Over 400 students enroll on 1st day of NMC registration

 More than 400 students registered with the Northern Marianas College during the first day of its weeklong enrollment for the 2012  spring semester.

As of 6pm Tuesday, 410 students have already registered and the number is expected to increase until the last day of registration  on Jan. 14.

Acting president Leo Pangelinan, described the first day of registration as smooth and gave credit to the collaborative efforts of the different offices, volunteers, and students.

In the spring 2011 semester, NMC had a total of 1,155 enrollees-a 17-percent increase over the spring 2010 semester.

Pangelinan, who is also the Student Services dean, said that they do not expect to have more students this semester because new enrollees usually come in during the fall academic term.

In a visit to the campus yesterday, hundreds of enrollees were seen at Room D-1, which serves as the institution’s one-stop-shop for all registrants. Staff from various offices were seen attending to students and helping them complete their registration.

To promote good customer service, the college initiated a “Star” treatment promo, which aims to recognize the most helpful and friendly college staff. Each enrollee, upon entering the one-stop shop, gets three “Star” promo materials that they will award to whoever they feel gave them the best assistance.

Students waiting to register cooled their heels by watching a movie being shown on a flat screen TV.

Student activities coordinator L.J. Castro also conducted raffle drawings in between breaks where items were given away. Three students, he said, won free parking slots for the year. The shop also offers food, beverages, and reading materials.

According to Pangelinan, early registration started on Monday for mostly senior students and students with disabilities. Registration is ongoing until Saturday while later registrants have until next week.

$200 new fee established by BOR

Pangelinan clarified that the new $200 fee imposed by the college for international students this semester was set by the NMC Board of Regents to help pay for programs and services that benefit international students. NMC’s enabling procedure for this policy provides for FAS citizens to be exempted from this fee.

“Our experience and current work with international students have also revealed additional service needs from this student population, including translation services, academic advising services, academic tutorial services, publication of important college policies, procedures, forms, and other material in different languages, and student orientation activities, to name a few,” Pangelinan said.

He also clarified an earlier statement he gave the Saipan Tribune, saying the new fee will not be used to facilitate and process F-1 visas, although NMC is authorized by the federal government to enroll foreign students through the process and issuance of I-20 forms. He said the processing or issuance of F-1 visas is a function of USCIS.

In the months ahead, according to Pangelinan, students should expect to see space on campus equipped with resource materials and staff to address the needs of international students.