The issue of credentials and qualifications

Positions involving high-level responsibility and training in various organizations generally require educational credentials and qualifications. For example, people who have not been to medical school and passed the medical board are not “qualified” to practice medicine. Likewise, those who do not attend an accredited law school and pass the bar are not able to step into a courtroom and practice law. The same applies for other academic disciplines like dentistry, veterinary science, and pharmacy. The people who hold valid and advanced academic credentials in the abovementioned professional areas are “never” questioned in terms of whether they have the ability or working knowledge of their respective fields simply because they have attained graduate degrees that qualify them with advanced knowledge and training. In other words, people never ask a lawyer or medical doctor if they are qualified if they are cognizant these professionals have gone to graduate school and successfully earned their degrees.

The only positions that I am aware of that do not require specific qualifications are those involving “elected office.” People who run for office must win the confidence of the electorate and are not required to have educational credentials and/or political experience to run. A case in point would be Gov. Arnold Swarzenegger of California. He does not possess a college degree, nor has he ever been involved with politics. Yet, the people of California believed he had the ability to perform the job of Governor of California.

Other positions that do not always require specific qualifications involve those who are “appointed” to boards by an elected official, e.g., the CNMI governor appointing members who comprise the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents. To my understanding, and I will stand corrected if I am wrong, there are no advanced degree requirements, i.e., master’s or higher, and/or “bona fide experience” in terms of higher education administration and policy, to be a member of the NMC Board of Regents. The only qualification that exists with individuals who are appointed by an elected official like the governor of the CNMI would be the approval by an elected body like the 14th Legislature in the CNMI. As soon as the approval of these appointees is processed, then they can begin their stint as “a board member” regardless of whether they know anything about higher education and/or they possess any advanced degrees in higher education administration and policy.

If none of the board members have any advanced degrees in higher education or other disciplines for that matter, then how can they be qualified and be in a position to make a justifiable assessment of individuals who have legitimate advanced degrees in both public and higher education administration? In other words, someone who is not a medical doctor is not qualified to make a qualification assessment of a person who has gone to medical school and earned an M.D.

During the month of July I submitted my application for the presidency of the Northern Marianas College. My interest in applying stemmed from a genuine interest in assisting the NMC Board of Regents in removing the college from the fiscal crisis they are currently in and the problems surrounding the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Notwithstanding the fact that I hold two advanced degrees in administration, i.e., Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Education in higher education administration and policy, as well as 10 years of executive management with corporations, and several years working for government and unions, I was recently informed via a letter from the NMC Human Resources office that I “did not meet the minimum qualifications for the job of NMC president,” i.e., five years of teaching and five years of administrative experience preferably in a community college or similar environment. Consequently, I was one of the two applicants that were not offered an invitation to interview for the position.

If “experience” in a specific field, e.g., law, is critical, then why are lawyers appointed to be judges even though they have never sat on the bench? The presumption is that lawyers understand the law and know the process. They have the capability to be a competent judge and their law degrees substantiate they are qualified for the position. To my understanding, you can’t be appointed as a judge unless you have a law degree. With respect to having experience to back up the degree, there are some people who have been appointed to the bench in the CNMI with very little experience in the field of law.

The question that I would like to pose to the NMC Board of Regents is the following: Would an individual who has 10 years of experience teaching and administration in a community college with no advanced degrees i.e., master’s or doctorate, be qualified to hold the position of NMC president? If they answer to that question is yes, then do advanced degrees not hold as much value as experience in academia? Most higher level administrative positions in academia in the mainland require doctoral degrees. Some institutions of higher education that are interested in progress select individuals who possess an advanced degree which is pertinent, e.g., doctorate in higher education administration, and experience commensurate with positions in academia. The objective of these institutions is to bring on board someone who possesses the leadership and management skills that will move the organization forward.

If one possesses a terminal degree like a doctorate in higher education administration, then why would an individual not be given the benefit of the doubt in terms of it satisfying the experience criteria for a position that requires advanced administrative knowledge in a community college setting? Would individuals with a master in Business Administration ever be questioned about their knowledge of administration in business?

If years of academic experience and accomplished academic credentials are important to the NMC Board of Regents in terms of qualifications for positions like NMC president, then it might be appropriate that these standards be applied to all of the board members. If the board of regents for NMC is in disagreement with these standards as qualifying criteria for the board, then would they be supporting a double standard and being hypocritical?

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, California