of Regents, the college cannot implement the program—or any plans for the utilization of La Fiesta—without a definite source of funding.

“The NMC Board of Regents and college administration must identify and secure necessary funding with the CNMI Legislature and the Executive Branch before any specific program can be implemented to launch its Global Education Initiatives or the utilization of the La Fiesta facilities,” a portion of the contract read.

Executed last Wednesday, the contract paved the way for the transfer of the La Fiesta shopping mall and the San Roque real property it sits on from the college to the CNMI Executive Branch. The facility was a financial drain to NMC and a cause for the employees’ low morale since the college took over the mall’s operation last January.

NMC’s management of La Fiesta has also raised concerns from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which placed the college’s accreditation under warning status.

According to a statement from the NMC Office of the President, the Global Education Strategic Initiatives aim to:

• Integrate global studies in appropriate programs;

• Promote the study of foreign languages and cultures or international studies;

• Expand international or intercultural learning experiences;

• Establish inter-institutional agreements or sister-schools;

• Create international exchange programs;

• Explore international internship or apprenticeship opportunities with business and industry;

• Collaborate with local business and industry to develop new international commercial opportunities;

• Offer degrees beyond the associate level through cooperative relationships with U.S. universities;

• Conduct collaborative research and technical assistance projects with U.S. and international institutions;

• Relate new global initiatives to the existing resources, programs, and mission of NMC;

• Build learning communities beyond the region to be served by enhancing institutional climate for effective teaching and learning; and

• Incorporate global education initiatives to continuously improve NMC’s programs and services.