NMC eyes deal with California university

Accessibility to higher education for local students is getting closer and closer to home.

Besides the Northern Marianas College’s forthcoming plan to offer a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree this Fall, it is also embarking on collaborative efforts with the San Diego State University on various bachelors and masters degree programs.

The articulation agreement between the two institutions is eyed as a golden opportunity for locally-based working students to further their education in several fields of discipline.

Under and postgraduate courses to be offered starting this Summer of 2001 include a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Bachelors in Vocational Education, Masters in Business Administration, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum and Instruction.

In 1998, NMC and SDSU graduated the first batch of masteral degree holders in Educational Leadership with today’s most visible education leaders under its roster.

NMC President Jack Sablan, NMC Alumni Relations Director Tony Deleon Guerrero, Dandan Elementary School Principal Jonas Barcinas, among others, were products of this inter-institution educational program.

After three years, both learning organizations are set out again to produce another batch of scholars in an educational program that is eyed to stretch 24 months using hybrid learning methods.

NMC’s and SDSU’s first batch of masters degree students underwent 12 short months of compressed schooling in Educational Leadership.

This time, SDSU professors are intent on exhausting both traditional and modern modes of learning, to include on-site discussions as well explore distance learning options through the advent of new technology.

But learning by means of online or Internet interaction alone has its drawbacks, according to concerns raised by community members.

A down side to the innovative educational medium is that it is more costly than on-site instruction and it totally flushes out classroom interaction.

But Mr. Guerrero said SDSU experts are closely studying these commonly perceived flaws in virtual learning, citing that the university plans to employ an equal share of on-site and online learning modes.

He also added that the program is highly advantageous for local students, especially for struggling individuals with families to raise.

“This is accessible to locals as well as international students. This is a good opportunity for them to expand higher learning avenues that can be obtained here on island,” said Mr. Guerrero.

The articulation program was executed based on a memorandum of understanding signed between NMC and SDSU, as facilitated through the SDSU Foundation, Interwork Institute, Center for Pacific Studies, a non profit corporation under the laws of the State of California in the City of San Diego.

The Foundation, served as a facilitator for SDSU has coordinated, in collaboration with Pacific region two year institutions of higher learning, a variety of bachelors and masters level education and professional certificate programs.