NMC’s 4-yr program in education okayed

CNMI’s lone postsecondary institution has just become a new haven for Education majors.

This came following a decision by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission to accord the Northern Marianas College license to offer a four-year degree program in Education.

The WASC Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities hailed NMC’s efforts in applying for the unique accreditation status, being the first junior college in the Pacific to brave the Pilot Joint Accreditation Program.

The evaluation was accomplished under a written Memorandum of Understanding between the institution, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the ASCC.

The process opened NMC to a simultaneous scrutiny conducted by both junior and senior commissions on its two-year associate degrees as well as its baccalaureate program application.

“This is something unique that NMC has undertaken. The college is like a guinea pig in this process, since we are the first institution to have put the challenge before both commission members — to have an accreditation from having four-year program within an associate degree institution,” NMC president Jack Sablan earlier said.

In a letter transmitted to Mr. Sablan early this week, WASC Executive Director Ralph A. Wolff commended NMC for undertaking the challenge of seeking to retain its character as a community college and simultaneously obtaining approval from the Senior Commission to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

“The commission recognizes that the college is seeking to meet the educational needs of the CNMI by adding the Bachelor of Arts in Education to the constellation of Associate degrees that the college already offers,” the WASC official added.

Mr. Wolff also acclaimed NMC’s self-study report, citing that it reflected an understanding both in the breadth and depth of the issues that assail the institution, reflecting the deep commitment of the faculty, staff, and students in pursuit of its overall goals.

The college was also praised for providing evidence that validates high quality of teaching matched by an equally high level of services and opportunities for students in preparing them to be future teachers.

The college also outdid itself in its planning efforts and setting high standards toward seeking approval for the baccalaureate degree program in Education, according to the accrediting commission.

But the evaluation team, however, enumerated two main recommendations for further improvement.

The commission highlighted Planning, Data collection and Educational Effectiveness, as well as Academic Quality and Program Future as two main issues that NMC should devote more attention to.

Having granted the initial baccalaureate accreditation, NMC has been required to schedule a joint visit with ACCJC for the fall of 2006.

The college has also been requested to submit a proposal by May 1, 2003 indicating how it will conduct an internal self-evaluation under the Senior College Commission Handbook and integrate the review with ACCJC self-study expectations.